Oct. 21, 2014 Speaker: Brian Keating, UCSD – Beginnings of Time

Going to the ends of the earth to glimpse the beginnings of time, Professor Brian Keating is an astrophysicist with UCSD’s Department of Physics. He and his team of 17 students, and postdocs develop instrumentation to study the early universe at radio-, microwave- and infrared wavelengths.

He is the author of over 100 scientific publications and holds a U.S. Patent. Brian Keating received his B.S. from Case Western Reserve University and his Ph.D. from Brown University in 2000. He did postdoctoral research at Stanford University and was an NSF Postdoctoral  Fellow at Caltech before coming to UCSD in 2004. He received the 2007 Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers at the White House from President Bush for a telescope he developed at the U.S. South Pole Research Station.

Professor Keating c0-leads a collaboration operating the POLARBEAR telescope in the Atacama Desert of Chile. He is also a private pilot with single and multi-engine instrument ratings.

Oct. 14, 2014 Speaker: Judy Keene, Next Step Service Dogs – How Dogs Help & Heal Veterans w PTSD

When long-time friend Sally Montrucchio launched Next Step Service Dogs in 2012, Judy was compelled to help such an amazing cause where a small group of people can make a huge positive impact in the lives of wounded warriors with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

Judy’s background includes a BA and MA in English from the University of Delaware, college teaching, and over 30 years as a publications manager/technical writer for hi tech startups and companies such as HP. Now a full-time volunteer administrator for Next Step Service Dogs, a 501(c)3 nonprofit, Judy Keene is enthusiastic about their mission of training service dogs for veterans with PTSD, and hiring veterans to have careers as service dog trainers.

Her top goals include recruiting wonderful volunteers and with them, support service dog work to enhance and save veterans’ lives.

Oct. 7, 2014 Speaker: Judge David J. Danielsen, San Diego Superior Court – State of the Court

The Superior Court is facing historic budget woes and yet building a 22 story, 71 courtroom central courthouse downtown, all at a time when criminal justice has been turned on its head. What is going on in the Third Branch of government locally?

The speaker on October 7 is the Hon. David J. Danielsen, San Diego Superior Court, who is currently Presiding Judge for 2014 and 2015 and who has been a Judge in San Diego since 1990. His past assignments have been as Assistant Presiding Judge, Criminal Supervising Judge, Felony Settlement Judge, Criminal Trials and Civil, Independent Calendar.

The judge served as President of the California Judges Association in 1999-2000 and as an Advisory Member of the California Judicial Council. A Civil Trial Lawyer for 13 years before appointment to the bench, Judge Danielsen was honored with membership in the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA) in 1989. His education was at the University of San Diego, School of Law, J.D. cum laude 1977 and Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire, A.B. 1973. He teaches around the state and currently lectures on Criminal Justice Realignment, Evidence Based Practices, Felony Sentencing, Plea Bargaining and Three Strikes Amendments.