About DarkSky Ohio

Following a 30-year active duty and nine-year civilian career with the United States Air Force he thought he retired. Turns out he didn’t retire but just changed his focus and became reacquainted with his interest in the night sky that had existed for ten years before his undergraduate years. Initially, it was just visual astronomy that drew him but he soon realized that the night sky must be preserved not just for astronomy, but for insects, water life, birds, amphibians, nocturnal mammals, and his fellow humans.

Brad Kerry is DarkSky Ohio's Director of Government Affairs. During his free time, he enjoys being outside, playing games with his friends, and finding new experiences. He joined DarkSky Ohio with the hope of bringing the Milky Way to all the people in Ohio.

Bryan is the Treasurer for DarkSky Ohio and has been a member of the Crawford Parks Astronomy Club for over 15 years. He really enjoys the sharing amazing Universe to friends and families at the Nature Park. Many years ago, he made a trip to Wyoming to see the Grand Tetons and Yellowstone; he was so amazed at the dark Wyoming skies, especially the ability to see the Milky Way. DarkSky Ohio has been a great opportunity for Bryan to help share ways to make Ohio skies darker while still providing essential light needed for our protection and safety. Together, we can restore our wonderful dark Ohio skies for everyone and nature to enjoy!

Liz Schumacher-Berger is determined to stop light pollution, if it's the last thing she does. She's always had a deep interest in astronomy, and at one point, thought she would become an astronomer until she learned how much math was involved and said "no thanks." She rekindled her love of astronomy when she joined the Miami Valley Astronomical Society in 2023, and later learned to channel her passion for advocacy by joining forces with DarkSky Ohio to help educate the public on the importance of responsible lighting and why preserving the night sky is critical for human life and wildlife.

Bryan is a professor of civil and environmental engineering at Ohio Northern University and a past recipient of DarkSky International's Nocturnal Habitat Protection Award. His applied conservation efforts connect stakeholders with nature, protect ecological systems and cultural heritage, and explore innovative solutions for a more sustainable future. He's collaborated with over 60 partners from across the globe on lighting and non-lighting related projects seeking to protect nocturnal environments and natural nightscapes, including those right here in Ohio. He hopes his project contributions leave a legacy of natural nightscapes to his children's, children's, children.

Brendan is based in Columbus, Ohio, and works as a Lighting Consultant with DarkSky Ohio. He became a DarkSky advocate after visiting the national parks in the western United States, particularly the certified DarkSky parks, where experiencing truly dark night skies highlighted the impact of artificial lighting.

Lain is an aspiring astrophysicist and a student at The Ohio State University. She began her DarkSky advocacy and role as DarkSky Ohio's Youth Outreach Director in 2023. She has been interested in astronomy since she was a child and hopes that other young people will be able to experience the beauty of the night sky for years to come.

Bio and photo coming soon

Mark Stabler (aka Dark Mark or Darcus Marcus) has an extensive background in Electrical Engineering, and worked with Matrix Systems for over 30 years designing circuit boards and security systems. After retiring, Mark became involved with the Miami Valley Astronomical Society and helped educate the public about the importance of the night sky. His experience with the Astronomical Society eventually led to forming DarkSky Ohio with a few other members in 2018. Mark helps DarkSky Ohio by organizing and participating in outreach events and making contacts with many local groups and organizations that share DarkSky Ohio's passion for the night sky.

Erin Shaw has been a Park Naturalist with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources since 2007. Based at Caesar Creek State Park, she leads public programs and volunteer initiatives centered on land, water, and night sky stewardship.
Born and raised near Caesar Creek and Little Miami River, Erin grew up stargazing and exploring night trails. Today, working in the same landscape, she sees the night fading at an alarming rate, especially within the past year. That lived perspective drives her advocacy for responsible lighting and natural darkness across Ohio.
A former school teacher with a master's degree in education, Erin blends science, storytelling, and community engagement to elevate awareness about light pollution's impact on wildlife, human health, cultural heritage, and energy sustainability.
For Erin, protecting the night is more about the stars. It's about preserving habitat, restoring wonder, and ensuring that future generations look up into the sky that belongs to us all.

Gary Cook has been a photographer for most of his life. He has always loved light and shadows, noticing how light plays over form and landscapes, and capturing a fleeting moment, frozen forever on film. His life changed years ago when he sat through a presentation at his local camera club on astrophotography. He had never seen anything so spectacular or awe-inspiring, but quickly discovered that light pollution made this hobby almost impossible without traveling to very remote places. Gary will never forget looking up under a Bortle 1 sky. It’s sad to realize just a century ago, this view was visible almost anywhere on earth, and now only a tiny fraction of humanity can witness it.

Ben, a lifelong Ohioan, works as a case worker for individuals with developmental disabilities. He is a member of the Miami Valley Astronomical Society, DarkSky Ohio, and The Archeological Society of Ohio, Blue Jacket Chapter. Ben is passionate about dark skies and believes that the night sky is an important part of our cultural heritage and vital to conservation efforts. He hopes to preserve the night sky for many generations to enjoy, just as he was able to do when he was a child.

Traci Cardinal served as the President of DarkSky Ohio from 2022 to 2026, where she combined her lifelong passion for the night sky with a commitment to advocacy and education. In 2022, she played a key role in helping Clark County adopt a light pollution ordinance, which led her to the DarkSky Ohio Chapter. She believes light pollution is a problem that can be solved, one light at a time.