Anthropology Colloquium Series: Operation Identification
Operation Identification
Advocating for the Dead Through Humanitarian Forensic Action
Founded in 2013, Operation Identification aims to locate, recover, identify, and repatriate the remains of unidentified migrants found in the Texas borderlands. Since its inception, OpID has managed 640 cases from 19 counties, successfully identifying 206 individuals through scientific and collaborative means.
Join us for a compelling presentation by Dr. Victoria Swenson and Dr. Courtney Coffey Siegert on Operation Identification (OpID)鈥攁 groundbreaking humanitarian forensic initiative at Texas State University.
This presentation will explore:
Hear how OpID is navigating the challenges of a fragmented medicolegal system while advocating for dignity and justice for the deceased. This is a must-attend for students, researchers, and anyone interested in forensic science, migration, and human rights.
Dr. Courtney Siegert and Dr. Victoria Swenson examine fingerprints for Operation Identification.
About the Speakers
Dr. Victoria Swenson earned her Ph.D. in Biological Anthropology from the University of Nevada, Reno in 2022. Her research focuses on exploring human biological variation in forensic and bioarchaeological contexts, with a particular interest in dental morphology, cranial features, and metrics to better understand human history.
Dr. Courtney Coffey Siegert received her Ph.D. in Applied Anthropology from Texas State University in 2023 and currently serves as a Postdoctoral Scholar with Operation Identification. Her work centers on forensic casework related to presumed deceased migrants, including exhumations, skeletal analysis, DNA coordination, and humanitarian outreach. She previously worked with the International Committee of the Red Cross, advocating for the dignified management of the dead along the U.S./Mexico border.
About the Anthropology Colloquium Series at UAF
The Anthropology Colloquium Series is a vibrant platform for exploring the wide-ranging field of anthropology鈥攆rom local Indigenous lifeways to global issues like migration, conflict, and identity. These free, public events connect students, faculty, and the community with leading thinkers and practitioners in archaeology, cultural anthropology, linguistics, and biological anthropology.