Faculty

Michelle D. Hamilton, Assistant Professor

Director, Forensic Anthropology Center at Texas State

Dr. Michelle Hamilton received her doctorate from The University of Tennessee, where she specialized in forensic anthropology and bioarchaeology. She worked at the Anthropological Research Facility (a.k.a. “Body Farm”) for over 10 years, and participated in active forensic casework under the training of Drs. William Bass and Murray Marks.

She serves on the faculty for the FBI’s annual Human Remains Recovery School, training FBI Agents/ERT members in body recovery techniques, evidence collection, identification, and excavation of clandestine burials and scattered human remains.

As Director of FACTS, Dr. Hamilton oversees forensic center growth and development, course curricula, forensic casework, law enforcement training, and community outreach programs.

M. Kate Spradley, Assistant Professor

Director, Forensic Anthropology Research Facility

Dr. Kate Spradley received her PhD. from the University of Tennessee and has been appointed the Director of the Forensic Anthropology Research Facility, Texas State University’s new outdoor forensic laboratory.

As the Director of FARF, she will oversee the development and expansion of the new body donation program, curation of the new donated skeletal collection and associated databank, and research at the facility.

Dr. Kate Spradley has collected the data of more than 1,500 skeletons from all over the world and has been collecting data in Guatemala and Arizona for her scholarly research where she hopes to create identification criteria including sex and ancestry for individuals who are considered Hispanic.

Kyra Stull, M.S.

Coordinator, Forensic Anthropology Center

After completing her undergraduate from the University of Tennessee, where she volunteered at the Forensic Anthropology Center for three years, Kyra furthered her M.S. education at the forensic anthropology program at Mercyhurst College.

Her research interests focus on adult age at death techniques and the development of the subadult skeleton. Ms. Stull co-authored a National Institute of Justice grant for the creation of a digital database composed of modern subadult radiographs assembled from medical examiners and coroners offices around the country.