Flagstaff Dark Skies Coalition Appoints Danielle Adams as Executive Director

Flagstaff Dark Skies Coalition Appoints New Executive Director to Lead 25th Anniversary Celebrations

Flagstaff, AZ — The Flagstaff Dark Skies Coalition (FDSC) has officially appointed Danielle Adams, Ph.D., a cultural astronomer, as its new executive director. This announcement comes on the heels of her successful interim leadership, during which she has already made significant strides in the organization’s mission to protect and celebrate the dark skies of Northern Arizona.

“I am honored to continue serving as executive director,” Adams stated. “The Flagstaff Dark Skies Coalition provides so many fantastic opportunities to connect with the night sky in the world’s first International Dark Sky City and strives to enhance the quality of life for others, envisioning a world in which everyone can see the Milky Way where they live.”

Adams has been at the helm since September 2024, where she has revitalized the organization’s vision and mission, increased fundraising efforts, and launched a community-wide celebration for International Dark Sky Week in April 2025. Her leadership is expected to usher in a new era for the coalition as it prepares for the 2026 anniversary of Flagstaff’s designation as the world’s first International Dark Sky City in 2001.

“Dr. Adams brings a fresh perspective and initiative to our mission to reconnect everyone with the awe and wonder of starlit skies,” said Chris Luginbuhl, FDSC Board President. “We are excited by the new opportunities before us to begin to use what Flagstaff has learned to restore night skies across the globe.”

With a doctoral dissertation focused on indigenous Arabian astronomy from the University of Arizona, Adams combines her academic background in cultural anthropology with a passion for astronomy. Her diverse educational journey includes studying Arabic literature at the American University of Beirut and Princeton University.

The FDSC has been celebrating its 25th anniversary throughout 2025, advocating for the preservation of the night sky and serving as a model for other communities. Founded in 2000, the coalition successfully proposed Flagstaff as the first International Dark Sky City, a groundbreaking initiative led by Luginbuhl, a retired Naval Observatory astronomer.

“For 25 years, the Coalition has promoted the values and wonders of dark skies and helped create a model in Flagstaff to show the world how to reduce light pollution and protect the treasures of a star-filled sky,” Luginbuhl remarked.

As the organization gears up for its milestone anniversary in 2026, a series of events are planned, including a 25th anniversary celebration of International Dark Sky Week from April 13-20, a summer NightVisions exhibition at the Coconino Center for the Arts, and a special Flagstaff Star Party from October 1-3, 2026.

For more information on upcoming events and initiatives, visit www.FlagstaffStarParty.org.

Courtesy Photo: FDSC Board President Chris Luginbuhl with Executive Director Danielle Adams (third from the left) accepted a proclamation from Flagstaff Mayor Becky Daggett (third from the right) and councilmembers during International Dark Sky Week in April.