This report will provide interactive descriptions of each NASA Solar System Ambassador in New York, including upcoming events and potential networking opportunities. This breakdown will include a region-by-region analysis to identify potential networking clusters. The analysis will conclude with an exploration of the goals Empire Space has for the NASA Solar System Ambassadors program in New York in the future.
These Ambassadors are critical pathways for everyday New Yorkers to learn about and interact with the New York space ecosystem and the role our state has played in the Space Age. A high percentage of Ambassadors have ties to prominent local academic or cultural institutions like Universities or museums. Some have partnerships with key space or aerospace firms, working to deepen ties between these businesses and the communities they support.
While these Ambassadors serve critical functions individually, Empire Space believes there are both challenges and opportunities when considering them collectively as one statewide network. For example, the North Country currently lacks an active NASA Solar System Ambassador, requiring active outreach to encourage potential participants to research and potentially apply to join the program. There are also active clusters across the state of Ambassadors in close proximity to each other, a prime opportunity for collaboration and new programming.
The report is structured as follows:
Ambassador breakdown (by region)
> City
> University/organization affiliations (if applicable)
> Contact information (include link to homepage)
Future goals
> Promote these Ambassadors as vital members of their communities
> Collective networking will enable good ideas to be spread around the state and new ideas to be brought into practice
> Goal to recruit new Ambassadors in underserved areas
NASA AMBASSADOR BREAKDOWN (By Region)
Central NY
There is an active cluster of NASA Solar System Ambassadors in Central New York, primarily affiliated with educational institutions in the Greater Syracuse area. A key future focus would be to find new Ambassadors in outlying parts of the Central New York region.
Brian Bealer
> Syracuse, NY
> Member of the Science Teachers Association of New York State.
> Contact Info
David Amidon
> Syracuse, New York
> Teacher at Onondaga Nation School, Sea Alumni and Teacher Ambassador at National Center for Science Education.
> Contact Info
Jill Gravantte
> Liverpool, New York
> Affiliated with Baldwinsville Central School District.
> Contact Info
Finger Lakes
There is an active cluster of NASA Solar System Ambassadors in the Finger Lakes Region. There are active ties to numerous community space organizations throughout Upstate New York, including numerous astronomy societies. A key future focus would be to increase networking within the Finger Lakes region.
Damian Allis
> Fairport, New York
> Member of the Kopernik Astronomical Society, Mohawk Valley Astronomical Society, and Astronomy Section of the Rochester Academy of Science.
> Affiliated with Syracuse University and the Forensic and National Security Sciences Institute.
Contact Info
Jim Rienhardt
> Lyons, New York
> Previously affiliated with Broome Community College.
> Contact Info
Tyler Beagle
> Rochester, New York
> Affiliated with Syracuse Astronomical Society.
> Contact Info
Long Island
There is a large and active network of NASA Solar System Ambassadors on Long Island, many of whom partner with key academic and community groups and institutions throughout the region. Long Island is primed for a large and productive network of Ambassadors that could serve as a template for the rest of the state.
Barry Fried
> East Meadow, NY
> Member of Long Island Library Resources Council and STEM Alliance.
> Contact Info
Malmi Kiriwandalage
> Farmingville, New York
> Previously affiliated with Stony Brook State University.
> Contact Info
Sally Stieglitz
> Stony Brook, New York
> Affiliated with Long Island Library Resources Council (LILRC) and Association of Jewish Libraries' News and Reviews.
> Contact Info
Susan Raizer
> Bethpage, New York
> Affiliated with the Cradle of Aviation Museum and Education Center.
> Contact Info
Thomas Lynch
> Lynbrook, New York
> Affiliated with the Cradle of Aviation Museum in Garden City.
> Contact Info
Tim Needles
> Sound Beach, New York
> Affiliated with Smithtown School District and TEDx Talk.
> Contact Info
William Taylor
> Amagansett, New York
> Previously affiliated with West Virginia University.
> Contact Info
Mid-Hudson
There is an active cluster of NASA Solar System Ambassadors in the Mid-Hudson region, many of whom have ties to large national organizations. A key future focus would be on recruiting new Ambassadors throughout the region and increasing connectivity with local organizations.
John Fontana
> Monroe, NY
> Affiliated with The Fontana Group, LLC.
> Contact Info
Lauren Tucker
> New Hempstead, New York
> Member of the United Nations Non-Governmental Organizations Committee on Mental Health.
