Education

  • Ph.D. University of Missouri, Columbia
  • M.A. University of Missouri, Columbia, Anthropology (minor in Museum Studies)
  • B.A. University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, Anthropology
  • B.S. University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, Chemistry

Areas of Expertise

  • Human Osteology
  • Skeletal Biology
  • Forensic Anthropology

Background

My primary interest is in human skeletal biology, specifically bone histology. Bone histology is the study of skeletal tissue and employs the theories, methods, and instrumentation often used in clinical research. Histological analyses of human bone to estimate the age-at-death of individuals and to distinguish between human and non-human animal remains have applications in forensic sciences and bioarchaeology.

Additionally, histomorphometry, a quantitative study of skeletal tissue microstructures, is employed to estimate bone dynamics in contemporary and archaeological populations to understand the mechanisms of age-related bone loss and osteoporosis that plague contemporary peoples.

Teaching

ANT 102 Humankind Evolving
ANT 271 Human Ecology
ANT 272 Forensic Anthropology
ANT 273 Bioarchaeology
ANT 275 Monkeys, Apes, Humans
ANT 335 Debunking Race
ANT 340 Medical Anthropology
ANT 374 Methods in Forensic Anthropology
ANT 375 Human Osteology
ANT 376 Comparative Skeletal Anatomy and Function
ANT 381 Traditional Asian Medical Systems
ANT 490 Senior Colloquium on Violence