In the News: Austin Peay alum promoted to lead Vanderbilt Dyer Observatory

Austin Peay State University physics alumnus Billy Teets (’04) has been promoted to director of Vanderbilt Dyer Observatory. Teets has worked at Dyer for more than 14 years and took the helm there as interim director last summer after the retirement of longtime director Rocky Alvey. Vanderbilt University’s Vice Chancellor for Government and Community Relations Nathan Green told Vanderbilt News, “Billy has enthusiastically contributed to the Dyer legacy in his many roles at the observatory. He is the unique person to advance Vanderbilt’s mission through community engagement with an academic focus at Dyer. He knows, loves and can lead the observatory into a bright future.” Teets earned a Bachelor of Science in Physics from Austin Peay and a doctorate in physics with a concentration in astronomy from Vanderbilt in 2012. He is also a Clarksville native. “As so many people have said before, Dyer Observatory is a very special place,” Teets told Vanderbilt News. “It is a great honor and privilege to hold the same position as someone like Professor Seyfert, and I am excited to continue in this rich legacy.” Dyer was the brainchild of Vanderbilt astronomer Carl K. Seyfert, who is renowned for his discovery of a class of galaxies that still bear his name. To read the full story, click here. To see a video displaying Teets’ passion at Dyer, click here. To learn more For more about the Department of Physics, Engineering and Astronomy at Austin Peay, visit www.apsu.edu/physics.

Teets during a Vanderbilt outreach program. (Vanderbilt University photo)

(Posted Jan. 14, 2021)

Austin Peay State University physics alumnus Billy Teets (’04) has been promoted to director of Vanderbilt Dyer Observatory.

Teets (Vanderbilt University photo)

Teets has worked at Dyer for more than 14 years and took the helm there as interim director last summer after the retirement of longtime director Rocky Alvey.

Vanderbilt University’s Vice Chancellor for Government and Community Relations Nathan Green told Vanderbilt News, “Billy has enthusiastically contributed to the Dyer legacy in his many roles at the observatory. He is the unique person to advance Vanderbilt’s mission through community engagement with an academic focus at Dyer. He knows, loves and can lead the observatory into a bright future.”

Teets earned a Bachelor of Science in Physics from Austin Peay and a doctorate in physics with a concentration in astronomy from Vanderbilt in 2012. He is also a Clarksville native.

“As so many people have said before, Dyer Observatory is a very special place,” Teets told Vanderbilt News. “It is a great honor and privilege to hold the same position as someone like Professor Seyfert, and I am excited to continue in this rich legacy.”

Dyer was the brainchild of Vanderbilt astronomer Carl K. Seyfert, who is renowned for his discovery of a class of galaxies that still bear his name.

To read the full story, click here.

To see a video displaying Teets’ passion at Dyer, click here.

To learn more

For more about the Department of Physics, Engineering and Astronomy at Austin Peay, visit www.apsu.edu/physics.

News Feed

View All News

APSU students gain professional experience through Banking on Govs program

Four Austin Peay State University students spent a week at the Southeastern School of Banking this summer through the College of Business' Banking on Govs program, an all-expenses-paid partnership with F&M Bank and the Tennessee Bankers Association now in its third year.

Multimedia artist Rebecca Morrison opens APSU's gallery season

Austin Peay State University's Department of Art + Design, with support from the Center of Excellence for the Creative Arts, is presenting Boston-based multimedia artist Rebecca Morrison's digital work through Oct. 2 to open the 2026-27 season of its gallery for new media art.

APSU's Science on Tap opens fall season with trip to Moon

Austin Peay's Science on Tap kicks off its fall season on Sept. 1 at Strawberry Alley Ale Works. Dr. Amanda Stadermann will present "Moon Joy," exploring lunar exploration, NASA's Artemis program, and what moon rocks reveal about Earth's history.