M. Colleen Gino was appointed Executive Director of the Dudley Observatory in October of 2002 and held the post through June, 2004. Ms. Gino was the first woman to hold the directorship in the Observatory's 150 year history, a position held in the past by some of the nation's most distinguished astronomers.

Ms. Gino, who holds an M.S. in Astronomy, has worked professionally at some of the nation's outstanding observatories, including the Mount Wilson Observatory in California and the Very Large Array Radio Telescope in New Mexico. Her findings and astronomical photographs have appeared in some of the leading scientific journals, and she is active in astronomy education and public outreach. A skilled public speaker, Ms. Gino brings a lively and appealing professional presence to her interview, lectures, and public presentations. Ms. Gino has been interviewed locally on a wide array of astronomical topics by various media outlets, both print and broadcast, including WAMC radio, WGY radio, WNYT-13, WTEN-10, The Daily Gazette, and others. She is also proficient at assisting the media with the technology required for photographing and videotaping celestial objects.

Before joining the Dudley Observatory, Ms. Gino was the Planetarium Director at the Schenectady Museum and Observatory Manager at Union College. She has taught astronomy at Sage College in Albany, Union College in Schenectady, New Mexico Tech in Socorro, and currently teaches at Schenectady County Community College. Her photographic work has appeared in Astronomy Magazine, Sky & Telescope Magazine, and Mercury Magazine, as well as the New York Times. She is also a regular presenter at professional conferences and meetings at the state and national level.

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