Coroner’s internship program helps Albany State students launch careers in forensic science
Special Photo
By Alan Mauldin
[email protected]
ALBANY — Tomorrow’s forensic scientists, crime scene investigators and morticians are getting hands-on experience through the Dougherty County Coroner’s Office.
Students from Albany State University are able to accompany Coroner Michael Fowler to crime scenes, the morgue and to the local hospital to see what real-world experiences they may face after graduating from the university’s forensic science program.
“The intern program is very important,” said Fowler, who started the program about six years ago. “They need to have some kind of internship to move forward.”
Even high school students have been involved.
In some cases, students who started out looking toward a degree in forensic science find that they may be cut out for some other career, Fowler said.
“I think it’s important for high school kids to come in before they get in the program and realize it isn’t for you,” Fowler said. “You realize if this is what you really want to do.”
For those who do earn a bachelor’s degree in forensic science in Albany State’s program, the only Forensic Science Education Programs Accreditation Commission-accredited program in the state, an internship can help them in landing a job, Fowler said. Several students who interned through Fowler’s program have gone on to work at the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.
“A lot of times it will turn into a full-time position,” Fowler said. “We send out reference letters to help them find jobs after they graduate. A lot of times kids get out of college and don’t have jobs. We’re trying to find an avenue to help them move forward once they graduate. It’s also a way to keep them in Albany.”
The interns also get the opportunity to work with law enforcement agencies, the coroner said. And they get the chance to explore whether areas such as ballistics or toxicology are of interest.
“After graduation, I want to go to secondary school to be a medical examiner, so this experience is great for me,” Brooke Bowens, an ASU senior from Lithonia, said.
Miranda Hill said she hopes to pursue a career in toxicology with the GBI.
“I look at it (like) this is life, this is what happens when someone dies,” she said of her interest in forensic science. “I enjoy it.”
Author
Related Articles
Tenants in Albany apartments face eviction
Residents at Cornerstone apartments, located at 608 Moultrie Road, said that eviction notices were placed on the doors of all of the units this week, giving them three days to pay two months’ rent or face being removed in three days. Tenants said they were confused to whom rent should be paid and are frustrated by the living conditions at the complex that is more than 50 years old.
The women remembered beneath the stars and stripes
In observance of Flag Day, chapter members will place flags at the graves of former DAR members, where they will remain through Independence Day as the nation continues preparations for the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. The tradition reflects the organization’s longstanding commitment to historic preservation, education and patriotism.
Lee schools move forward with taxpayer credits after tax dispute
The board approved two separate actions during its June business meeting. First, members unanimously adopted an amended rollback rate of 13.539 mills provided by the Lee County Board of Tax Assessors. The board then unanimously approved a resolution directing that the difference in revenue generated by the erroneous rollback rate and the amended rollback rate be returned to taxpayers through a credit applied to 2026 property tax bills.
