My name is Mindy Townsend.
I’m an astrophysicist and public astronomy educator. I received my PhD from the University of Kansas in 2022. I am the Dudley Astronomer at Siena College, where I work with students and the public to make astronomy fun and accessible.
My dissertation was on the growth of massive galaxies under the supervision of my dissertation advisor, Gregory Rudnick. My research involves the study galaxies and how their environment affect how they evolve. But that’s not all. Check out the FAQ below for more about me as a person.
FAQ
Why is the name of your website so weird?
It’s not weird. It’s whimsical.
There is, as you might expect, a story behind it. As you may have read in my CV, I earned my law degree before I decided to change fields and study astrophysics. I am from Kansas and one of our official mottos is “Ad astra per aspera,” to the stars through difficulty. I’ve always loved that motto. As I was workshopping a URL my partner, who knows my weakness for wordplay, suggested “Ad Astra per Esquire.” It symbolizes my unique academic journey.
How many national parks have you been to?
I’m so glad you asked! I love national parks. I want to visit them all, but I’ll settle for as many as I can. So far I’ve been to:
Mammoth Cave
Arches
Canyonlands
Black Canyon of the Gunnison
Hawaii Volcanoes
Rocky Mountain
Crater Lake
Redwood
Lassen Volcanic
Great Sand Dunes
Capitol Reef
Grand Canyon
Petrified Forest
Badlands
Theodore Roosevelt
Glacier
Wind Cave
And a smattering of equally gorgeous national monuments and protected wildlife areas. I will continue to add to this list as long as I am able!
What do you do to relax or have fun?
I think being outside is regenerative, so I really enjoy running, hiking, and taking walks around my neighborhood. I also love reading Terry Pratchett novels and binge-watching The Great British Bake Off and Bob’s Burgers when I want to unwind.