Deana Weibel

Deana L. Weibel, Ph.D. is a Professor of Anthropology at Grand Valley State University
(jointly appointed in the School of Interdisciplinary Studies) and Chair of the Chicago/Great 22 Lakes Chapter of The Explorers Club.

A scholar of exploration, spirituality, and symbolism, she is the author of The Ultraview Effect: What We Can Learn from Astronauts About Awe, Humility, and Exploring the Unknown, published by University of California Press in 2026.

Weibel's work bridges cultural and scientific study, exploring how acts of discovery become expressions of faith and curiosity. In Voyager's Golden Record, she examines the Golden Record as both scientific artifact and act of self-expression, a planetary statement that is as much about being human as about being heard.