Quinnipiac’s Forensic Science: Crime Scene Investigation

Press release

HAMDEN, Conn. – July 14, 2025 – On a recent lazy afternoon, a classroom in the Buckman Center was buzzing — not with lectures or exams, but with latent fingerprints, crime scene diagrams, a cold “body” and the undeniable curiosity of 20 high school students deep in the process of solving a mystery.

This was no ordinary summer school.
Welcome to Quinnipiac’s Forensic Science: Crime Scene Investigation summer program — a one-week immersive experience where teens swap textbooks for tweezers and swimming pools for simulated crime scenes.
From July 7–11, a group of high school students from across the Northeast and beyond converged in Hamden to dive headfirst into the world of forensic science. Inspired by hit TV shows, the students didn't just watch crime get solved — they did the solving themselves.
“Forensic science used to be something few people knew about,” Quinnipiac anthropology Professor Julia Giblin said. “Now, students come in already excited by what they’ve seen on shows like ‘Bones’ or ‘NCIS.’ They’re curious, engaged and asking real-world questions.”
It’s no surprise then that Quinnipiac’s camp draws students eager to experience the thrill of the investigation firsthand and to see how the science on screen stacks up against reality.
Led by Giblin, anthropology Professor Jaime Ullinger and biology Professor Lisa Kaplan, the camp was designed to give students a true taste of what it means to be a forensic scientist. Over five, fast-paced days, they analyzed hair and fabric samples, unearthed a buried skeleton and pieced together evidence from a mock crime scene that included a body wrapped in a towel, a knife, a phone and a trail of clues waiting to be cracked.
“On day one and two, we excavated a clandestine grave and recovered evidence,” Giblin said. “Later, we focused on fingerprinting, hair analysis and forensic entomology — yes, bugs. It's all part of the interdisciplinary science behind solving crimes.”
Highlights of the week included visits from Kristen Hartnett-McCann, a forensic anthropologist at the Office of the state’s Chief Medical Examiner, and Kevin Parisi, a latent print examiner with the Connecticut State Police Forensic Lab and an adjunct professor at Quinnipiac.
Parisi worked on the high-profile Jennifer Dulos case and brought real-world expertise to the classroom. During his session, he showed students how to apply fingerprint powder to a knife — one of the key pieces of evidence from their mock crime scene — and demonstrated the process of lifting and analyzing latent prints.
"I'm hoping that the students will gain an understanding of the value of physical evidence," Parisi said. "That relates to fingerprint analysis, other analysis as well. I hope that they share their experience with their families and friends and hopefully are inspired to be forensic professionals."
For 15-year-old Lillyana DiPietro of New Jersey, the program was more than just a camp. It was a revelation.
“I’ve always wanted to be a forensic psychologist,” she said. “Being here, seeing how everything connects — from evidence collection to analyzing motives — it just makes me more sure.”
DiPietro wasn’t alone. Peyton Andersen, a rising senior at Stamford High School in Connecticut, called the camp “a launch point.” She’s planning a career in forensic anthropology or psychology, and the camp gave her confidence that her passions can lead to real opportunities.
“It’s very hands-on,” Andersen said. “We didn’t just learn about DNA or bones — we excavated a grave, found a weapon and analyzed the evidence ourselves. That’s what drew me here.”
Meghan Keene, a rising senior at Sacred Heart Academy in Hamden, appreciated how the camp connected classroom learning with real-world applications.
“I need to see it, do it, feel it,” she explained. “I’ve learned that I really want to pursue forensic psychology. Understanding what drives people to commit crimes — that’s the puzzle I want to solve.”
But beyond the fingerprint powder and excavation tools, the program offered something even more valuable: community and inspiration. Students bonded over shared interests, supported each other through the challenges of fieldwork, and began picturing their futures in labs, courtrooms and universities.
“There’s something special about watching these students collaborate, problem-solve and light up when they figure something out,” Ullinger said. “For many, this is their first taste of science as a real, dynamic career.”
And for Quinnipiac, this is just the beginning.
The inaugural year of the program drew rave reviews from participants and instructors alike. Plans are already underway to expand it next summer, giving even more future forensic scientists a chance to dig into the mystery, and just maybe, discover a calling.