Our Team

The Culp Planetarium represents not only a state-of-the-art classroom for HPU undergraduates, but also an interdisciplinary facility for public outreach events, artistic performances, and university events. Its successful operation would not be possible without the dedication of the staff members listed below. If you have any questions regarding the Culp Planetarium and our programming, feel free to get in touch with any one of us!

Director
	BRAD N. BARLOW, PhD (bbarlow@highpoint.edu) Associate Professor of Astrophysics & Director of the Culp Planetarium Wanek Science 338 (336) 841-9542 Dr. Barlow is an Associate Professor in the Department of Physics at High Point University and Director of the Culp Planetarium. Before moving to the NC Triad, he completed his Ph.D. in astrophsyics in the Department of Physics & Astronomy at UNC-Chapel Hill in 2011 and spent two years as a Postdoctoral Research Scholar at Penn State University. His research primarily focuses on pulsating stars, late stellar evolution, and binary star systems. In September 2018, the National Science Foundation awarded his research group a three-year, $349,621 grant to study the effects small objects like planets and brown dwarfs might have on the evolution of stars like the sun. Originally from Biloxi, Mississippi, Dr. Barlow did his undergraduate studies at Mississippi State University. His other interests include playing the piano, writing music, running, and public outreach.
Manager
	ERIN BRADY (ebrady2@highpoint.edu) Planetarium & Physics Lab Manager Wanek Science 344 Erin Brady is the Planetarium and Physics Laboratory Manager at High Point University. She recently graduated from High Point University with a B.S. in Physics and Studio Art. Erin is interested in combining art and science to create visualizations that help people understand information in a different way. She has previously created pairs of pieces containing actual undergraduate physics data in an analytic approach and then an artistic response, and one pairing is owned by a public collection. Her other interests include outreach, reading, and casual bike rides.
Fine Arts Advisor
	SCOTT MACLEOD, DMA (smacleod@highpoint.edu) Associate Professor of Voice & Director of Vocal Studies Hayworth Fine Arts 114 (336) 841-9557 Dr. MacLeod is Assistant Professor of Voice at High Point University, where he provides individual voice training, teaches opera and musical theatre techniques, and serves as music director for HPU opera and musical theatre productions. He has led several student performance tours in Costa Rica as part of the Centro Cultural Costarricense/Norteamericano “Promising Artists of the 21st Century” program, and was HPU faculty leader for the Prague Institute in spring semester 2015. He spent two summers as a guest artist/lecturer in China and was awarded an honorary faculty post at Shaoguan University (Guangdong, China) in 2017. He also serves as chorus master for North Carolina Opera. He holds degrees from Northwestern University, Florida State University, and the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.
Student Operators
	LIAM CLANCY (lclancy@highpoint.edu) Physics, Interactive Media Liam Clancy is currently a sophomore at High Point University, working toward a double major in physics and interactive media. In his hometown of Arlington, VA, he built up extensive theater experience, both on-stage and back-stage. He puts these skills to use in the many Society of Physics Students (SPS) outreach events, where students are introduced to the excitement and wonder of science. Liam is currently serving as the secretary for the HPU SPS chapter and is conducting material research with Dr. Fiser. In his copius spare time, Liam enjoys powerlifting, playing jazz guitar, and relaxing with a cup of coffee. He enjoys sharing his passion for the beauty of physics with others, whether with a hands-on presentation or planetarium show.
	JESSICA-ROSE GREENE (jgreene3@highpoint.edu) Physics Jessica-Rose Greene is from Long Island, New York and is currently a junior here at HPU. She is pursuing a degree in physics and plans to get her Masters in Education following graduation next spring. Of her notable qualities, she’s most known for her eagerness and inspiration to learn new things everyday. In addition, Jessica is involved in various clubs both on and off campus including the Society of Physics Students, Alpha Gamma Delta, and the Huntington Community First Aid Squad. Her passion to help others and love of Physics are what led her to pursue a career in teaching. One of Jessica’s favorite components of SPS is the outreach they do for the community. Her favorite event is HPUniverse Day, an event that engages and excites kids in the community about the world of physics. She believes that the Culp Planetarium will be a beautiful asset to not only our university but our community as a whole, and furthermore that it will propel the program to next level by educating and inspiring all those who join us here.
	IVANA KORANKYI (ikoranky@highpoint.edu) Pre-Pharmacy Ivana Korankyi is from Jamestown, North Carolina and is currently a sophomore at HPU. She studies Pre-Pharmacy with extended interests in business and neonatal medicine. Ivana is currently involved in researching biochemical derivatives of carbetocin to expand medicinal options for postpartum hemorrhaging across the globe. In addition to biochemical research, Ivana participates in NIH funded pharmaceutical research where she studies D3 receptors and their critical role in the addiction crisis in America. She enjoys spending time with her family, reading, and being outdoors. Everyday, Ivana finds joy in taking on new challenges and engaging in meaningful work that can transform the lives of others.
	NOLAN ROTH (nroth@highpoint.edu) Physics, Computer Science Nolan is pursuing a B.S. in Physics and a B.A. in Computer Science at High Point University. Currently a senior, Nolan’s interests are in computational physics as it applies to biophysics and fluid dynamics simulations. He has worked on research regarding the viscoelastic properties of fibrin networks and written algorithms to efficiently analyze such networks. Additionally, Nolan worked as an intern in NASA Goddard’s Planetary Environments laboratory, where he investigated carbon nanotubes as a source for the high energy electron beams needed for x-ray spectroscopy on airless bodies. Outside of research, Nolan leads the Society of Physics Students club at HPU.
Faculty Operators
	CHRISTIAN GEORGE ( cgeorge@highpoint.edu) Assistant Professor of Biology Wanek Science 444 (336) 841-9654 Dr. George is an assistant professor in the Department of Biology at High Point University. His research and teaching focus on the evolutionary history of life on earth. As a paleoecologist, he investigates the effects of environmental change on communities of mammals at various times throughout the past, from the last Ice Age to 60 million years ago. His research utilizes large paleontological databases such as NEOTOMA and the Paleobiology Database (PBDB). He has received National Science Foundation funding to use the PBDB to provide authentic research experiences in undergraduate classes. Dr. George is originally from Stroudsburg, PA and graduated from Franklin & Marshall College, the University of Florida, and received his PhD in Geological Sciences from The University of Texas at Austin.
	JEFF REGESTER (jregester@highpoint.edu) Instructor of Physics and Astronomy Wanek Science 416 (336) 841-9757 Mr. Regester has a B.S. in Applied and Engineering Physics and a B.A. in Archaeology from Cornell University and a M.S. in Astronomy from the University of Arizona. His areas of interest are astronomy, engineering, physics education, physics demonstrations, and laboratory apparatuses. Mr. Regester performed an experiment on NASA's reduced gravity aircraft (i.e. the vomit comet). He also observed Pluto occultations with a NASA and NSF funded team preparing for the New Horizons mission at locations in Tasmania, Reunion Island, Kwajalein Atoll, Marshall Islands, New Mexico and North Carolina. Mr Regester oversees the physics department's 3D printer, ShopBot, and maker space. He teaches students how to safely use the shop tools.