When he entered Midland University in the mid 1960s, Jack Dunn wasn’t sure where his career path would lead. About all he knew was that he liked science.

Turns out that interest in science, more specifically space, helped spark a 50-plus year career working with planetariums across the globe.

“I really didn’t know what direction I wanted to go in college, other than I liked science and felt that starting at Midland would help me find my direction, and it did. I had a great feeling in general about the student body. Midland had friendly and kind people and good professors.

“Dr. Gilbert Lueninghoener (whom the Midland planetarium is named after) brought me into the planetarium and observatory and then helped with my studies in astronomy, geology, and physics. That was the basis of my professional career of over 40 years of two planetariums and still working as a consultant with planetariums across the world.”

In 1971, Dunn began what would become a 43-year run as director for the Mueller Planetarium on the University of Nebraska-Lincoln campus. 

His love for planetarium work is shared by his family. His wife, Dr. Elizabeth Klimek, is currently manager of the South Carolina Planetarium at the South Carolina State Museum, where Jack serves as a volunteer. His son, Mike, would work with laser art programming and helped create laser programming for bands such as the Eagles and Def Leppard.

One of Jack’s greatest accomplishments came a year ago with the opening of the Dunn Planetarium (named in his honor) in Kosovo, a small country in Europe. After nearly 10 years of planning and working with Pranvera Hyseni and the Astronomy Outreach of Kosovo, the National Observatory and Planetarium came to fruition. Jack donated much of the equipment to the project

“I have loved working with small planetariums, who have tight budgets, to be able to do as much as possible. Getting to know astronauts and astronomers who have reached great heights, and having my work in lasers seen in major cities in the United States and Australia, are some of my proudest moments.”