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National Center On Forensics

About Us

The University of Alabama, in partnership with the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences and The University of Alabama at Birmingham Department of Criminal Justice have joined together to form the NIJ National Center on Forensics. This Center provides medico-legal learning opportunities for medical students to train as deputy medical examiners/coroners, with a special emphasis for those planning to live and work in underserved rural areas; provide forensic science and legal training to district attorneys, defense attorneys, judges, law enforcement and forensic scientists; and develop opportunities to benefit current and future practitioners in the field. These activities seek to improve the availability and level of medico/legal training and knowledge for those working in rural areas, which will thereby increase access to justice for those living in these communities.   

Meet the Staff

John C Higginbotham, PhD, MPH

Principal Investigator

Director

Angelo Della Manna, MSFS

Multi-Principal Investigator 

Director, Alabama Department

of Forensic Sciences

Elizabeth Gardner, PhD

Co-Principal Investigator

University of Alabama

at Birmingham

Randi J Henderson-Mitchell,

PhD, MBA

Site Co-PI & Associate Director

Medical Course Director 

Julie A Hill, JD

Vice Dean

School of Law

Richard D Friend, MD, FAAFP

Dean

College of Community Health

Sciences

Jason Linville, PhD

University of Alabama at

Birmingham

Cecil Robinson, PhD

College of Community Health

Sciences

Jennifer Hayes

Office of Teaching Innovation

and  Digital Education

Savannah Barnett

Office of Teaching Innovation

and Digital Education

Barbara Wright

Program Administrator

Content Experts

Edward A Reedy, MD, PHD

Senior State Medical Examiner

Alabama Department of Forensic

Sciences

Holli L Bakers

Deputy Director

Alabama Department of Forensic

Sciences

Adam C Grooms, FA-AFTE, MT

Firearm/Tool Mark Discipline Chief

Alabama Department of Forensic

Sciences

Jaylan Reynolds

Firearm/ Tool Mark Analyst

Alabama Department of Forensic

Sciences

Jason Kokoszka, PHD, ABC-MB

Forensic Biology Discipline Chief

Alabama Department of Forensic

Sciences

Jace Daniels, MS, ABC-MB

Forensic Scientist

Alabama Department of Forensic

Sciences

Curt E Harper, PhD, F-ABFT

Chief Toxicologist

Alabama Department of Forensic

Sciences

Robert M Lockwood, Phd

Senior Forensic Scientist- Toxicology

Alabama Department of Forensic

Sciences

Andrea Headrick

Chemistry Discipline Chief

Alabama Department of Forensic

Sciences

Tracy Segrest, PhD, ABC-DA

Forensic Scientist 

Alabama Department of Forensic

Sciences

Contact Us

ForensicsCenter@ua.edu 

Box 870330 

Tuscaloosa, AL  35487 

205-348-8849