Madonna University is one of the only 35 institutions in the world to achieve accreditation through the Forensic Science Education Programs Accreditation Commission (FEPAC) and has the only FEPAC Accredited undergraduate program in Michigan.
Learn to recover DNA profiles from evidence items used in the biology division of crime laboratories.
Learn to analyze physical evidence to determine significance to criminal investigations.
Gain advanced research competencies to conduct complex forensic investigations.
Ph.D., Higher Education Leadership and Administration, Eastern Michigan University
Master of Science & Leadership Studies, Madonna University
Bachelor of Science, Madonna University
734-432-5429, M119
Ms. Tara Kane is an Associate Dean in the School of Business at Madonna University and serves as the Program Director of the Masters in Criminal Justice Leadership and Intelligence. Prior to this appointment, she served as the Interim Dean of the College of Natural and Social Sciences after chairing the Criminal Justice Program from 2013-2019. She joined the full-time faculty at Madonna University in 2013 coming from the West Bloomfield Police Department where she retired as a Detective/Sergeant of Investigations. She completed her Ph.D. in Higher Education Leadership and Administration from Eastern Michigan University in February 2020 and is an alumnus of Madonna University, earning her M.S.B.A in 2008 and her B.S. in 2002.
She teaches in the area of organizational leadership, criminology and special topics, with subject matter concentration on vulunerable populations and sexual assualt. Her scholarship interests include the suspected abuse and neglect of children, domestic violence, sexual assault and human trafficking. She is a trainer for the State of Michigan and is actively involved in providing professional development for law enforcement professionals on the signs of interpersonal violence and best practices for victim-centered investigations. She is engaged in Title IX initiatives related to sexual assault on college campuses and serves as a faculty leader for Madonna's chapter of Pi Gamma Mu-an international honor society for the Social Sciences.
M.S.-T.C. Eastern Michigan University
B.S. Northern Michigan University
Assistant Chief of Police (Ret.) Novi Police Department
Graduate FBI National Academy – Session #250
734-432-5438, 2418
Victor Lauria is an Assistant Professor in the Criminal Justice Department. He joined the full time faculty of Madonna University in 2015. Prior to joining Madonna, he served as an Assistant Chief of Police with the City of Novi. During his 28-year law enforcement career, Victor served in a wide variety of positions. He worked as a patrol officer, undercover narcotics officer, a K-9 handler, and detective, as well as numerous supervisory positions. His work has been recognized by the International Narcotic Enforcement Officers Association, National Retail Federation and the Michigan Association of Private Investigators. The National Geographic Channel profiled one of Victor's cases in the documentary film "The Science of Interrogation."
His favorite subjects to teach are interview and interrogation, and ethics.
In his free time, Victor enjoys spending time with his wife, Sherie, and their three children as well as hunting and fishing.
Ph.D. McMaster University
B.Sc. University of Western Ontario
734-432-5514
Franciscan Center S217-T
Dr. Jodi Lynn Barta, PhD, is professor and chair of Forensic Science at Madonna University, and director of the FEPAC accredited undergraduate program in Forensic Science. She is a forensic anthropologist with a degree in molecular genetics that specializes in the extraction of DNA from ancient and forensic biological materials.
She has over 15 years of experience in extracting and amplifying DNA from low copy number and degraded human and animal remains. As an experienced forensic consultant she has worked in conjunction with police agencies and the coroner’s office on the analysis of forensic cases including; aging, sexing, and personal biology to assist in the identification of recovered human remains.
She is an NIJ funded researcher involved in research to understand the behavior of DNA molecules during extraction and to optimize protocols for obtaining DNA from biofluids lifted using Zar-Pro™ Fluorescent Blood Lifters (US Patent 8,025,852 B2). Her published research topics include methodological improvements for the extraction of ancient and forensic DNA, recovering bloody impressions from difficult substrates, including from human skin, defining methods to create consistent and reproducible fingerprint impressions deposited in biological fluids on a variety of substrates, ancient DNA analysis of Roman cemetery populations, and ancient DNA analysis of Mycobacterium tuberculosis from paleopathological skeletal remains.
M.S. George Washington University
B.S. Wayne State University
734-432-5521
Franciscan Center S217-Q
Mike Kusluski is an Assistant Professor in the Forensic Science Program at Madonna University. He received his B.S. in Applied Physics from Wayne State University and a Master of Forensic Sciences degree from George Washington University. His forensic laboratory career with the Michigan State Police, Detroit Police Department and Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation includes experience in Firearms & Tool Marks Examination, Bloodstain Pattern Analysis, Controlled Substances Analysis and Crime Scene Investigation. He was also an adjunct faculty member of Wayne State University, teaching forensic science courses for 16 years. He is a member of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences (AAFS) and the International Association of Bloodstain Pattern Analysts (IABPA) as well as a board-certified Fellow of the American Board of Criminalistics (F-ABC).
His research interests include shooting incident reconstruction, gunshot residue analysis and bloodstain pattern analysis. Before transitioning into Forensic Science, Mr. Kusluski worked as a scientist, engineer and laboratory supervisor in the private sector. He can be contacted at mkusluski@madonna.edu.
M.S. National University
B.S. Madonna University
B.H.S. Ferris State University
734-432-5523
Ms. Jessica Zarate, MS is currently an assistant professor in the FEPAC accredited undergraduate Forensic Science Program at Madonna University teaching forensic science coursework including impression and pattern evidence. She was a Michigan certified police officer for eight years and is the inventor of the Zar-Pro™ Fluorescent Blood Lifters (US Patent 8,025,852 B2).
She has worked in impression analysis, for over 9 years, including during her time as a Police Officer with the Northville City Police Department when she collaborated with Michigan State Police Northville Forensic Science Laboratory, Latent Print Unit with research and development in the area of impression enhancement.
Her research work is focused within the impression evidence discipline, publishing on a fluorogenic method for lifting, enhancing, and preserving bloody impression evidence, recovering bloody impressions from difficult substrates, including from human skin, and defining methods to create consistent and reproducible fingerprint impressions deposited in biological fluids on a variety of substrates.