Teznie Pugh

By McDonald Observatory

October 1, 2023

Teznie Pugh earned her Ph.D. in astronomy from Western University in Ontario, Canada, focusing on the study of high-resolution spectra of red supergiant stars. Her career includes roles at Lowell Observatory, where she served as Discovery Channel Telescope specialist, operations manager, and interim deputy director of technology. In 2020, Pugh joined the McDonald Observatory team as superintendent.

A passionate advocate for astronomical site protections, she currently co-chairs the American Astronomical Society’s (AAS) Committee for the Protection of Astronomy and the Space Environment (COMPASSE) and was instrumental in the founding of the Greater Big Bend International Dark Sky Reserve in 2022.