Roger Williams University: Five Key Takeaways From RWU's Forensic Science Week

Press release from Roger Williams University:

By Grace Boland

September 26, 2023

BRISTOL R.I. – From crime lab analysts to forensic scientists and examiners, there are many career opportunities for Forensic Science majors to investigate. According to Sarah Lewis, if you have a Forensic Science degree, there are plenty of paths you can take.

“Keep your options open and explore them all,” Lewis, a senior forensic scientist for the Rhode Island Department of Health, shared with members of Roger Williams University’s Forensic Science Club on Sept. 20.

Lewis’ talk was part of RWU’s first celebration of National Forensic Science Week, held Sept. 17 to 22 and spearheaded by senior Samantha Riley, president of the Forensic Science Club. This year marks the 11th anniversary of National Forensic Science Week, which acknowledges the importance of forensic science in modern criminal justice and the dedication of forensic professionals. In addition to Lewis, events for the week included an alumni panel featuring three recent graduates who all took unique paths with their B.S. in Forensic Science from RWU.

"I wanted a week dedicated to all things forensics, whether that be exposing our first-year students to all their different options or helping seniors make the connection that lands them a job. In future years, I would love to see National Forensic Science Week flourish and get even more people excited about forensic science," said Riley, a Forensic Science major on the Biology track.

During her talk, Lewis gave students an inside investigation into her career path as someone with a degree in Forensic Science and shared her real-world experiences working in the lab, including photos of evidence that she has tested. The alumni panel, held on Sept. 21, included Amela MacDonald ’23, a histotechnologist at MaineGeneral Medical Center; Emma Morin ’23, an M.S. candidate in Biomedical Forensic Sciences at Boston University; and Sarah Bentz ’22, a criminalist 1 at the New York City Police Department.

“The alumni panel showed just how flexible the Forensic Science degree is. These are three alumni who all have very different careers but have the same academic foundations,” said Karla-Sue Marriott, Professor and Director of the Forensic Science program at RWU.

Here are five essential findings from forensic science professionals on how to advance in the industry:

This press release was produced by the Roger Williams University. The views expressed here are the author’s own.