Forensics attracts students to Texas A&M

A childhood love of the Nancy Drew book series brought Olivia Henry from a small town in Northern California to College Station to study forensic science. Her passion for mysteries, puzzles and problem-solving, as well as the fact that both parents work in STEM fields, sparked her early interest in science.

During summer vacation, she spent “probably half of my time at a little science museum” near her home in Danville. In middle school, she had a science teacher who introduced the class to forensic science.

“I thought, this is really cool and kind of a combination of science, problem solving and mysteries,” Henry recalled. “I knew it was perfect for me.”

Henry will graduate from the Texas A&M College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Department of Entomology in May with a Forensic and Investigative Sciences (FIVS) major with a science concentration and a minor in cybersecurity. She is an honor student of the university, college and FIVS program.

The first-generation Aggie ensured she made the most of her time at Texas A&M, not only learning to step out of her comfort zone and embracing Aggie traditions, but also serving as a peer mentor to other students as they navigate academics Success in forensic science and investigation helped science and continued academic success in the forensic and investigative science courses and the Hullabaloo U course.

She has also been an ambassador for the College of Agriculture and Life Science for three years and has served as a member of the Executive Cabinet of the Class of 2024 Student Council for the past two years. She is also a member of the College's Student Council, a Townsend Leadership Fellow and a recipient of a Scholarship for Service.

“There are always open doors in front of you, but you have to walk through them to give yourself the chance,” Henry said. “I try to take advantage of every opportunity.”

Henry reflected on her time and experiences at Texas A&M.

What originally brought you to Texas A&M?

I chose to come to Texas A&M because their forensic science program is ranked #1. Like many other students, I was drawn to the spirit of the students and the school's rich traditions.

Coming from a small town more than 1,500 miles away and going to a state where I didn't know anyone who could attend such a large university felt overwhelming at first. But within two weeks I had made so many friends. And even though Texas A&M is huge, the college and departments feel smaller because you see the same faces in your classes and buildings. Texas A&M is unique in that I feel like it truly has something for everyone. I think that all students can find a home here.

What opportunities did attending Texas A&M provide you?

I was very blessed with the opportunities. My first internship was working on crime scenes, and that came about because a former Aggie from the program reached out and was hoping to have an Aggie intern. In the summer of 2022, I completed an internship with Jeremy Arnold (Class of 18) at the Carrollton Police Department Crime Scene Unit.

During this internship I also learned about the digital side of evidence. I grew up with a father who worked in information technology and swore vehemently that I would never, ever, ever do anything with technology because I found it so boring. But as I learned about solving crimes, like using an Apple Watch to determine the time of death of a victim or turning over phone records as evidence, I added a minor in cybersecurity.

What is one of your favorite memories from attending Texas A&M?

I was working as a student ambassador for the college and met with a prospective student and her mother on campus one Saturday. The mother asked me one question after another and I worried when I couldn't answer all of them, but I spent a lot of time with them and shared my passion and enthusiasm for college and my major.

They came back later that day and the daughter told me that she chose A&M because by answering her questions and having a real conversation, I convinced her and her mother that it was the right place for them . It was so exciting to know that I had had such a significant impact on someone and their academic career. I also traveled with other college students to visit high schools across Texas and talk about life as an Aggie. These will always be some of my favorite memories.

Was there a class or professor that really impacted or influenced your career path?

Dr. Ashleigh Faris is no longer here at Texas A&M, but she was one of those professors who truly cared deeply about her students and wanted them to succeed. I could call her at any time and she would be there for me. Having such a professor was very important for my studies because I always knew that I had someone close to me.

When she left it was Dr. Craig Coates, who kept me updated and helped me complete my capstone. He was instrumental in my success and was always there for me. He also taught one of my favorite courses, Biotechnology and Forensics, which was discussion based and no Powerpoint – which was unlike any course I had taken before.

What are your plans after graduation?

I was fortunate enough to receive an offer from a federal agency so that after I graduate I will move to Washington, DC and work there. Essentially, I will be conducting forensics and crime scene investigations at the federal level.

Advice for a younger you

I would tell myself that you are more capable than you think. I would also tell myself to stand firm with myself and not doubt myself.

For example, when the first round of applications for the ambassador position came out, I didn't apply because I didn't feel like I was qualified enough. I thought they won't want me, I don't have a farming background. But I ended up getting the ambassador position when they opened the second round of applications – because I actually applied. There is always an opportunity, but you can't take advantage of it if you don't take advantage of it.

Advice for future students interested in studying forensic science

To me, the broad definition of forensic science is the application of scientific principles and methods to assist in criminal investigations and then in court. It's about using science and technology – research and the scientific knowledge you have – and then applying that to problems or puzzles you need to solve. It's really important that you fully understand all of the science because you never know when you'll need chemistry, biology, physics, etc. – all things that can show up at a crime scene.