Ms. Villalobos oversees our planetarium operation, coordinating reservations, staffing and development of our educational programming. Ms. Villalobos is also the Director of the Robert J. Novins Planetarium at Ocean County College in Toms River, a position she's held since November 2001. She holds an A.S. in Physical Science from Olympic College in Bremerton, Washington; a B.S. in Astronomy & Physics from Washington State University, and a Masters in Astronomy from the University of Western Sydney in Australia. She is currently working on her Doctorate with James Cook University in Australia, with a focus on bringing live telescope imagery & participatory science to the planetarium environment. 

Ms. Villalobos also worked for four years as the Educator for the Vanderbilt Planetarium in Centerport, NY; and, prior to starting at Ocean County College, was the Supervisor for Earth and Space Explainers at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City.

The Middle Atlantic Planetarium Society (MAPS) is one of the oldest professional planetarium associations in the United States, with nearly 200 members representing some of the largest and best known planetariums in the world, as well as a vast collection of small and mid-sized public, private and educational facilities. Ms. Villalobos has been an active member of MAPS since 1996 and currently serves as the organization's President.  Other professional activities include: The International Planetarium Society education committee, NASA/JPL Solar System Ambassador Program, Solar System Educator Program and New Horizons Fellow (for the mission to Pluto).

Lead Astronomer - Phil Zollner.

Phil Zollner has been a part time lecturer and astronomy instructor at the Novins Planetarium, Ocean County College, for 34 years.  He is an active amateur astronomer and astrophotographer affiliated with the Astronomical Society of the Toms River Area and the Middle Atlantic Planetarium Society.  He holds a B.S. degree in astronomy from Denison University, Ohio, and an MLS (library science) degree from Rutgers University.

He retired in 1992 after spending 31 years as an elementary school teacher and media services administrator.  His favorite astronomical pastime is worldwide travel chasing solar eclipses, having encountered the lunar shadow 14 times over the past 39 years.

Sales Director - Sam Doshi, MBA/MSCE.

Mr. Doshi is responsible for the Sales and business development for Star Tellers. He oversees our customer relationship management and building the network with other Astronomy organizations. He is a visiting Astronomer and member of project ASTRO NOVA affiliated with Raritan Valley Community College.

Mr. Doshi is a telecommunication sales specialist and earned his MBA from Rutgers University (2003); he earned is Masters in Computer Engineering from Syracuse University (1993). He is member of Beta Gamma Sigma and SCORE.

The International Planetarium Society (IPS) - Portable Planetarium Committee

We thank the IPS Portable Planetarium Committee for their invaluable information and resources.

Raritan Valley Community College Planetarium

We thank the RVCC Planetarium Committee for their support and the teaching resources that they shared with us.