Meet the Certificate Director
Dr. Maxwell
Dr. Maxwell is a lifelong animal lover, using her years of forensic science experience to pursue her passion —combatting the maltreatment of animals, big and small. She is excited about sharing that passion with her students through the Animal Cruelty Investigation certificate program.
“Animal cruelty is an important, but too-often neglected, application of forensic science,” declared Dr. Maxwell. “With the clear link between animal cruelty and interpersonal violence and other criminal behavior, it is important that animal cruelty investigations are undertaken and the perpetrators identified.”
Dr. Maxwell’s research focus involves different ways of using forensic science to combat the crime of animal cruelty. She recently established a formal partnership with the University of Connecticut that will provide support and resources to rescues, sanctuaries, animal control officers, first responders and attorneys as well as taking on additional research initiatives. Her specific research interests include environmental degradation of physical evidence, the impact of COVID on the meatpacking industry and how this impacted the animals in the industrialized agricultural system, cruelty in horse racing, and animal fighting.
“I am passionate about the need to reconsider industrialized agriculture and the treatment of the animals caught in that system, who now exist with little quality of life,” she stated.
Of course, her love and concern for animals extend beyond the big picture and her University work. “Outside of the University, I am the proud pet parent of an overly large rescue dog named Quasimodo and also Fat Cat, Mountain Kitty and Batman, three cats who appeared at my door one day and took over my house.”