Board of Trustees

Tim Hunter, M.D., Chair

Hunter obtained a B.A. degree from DePauw University in 1966 and the M.D. degree from Northwestern University in 1968. He also received a Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics from the University of Arizona in 1980. Currently, he is a Professor in the Department of Radiology in the College of Medicine at the University of Arizona. Tim Hunter has been an amateur astronomer since 1950. With James McGaha, he operates Grasslands Observatory in Sonoita, Arizona. He recently completed a Masters degree (MSc) in Astronomy from Swinburne University.  Since 1986, he has been interested in the growing problem of light  pollution. In 1987, Tim Hunter and Dr. David Crawford founded the International Dark-Sky Association, Inc., to promote quality outdoor lighting and combat the effects of light pollution.

Candace P. Kohl, Ph.D., Vice-Chair

Kohl received a B.A. degree in Chemistry from Carleton College in 1969 and a Ph.D. in Chemistry from the University of California, San Diego in 1975. Her studies involved measurement of cosmic ray produced radioactivity in lunar samples and meteorites as well as studies of impact craters. She was one of the original developers of the technique using in-situ produced radioactivity in terrestrial rock to study geomorphology. She is active in science outreach and is on the board of several fund raising organizations for science scholarships. She has been honored by the designation of Minor Planet 4899 Candace. She volunteers with international science efforts and organizations promoting women in science.

Brent A. Archinal, Ph.D.

Archinal received his Ph.D. from Ohio State University in 1987. For 13 years he was employed at the U. S. Naval Observatory and did research into methods for more accurately determining the Earth's orientation and improving the coordinate systems of the Earth and sky. In 1997 he helped establish the International Celestial Reference Frame, to which all other reference frames are now referred. Since 2000 he has been working as a Geodesist with the Astrogeology Science Center of the U. S. Geological Survey in Flagstaff. In 2006 August, he became Chair of the IAU/IAG Working Group on Cartographic Coordinates and Rotational Elements,  which is responsible for establishing the coordinate systems of all solar system bodies. He is a MER Athena and Huygens DISR Science Team member. His research centers on improving the coordinate systems for the other bodies of the solar system so that they can be accurately mapped. He has revised the coordinate reference frames for Io, Mars, and the Moon. As an active amateur astronomer, Archinal is the author of "The Non-existent Star Clusters of the RNGC" (The Webb Society), and co-author of the book "Star Clusters"

William K. Hartmann, Ph.D.

Hartmann is a founder and Senior Scientist of the Planetary Science Institute. He and Don Davis (see above) are known for developing, at PSI, the current theory of the origin of the Moon by a large planetesimal impact into the forming Earth. Hartmann's current work involves development of the "PSI isochron system" of counting impact craters to infer ages of various planetary surface units. Hartmann holds a Ph.D. in Astronomy and M.S. in Geology from the University of Arizona. He was the first winner of the Carl Sagan Award from the American Astronomical Society, a winner of the G.K. Gilbert award from the Geological Society of America, and a co-winner of the Runcorn-Florensky medal from the European Geophysical Union. In addition to his planetary work, he is known for his astronomical paintings and popular writing, including textbooks, popular science, and two published novels.

Pat Simmons

Simmons has been a Senior Vice-President and Regional Banking Manager for Alliance Bank of Arizona since 2009. Before that he served as Executive Vice President for National Bank of Arizona for 13 years. From 1969 to 1970 he served in the United States Marine Corps as a pilot. Simmons has served on a number of Boards in Southern Arizona including the Pima Air and Space Museum, the Pima Council on Aging Foundation, and the American Cancer Society Board.

Benjamin W. Smith, J.D.

Smith is an Attorney-at-Law, admitted to the Arizona State Bar. He is a member of the Arizona State Museum Advisory Board, and a Trustee Emeritus of of the Museum of Northern Arizona in Flagstaff and the Center for Desert Archaeology in Tucson. In 2008 he received the annual Award of Appreciation from the Volunteer Lawyers Program of Southern Arizona Legal Aid, and was named Outstanding Pro Bono Attorney of the Month for March, 2008. He graduated from Antioch College in 1970 with a B.A. in Philosophy and later did graduate work in Philosophy at Johns Hopkins before earning

Mark V. Sykes, Ph.D., J.D.

Sykes is the C.E.O. and Director of the Planetary Science Institute. He studies asteroids, comets and interplanetary dust, using both  ground-based and space-based telescopes, primarily in the thermal infrared. He is the discoverer of cometary dust trails and many extended structures arising from asteroid collisions within the zodiacal cloud. He is the former Chair of the Division for Planetary Sciences of the American Astronomical Society, and was made a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science for his science advocacy. He has been honored by the designation of Minor Planet 4438 Sykes. Mark received his Ph.D. in Planetary Sciences in 1986 and J.D.in 1998 from the University of Arizona (and is admitted to the Arizona Bar). Mark is also a professional musician, performing more than 25 seasons with the Arizona Opera Company, wherehe sings in the chorus. He is a member of the American Guild of Musical Artists.

Michael G. Gibbs, Ed.D, Secretary

Dr. Michael G. Gibbs is the deputy director and chief advancement officer with the Planetary Science Institute. He previously served as the vice president for advancement and chief advancement officer at Capitol College in Laurel, Maryland while also establishing and directing Capitol’s Center for Space Science Education and Public Outreach. Gibbs continues as an associate professor in Capitol’s School of Business and Information Sciences teaching in both the MBA and doctoral programs.

Before joining Capitol, Gibbs served as the chief advancement officer for the Astronomical Society of the Pacific in San Francisco and held various leadership positions at universities such as vice president for development at Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota in Winona, Minn., and assistant vice president for university initiatives at DePaul University in Chicago. At DePaul he established and directed the Leadership and Service Center working in conjunction with the National Hispanic Institute – a Center that was replicated at other universities.

Gibbs received his undergraduate degree in political science, a master of science in public service management, and a doctoral degree in education administration from DePaul University. He also holds a certificate in fundraising management from the Fundraising School at Indiana University, a management certificate from DePaul University, and a certificate in interactive and direct marketing from the Chicago Association of Direct Marketing/DePaul University. He is a member of the board of trustees and it’s secretary for the Astronomical Society of the Pacific (ASP). Gibbs previously served on the boards of the National Hispanic Institute, Planetary Science Institute, and the Baltimore Washington Corridor Chamber.

Trustees Emeritus

Donald R. Davis, Ph.D.

Davis is a Founder and Senior Scientist of the Planetary Science Institute. He is a Trustee Emeritus of the PSI Board of Trustees on which he served for 15 years. In addition to his leadership of the Institute as co-founder and Director for over 30 years, he has made many contributions to planetary science including advancing our knowledge of asteroids and the origin of the Moon.

John L. Mason, Ph.D.

Mason received a B.S .degree in Meteorology from the University of Chicago in 1944 and a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from Caltech in 1950. He currently consults for Applied Research & Technology, a California LLC, on the design of energy-efficient pumps and compressors. He is a fellow of the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE), and was SAE's 1990 president. He is a member of the National Academy of Engineering. John Mason is a Trustee Emeritus of the Planetary Science Institute.