Meet Faculty Members

Francie Cuffney, associate professor of biology.

Walda Powell, professor of chemistry.

Walda: “Students in our ‘The Science Behind CSI’ honors class learn it is not as easy as in Hollywood—there isn’t one person who can do it all.”

Francie: “The process of forensics is very multidisciplinary. The topic matter is not focused in one area. In class I do a week of blood, she does a week of explosives.”

Walda: “It’s fun to teach together. We teach our strengths…she teaches DNA and I teach chemical analysis. We probably do more because there are two people thinking it through instead of one.”

Francie: “In class it takes much longer than on TV. The reality of DNA analysis is that it is very time consuming.”

Walda: “Students in the sciences get to see new applications for what they have already learned.”

Francie: “And it gives non-science majors exposure to thinking in a scientific way. They have to logically apply their evidence.”

New skills:
Francie: “We’re getting pretty good at setting up crime scenes.”
Walda: “And I’m getting very good at making blood.”