William (Bill) Wren, M.Ed.
Special Assistant to the Superintendent
McDonald Observatory
University of Texas at Austin
Bill Wren has been fascinated by the night sky all his life. He studied Philosophy and Educational Psychology at the University of Texas. He also audited courses in the Astronomy Department, and was an academic tutor for undergraduate students in astronomy.
In 1990, Bill started work at McDonald Observatory as a Public Affairs Specialist and part-time researcher. He also helped design and build several unique telescopes, one of which is wheelchair accessible and dedicated for public use at the observatory’s Visitors Center.
Throughout his career at McDonald, Bill has been deeply involved in protecting the Observatory’s dark night skies, an endeavor which remains a large part of his duties. His greatest satisfaction comes from conveying the wonders of the universe to the tens of thousands of people who visit the observatory each year.