Dr. Kathy Reichs received her bachelor’s degree in Anthropology from American University, in Washington, DC (1971). She went on to Northwestern University in Evanston, IL, where she earned a Masters in Physical Anthropology (1972) and a PhD in Physical Anthropology (1975). The American Board of Forensic Anthropology certified Dr. Reichs as a Diplomate (D.A.B.F.A) in 1986.

Dr. Reichs began her teaching career as an Assistant Professor at Northern Illinois University, in DeKalb, IL in 1974. During that time she also taught courses at the Stateville Correctional Center in Joliet, IL. In 1981, Dr. Reichs began teaching as an Assistant Professor at Davidson, College in Davidson, NC. During that time she was also a lecturer of the University of North Carolina-Charlotte, where she became an Assistant Professor in 1987. Dr. Reichs became an Associate Professor in 1988 and a full Professor in 1996. Dr. Reichs has also served as a Visiting Professor for the University of Pittsburgh’s Semester at Sea program, and at Concordia University and McGill University in Montreal, Québec.

Dr. Reichs has taught symposia for medical and dental students at the North Carolina School of Medicine in Chapel Hill, NC and for residents in pathology at the Laboratoire de Sciences Judiciaires et de Médecine Légale in Montreal, Québec. She has been an Instructor for field courses in the recovery of human remains at the FBI Academy in Quantico, VA and for the Royal Canadian Mounted Police at the Canadian Police College in Ottawa, Canada.

Dr. Reichs has served as a forensic anthropology consultant to the Medical Examiner’s Office of Mecklenburg County in Charlotte, NC and the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner for the State of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, NC. She is currently a consultant to the Ministere de la Securite publique at the Laboratoire de Sciences Judiciaires et de Médecine Légale, in Montreal, Québec.

From 1997-1999, Dr. Reichs served as a consultant to the Casualty and Mortuary Affairs Operations Center’s Central Identification Laboratory in Oahu, Hawaii (renamed J.P.A.C.). Dr. Reichs also served as a consultant to the United Nations Tribunal on Genocide in Rwanda in 1999. Dr. Reichs served as a forensic anthropologist for the National Disaster Medical System, and, in October of 2001, worked on a D-MORT Team to identify victims of the 9/11 World Trade Center attacks.

Dr. Reichs has published numerous professional works. She is Editor of three academic books: Hominid Origins: Inquiries Past and Present (1983), Forensic Osteology: Advances in the Identification of Human Remains (1986), and Forensic Osteology II: Advances in the Identification of Human Remains (1998). Additionally, she has contributed chapters to numerous other professional books in the field of forensic anthropology. Dr. Reichs has published articles in professional publications such as Central Issues in Anthropology, Journal of Forensic Sciences, American Journal of Physical Anthropology, Canadian Society of Forensic Sciences, Surete, American Journal of Forensic Medicine and Pathology, Forensic Science International, and Journal of Bone and Mineral Research. Dr. Reichs also contributed the Foreword to several other professional works, including a series of science books for children.

Dr. Reichs has extensive professional speaking experience. She has presented academic papers to the American Academy of Forensic Sciences, Canadian Society of Forensic Sciences, American Association of Physical Anthropologists, American Anthropological Association, Chicago Archaeological Society, International Association of Identifiers, Paleopathology Association, and many others.

Dr. Reichs has lectured or given workshops for the Smithsonian, the International Symposium on Forensic Science, the American College of Orthopedic Surgeons, the Midwest Association of Orthopedic Surgeons, and at numerous other academic conferences and universities. She has spoken abroad at the Ontario Coroner’s Association in Canada, the International Symposium on Forensic Science in Bari, Italy, the Symposium on Forensic Anthropology in Perth, Australia, the Symposium on Legal Medicine in Milan, Italy. Dr. Reichs also was the Keynote Speaker at the Quebec Association of Hematologists and Oncologists in Québec City.

She has spoken at the White House, Smithsonian Institute, National Association of Women Judges, American College of Trial Attorneys, Mecklenburg Medical Association, Mecklenburg County Bar Association, Canadian Bar Association, Québec Teacher’s Association, Montreal Science Museum, Charlotte Nature Museum, International Association of Science Journalists, International Association of Foreign Correspondents, Cape Fear Crime Festival, Southern Voice Literary Festival, and North Carolina Bar Association.

Dr. Reichs served on the Board of Directors of the American Board of Forensic Anthropology and the American Academy of Forensics Sciences. She has held the position of Vice President for both organizations. She is currently a member of the National Police Services Advisory Council (RCMP) in Canada.