Forensic Science Initiative Staff

Max M. Houck
Director
Max.Houck@mail.wvu.edu

Max M. Houck is the Director of the Forensic Science Initiative, a program that develops research and professional training for forensic scientists and related professionals. Houck is a trace evidence expert and forensic anthropologist. Houck is also Director of Forensic Business Development at WVU College of Business and Economics. He is the Chairman of the Forensic Science Educational Program Accreditation Commission (FEPAC) from 2004-2008. Houck has authored or co-authored four books and an introductory forensic science textbook, Fundamentals of Forensic Science, with Dr. Jay Siegel. Houck serves on the editorial boards of the Journal of Forensic Sciences and the Journal of Forensic Identification. Houck has appeared on Forensic Files, The New Detectives, National Geographic, and E! Entertainment.

Robin Bowen
Assistant Director
Robin.Bowen@mail.wvu.edu

Robin Bowen is the Assistant Director for the Forensic Science Initiative, a program that develops research, scientific resources, and professional training for forensic scientists and related professionals. Her primary responsibilities include coordination of continuing education programs, management of research projects, and correspondence of progress to the National Institute of Justice. Bowen is the primary developer of the Forensic Educational Alliance, an initiative to offer a variety of forensic science continuing education courses online. She has an undergraduate degree in Forensic and Investigative Sciences and a graduate degree in Secondary Science Education.

Samantha Huffman Neal
Instructional Coordinator
Samantha.Huffman@mail.wvu.edu

Samantha Huffman is the Instructional Coordinator for the Forensic Science Initiative, a program that develops research, scientific resources, and professional training for forensic scientists and related professionals. Her primary responsibilities are the development and coordination of online continuing education courses in forensic science and continuing education programs. She has undergraduate degrees in both Forensic and Investigative Sciences and Chemistry.

Ryan Postlethwait
Forensic Science Technician
Ryan.Postlethwait@mail.wvu.edu

Ryan Postlethwait has been employed as a Forensic Science Technician at the WVU Forensic Science Initiative since June 2006. He graduated from WVU in 2006 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Forensic and Investigative Sciences. His primary responsibilities include the development of online continuing education courses and assistance in on-site training. His past and present research has covered such topics as studying the effects of certain bullet collection methods and determining shotgun pellet dispersion via laser trajectory.

Mary Holleran
Operations Manager
Mary.Holleran@mail.wvu.edu

Mary Holleran is the Operations Manager for the Forensic Science Initiative, a program that develops research, scientific resources, and professional training for forensic scientists and related professionals. She has been employed by the Forensic Science Initiative since February of 2003. Her primary responsibilities are financial planning/management and event planning.

Shiela M. Stiles
Accounting Assistant I
Shiela.Stiles@mail.wvu.edu

Shiela M. Stiles is an Accounting Assistant I for Forensic Science Initiative. She previous worked as an Administrative Assistant for VMC/Homeland Security Programs. She is certified in Travel Data Information Processing from Computer Technical Institute of Pittsburgh, PA and Fairmont, WV.

Bill Cunningham
Accounting Assistant I
Bill.Cunningham@mail.wvu.edu

Bill Cunningham is an Accounting Assistant I for the Forensic Science Initiative. His primary responsibilities include review of travel reimbursement requests and research purchase card invoices applying to federal grant funds.

Brandon Smithson
Graphic Designer/Instructional Media Technologist
Brandon.Smithson@mail.wvu.edu

Brandon Smithson is the Graphic Designer/Instructional Media Technologist for the Forensic Science Initiative. He is a graduate of Fairmont State University where he received a Bachelor of Science in Graphic Technology. His primary responsibilities are providing graphics, animations, and print design for the online continuing education programs.