2009-2010 Donor Report_printers_file.indd - Keystone College

When Tammy Barette was a young
girl in Lehighton, Pa., one of her favorite
pastimes was putting together jigsaw puzzles.
Her desire to use existing patterns to discover
unknown pieces of information fascinated
her.
So, it’s not surprising that Dr. Barette
makes her living these days teaching college
students how to unravel mysteries of a different
sort. Tammy is an associate professor of
natural sciences at Keystone and coordinator
of the College’s forensic biology program.
“I’m a forensic anthropologist by trade,”
she said. “My job is to recover bodies and
related evidence from crime scenes and try
to use my knowledge of skeletal anatomy to
identify the deceased and determine what
may have happened to that person.”
Tammy realized a career in forensic
anthropology was her true calling while she
was a student at Lehighton High School.
After graduating from Indiana University of
Pennsylvania with a bachelor’s degree in
anthropology, she went on to pursue a
master’s degree and doctorate in biological
anthropology from The Ohio State
University. Tammy also has a law degree
from Ohio State and for two years operated
her own law practice in Columbus.
But crime scene investigation and
forensics anthropology is her real professional
passion. She has served as a consultant to
the Ohio State Police, the Columbus Police
Department, and other law enforcement and
government agencies in the state. She has
worked on a variety of murder and missing
person cases.
Tammy admits being called to the scene
of an accident or murder may not be the
most glamorous or pleasant profession in
the world. But without experienced crime
scene investigators and forensic professionals,
many crimes would go unsolved, victims
would go unidentified, and justice would be
denied in many cases.
“When you are able to help a family
by discovering what may have happened
to a loved one, or identify a victim who
Dr. Tammy Barette: CSI on Campus
otherwise might never
be known, you are really
having a positive impact.
I think that’s what helps
motivate people in my
profession.”
She also knows that
dealing with human
tragedy can take a personal
toll on
anyone involved with
law enforcement,
forensics, or crime
scene investigation.
“Of course, you
can’t see some of the
things that we see
and not have them
affect you. That just
wouldn’t be possible.
I think the best way
to deal with those
types of stresses is to
maintain a healthy
balance in your life,
surrounding yourself
with friends and
family.”
For the last seven years, Tammy has
been sharing her expertise as a member
of the Keystone College faculty, helping
students develop the type of biology and
forensic skills they will need to succeed after
graduating from Keystone. In addition to
crime scene investigation, a strong
curriculum in forensic biology prepares
students for dental, medical, or pharmacy
careers as well as other types of laboratory
and scientific research.
“What we offer at Keystone is more
than just crime scene investigation. Our
program offers a complete background
in biology. Our graduates are prepared to
pursue a variety of options when they leave
here,” she said.
Tammy is particularly proud of her
students’ success in the highly competitive
annual International Association for
Dr. Tammy Barette
faculty profile
Identification (IAI) forensic competitions.
During the last four years, the
Keystone delegation has had three first
place finishes and a third-place finish.
“I can’t tell you how proud I am of
our students, not just for their excellent
performances in the IAI competitions,
but for their overall dedication and
expertise. Hopefully, they see my love of
this profession and it has an impact on
them now and in years to come.”
To learn more about Keystone’s
forensic biology program, visit
www.keystone.edu/forensicbiology.
www.keystone.edu • KEYSTONIAN 19