Joseph Kabbes calls himself an “unconventional academic.” He serves as an instructor and manager at the Fayetteville State University Planetarium and Observatory, a career he pursued following a surprising pivot.
Working as a software developer during the beginning of his career, Kabbes felt something was missing. He sensed a latent desire to delve into the world of astronomy – a field that had fascinated him since his youth. So, he went back to school where graduate work in astronomy eventually landed him in a teaching role and the realization that this was what he loved.
Now he spends his days teaching, grading, managing tours and renovations, and sharing his passion for astronomy with students and adults of all ages.
With 5,000 students visiting the location annually for tours and summer camps, there’s always something going on and always something that needs to be updated. Current renovations center on the observatory, which will now bring the whole facility up to date, since planetarium renovations were completed several years ago…