Dr. Rhiannon Mayne
Curator of the Oscar E. Monnig Meteorite Collection and Gallery
Email: monniggallery@tcu.edu
Phone: 817-257-MARS (6277)
Fax: 817-257-7789
Dr. Mayne was born in the UK and, like many other children, dreamt of becoming an astronaut when ‘grown up.’ However, realism set in during her high school years – it did not seem sensible to launch someone into space who could get travel sick on a swing. Dr. Mayne abandoned her dreams of space and went to Edinburgh University to study Geology instead. While at Edinburgh, she listened to a talk from a visiting professor on meteorites and realized there was a career that could combine her love of rocks and space. She went on to get her Ph.D. from the University of Tennessee and spent a year working at the Smithsonian before joining TCU.
Heather Stepp
Education Outreach Specialist
Email: heather.stepp@tcu.edu
Phone: 817-257-7748
Heather graduated from Texas Tech University with a degree in Early Childhood Development and brings more than 20 years of experience in both public and private education. She has taught students from Pre-K through middle school, developing a passion for creating engaging learning experiences that spark curiosity and encourage students to explore the world around them.
At the Monnig Meteorite Collection, Heather works to make space science accessible and exciting for learners of all ages. She develops hands-on educational resources and curriculum-aligned lessons that support teachers in meeting their instructional goals while inspiring students to ask questions, think like scientists, and explore the wonders of our universe.