> Contact Info
Michael Zeilnhofer
> Carmel, New York
> Previously affiliated with Northern Arizona University.
> Contact Info
Willie Yee
> New Paltz, New York
> Affiliated with the American Red Cross.
> Contact Info
Mohawk Valley
There are a pair of NASA Solar System Ambassadors in the Mohawk Valley region, both of whom have ties to higher education institutions. A key future focus would be recruiting new Ambassadors in other communities throughout the Mohawk Valley region.
Carol Higgins
> New Hartford, New York
> Previously affiliated with Empire State College.
> Contact Info
Susan Henderson
> Oneonta, New York
> Previously affiliated with Binghamton University.
> Contact Info
NYC
New York City is home to the largest concentration of NASA Solar System Ambassadors in the state. Ambassadors operate in all 5 boroughs, with many having ties to prominent academic and cultural institutions in the City. A key future focus is connecting this network for innovation and collaboration, which could serve as a model for the rest of the state.
Dawn Tucker-Mahdi
> Bronx, New York
> Affiliated with the American Association of University Women (AAUW).
> Contact Info
Elysia Segal
> Brooklyn, New York
> Affiliated with the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum and International Museum Theatre Alliance.
> Contact Info
Harold Kozack
> Staten Island, New York
> Affiliated with the Community Board 3 Staten Island.
> Contact Info
Howard Schneider
> Belle Harbor, Queens, New York
> Teacher at Curtis High School in Staten Island and lecturer at Kingsborough Community College.
> Contact Info
Katherine Troche
> Elmhurst, Queens, New York
> Affiliated with the Amateur Astronomy Association of New York, was instrumental in establishing an Observatory along the Hudson River in the Bronx.
> Contact Info
Marc Wagnon
> New York, New York
> Previously affiliated with Geneva Conservatory and Berklee School.
> Contact Info
Margarita Kraynova
> Staten Island, New York
> Involved with Binghamton University.
> Contact Info
Nathan Tubbs
> Brooklyn, New York
> Affiliated with the NYC Public School System.
> Contact Info
Robin Vernuccio
> Bronx, New York
> Presented at Space Day 2023, full video available on Youtube.
> Contact Info
Southern Tier
There are a pair of active NASA Solar System Ambassadors in the Southern Tier region, both of whom are tied to major local Universities and community organizations. A key future focus would be recruiting new Ambassadors in other parts of the region and deepening the network between them.
Joseph Skovira
> Owego, New York
> Previously affiliated with University of Notre Dame and Cornell University.
> Contact Info
Tish Bresee
> Binghamton, New York
> Previously affiliated with Kopernik Observatory and Science Center.
> Contact Info
Western NY
There are a trio of active NASA Solar System Ambassadors in Western New York who are involved in a range of academic, community, and private sector partnerships. A key future focus would be expanding the Ambassador network and increasing collaboration.
Christopher Boehringer
> Clarence Center, New York
> Affiliated with Buffalo Public Schools.
> Contact Info
Jim Zappa
> Getzville, New York
> Member of the American Society of Testing & Materials (ASTM) and the SAE-Aerospace division.
> Contact Info
Warren Marcus
> Williamsville, New York
> Involved with community based groups throughout Western, Genesee and Finger Lakes of New York State.
> Contact Info
North Country
Currently no active NASA Solar System Ambassadors in this region. Filling this gap is a top Empire Space priority, bringing the benefits of an active Ambassador network to the residents of New York’s North Country.
Future Goals
The future goals for the NASA Solar System Ambassadors collaboration in New York emphasizes action and impact. The collaboration highlights these Ambassadors as vital contributors of their communities, demonstrating their essential role in advancing space education and engagement.
By developing a collective network among Ambassadors, Empire Space aims to foster a collaborative environment that facilitates the sharing of different events and innovative ideas, as well as representation in underserved areas for a more diverse and widespread impact. This will increase the level of space-focused community programming available across the state, which in turn enhances academic opportunities and creates spaces for innovation and networking that benefit private companies.
It is also imperative that these networks expand within their existing regions, and reach new regions as well. The lack of an active NASA Solar System Ambassador deprives North Country residents of a valuable community resource, and Empire Space will prioritize filling this gap.
To learn more about the NASA Solar System Ambassador program visit science.nasa.gov/engage/solar-system-ambassadors/.
To view all Empire Space data tables visit empirespace.org/data/.
To contact Empire Space to learn more about our work or discuss potential programming opportunities, email info@empirespace.org.