Adjunct Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Pathology
Biosketch
Carolyn Isaac, PhD, is a forensic anthropologist in the Department of Pathology at Western Michigan University Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine in Kalamazoo, Michigan. She is a graduate of the University of Arizona in Tucson, Arizona. She earned both a master's degree and a doctorate in anthropology from Michigan State University in East Lansing, Michigan.
Dr. Isaac has interest in personal identification, trauma analysis, and transition analysis. She has presented on macromorphoscopic determination of ancestry to the Michigan State Police, has taught law enforcement how to search for buried remains and how to excavate a grave, and has done national work on best practices in forensic anthropology.
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Education and Training
- PhD 2013, Anthropology, College of Social Sciences, Michigan State University
- MA 2009, Anthropology, College of Social Sciences, Michigan State University
- BA 2007, Anthropology, University of Arizona
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Language Fluency
- English, functional
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Research
- Physical Anthropology
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Publications
Devota C.J., Kamnikar K.R., Isaac C.V., Hefner J.T. A Unique Case of Hereditary Multiple Osteochondromas in the Feet Forensic Anthropology. 2023;6:117-122.
Isaac C.V., Cornelison J.B., Devota C.J., Shattuck B.L., Castellani R.J. An unusual blunt force trauma pattern and mechanism to the cranial vault: Investigation of an atypical infant homicide Journal of Forensic Sciences. 2023;68:315-326.
Armelli K., Christensen E.R., Isaac C., Cornelison J. Steam Kettle Skeletal Preparation: An Efficient Method for Processing Human Remains Forensic Anthropology. 2022;5:73-77.
Cornelison J.B., Isaac C.V., Devota C.J., Billian J., Brown T.T., deJong J.L., Douglas E., Fisher-Hubbard A.O., Lackey-Cornelison W.L., Prahlow J.A., Shattuck B.L. A comparison of three decalcification agents for assessments of cranial fracture histomorphology Journal of Forensic Sciences. 2022;67:1157-1166.
Isaac C.V., Cornelison J.B., Devota C.J., Bailey K., Langworthy J. A method for the development of cranial fracture histology slides Journal of Forensic Sciences. 2022;67:2040-2047.
Isaac C.V., Cornelison J.B., Prahlow J.A., Devota C.J., Christensen E.R. The Repository of Antemortem Injury Response (REPAIR): an online database for skeletal injuries of known ages International Journal of Legal Medicine. 2022;136:1189-1196.
Morgan L., Johnson M., Cornelison J., Isaac C., deJong J., Prahlow J. Two Novel Methods for Enhancing Postmortem Fingerprint Recovery from Mummified Remains Journal of Forensic Sciences. 2019;64:602-606.
Isaac C., Cornelison J., Castellani R., deJong J. A Unique Type of Birth Trauma Mistaken for Abuse Journal of Forensic Sciences. 2018;63:602-607.
Morgan L., Johnson M., Cornelison J., Isaac C., deJong J., Prahlow J. Autopsy Fingerprint Technique Using Fingerprint Powder Journal of Forensic Sciences. 2018;63:262-265.
Isaac C.V., Cornelison J.B., deJong J.L. An Investigative Tool for Detecting Elder Abuse Academic Forensic Pathology. 2014;4:524-531.