Resume
Diane Turnshek
dianeturnshek@gmail.com
Education
University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ
Masters Degree, Astronomy
Villanova University, Philadelphia, PA
Bachelor of Science, Astronomy
Experience
St. Vincent College, Latrobe, PA
Adjunct Faculty, Physics Department, January 2003 - Present
- Instructor for introductory astronomy course and laboratory
Adjunct Faculty, English Department, Spring term 2009
- Developed and taught upper level creative writing class "How to Write SF/F/H"
University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA
Instructor, Department of Physics and Astronomy, August 2001 – Present
- Instructor for courses “Stars, Galaxies and the Cosmos” and “Stonehenge to Hubble”
Outreach Coordinator, January 1989 – 2005
- Utilized grants from NASA and NSF to extend educational boundaries of the University to the surrounding community, especially targeting gifted children from grades K-12.
- Participated in yearly University Science Academy and ran career discussions with HS students
Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA
Special Lecturer, Department of Physics/Astronomy August 2008 - present
- Instructor for introductory astronomy class and lab
Community College of Allegheny County, Pittsburgh, PA
Adjunct Faculty, Dept. of Physics and Chemistry, August 2008 - present
- Instructor for three introductory astronomy classes per term
Seton Hill University, Greensburg, PA
Adjunct Faculty, January 2002 – present
- Lecturer
- Mentored graduate students in the Writing Popular Fiction Master’s Degree Program
Squonk Opera Company, Turtle Creek, PA
Outreach Coordinator, September 2007 - October 2008
- Set up pre-events for the outdoor show, Astro-rama
- Talked to K-12 students about astronomy
- Coordinated public outreach activities
- Interacted with the media
Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America
Eastern Regional Director, July 2004 – June 2007
- Ran the annual weekend business meeting and Nebula Awards Ceremony in May 2007 and the Publishers Reception each November in New York City
- Coordinated volunteers
- Provided guidance to SFWA committees
- Worked with educational groups to promote literacy
- Created promotional materials publicizing SFWA authors
- Interacted with the media
Carnegie Science Center, Pittsburgh, PA
Planetarium Operator, January 1982 – May 1984
- Developed and implemented planetarium shows
Carlow College, Pittsburgh, PA
Adjunct Faculty, August 1981 - 1982
- Instructor of astronomy, geology and Earth science courses
Chatham College, Pittsburgh, PA
Instructor, January 1982
- Instructor of intensive astronomy course
Publications
Nonfiction:
The Triple QSO PG1115+08: Another Probable Gravitational Lens, Nature, June 1980
An Atlas of Digital Spectra of Cool Stars, Western Research Corporation, 1985.
More than a dozen scientific papers in referred journals; magazine articles
Fiction:
“Dancing in the Light,” Analog Magazine, December 1999.
“Hullabaloo,” Analog Magazine, July/August 2000.
“Spark of Hope,” Storyhouse, 2004.
Many other short fiction and poetry pieces
Editor, Triangulation: Speculative Fiction, PARSEC Ink, 2003.
Skills
MS Word, PowerPoint, Outlook, Excel, HTML, printing/publishing software
Activities
Delivered dozens of public talks on astronomy
Founder and executor of Alpha, a 12-day, residency writing workshop for young writers age 14-19, at University of Pittsburgh Greensburg since 2002
Creator of the Pyr Street Team, a viral marketing venture in publishing
Founder of the WorD writing/critiquing group, meeting since 1996
Developer of publishing company PARSEC Ink, edited the first volume of its yearly anthology
Membership
American Astronomical Society
MENSA
Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America
References
Available upon request.