Marion Davidson ’17, MSc, PhD (anticipated 2026)

Through mentors in the Honors College and Department of Dance, particularly history professor Anagnostis Agelarakis, PhD, she discovered those interests could strengthen one another. An Adelphi field school in Crete, Greece, introduced her to osteology, bioarchaeology and forensic anthropology, while a study abroad experience at the London Contemporary Dance School led her to the city where she would pursue graduate study.

Davidson earned an MSc with distinction in bioarchaeology and forensic anthropology from University College London, where she is currently a PhD Candidate. Her research has developed into a broader examination of decision-making, cognitive bias and professional standards in forensic science. Her work has included nearly 20 first-authored conference presentations, invited lectures at institutions including Oxford University and John Jay College of Criminal Justice, and service on a recovery team searching in Sicily for the remains of a missing World War II pilot. She has also analyzed ancestral human remains for the National Museum of Natural History’s Repatriation Office at the Smithsonian Institution and consulted on cold cases and possible wrongful convictions across several states.

Today, Davidson is an assistant teaching professor of forensic science at Loyola University Maryland. She teaches and mentors undergraduate and graduate students, conducts award-winning research, and serves on a national task group that develops standards to improve forensic science reliability. A recent study she led examined how transcripts can bias listeners’ interpretations of poor-quality audio and informed a post-conviction appeal.

Adelphi recognizes Davidson for advancing the rigor and fairness of forensic science while bringing compassion, ethics and interdisciplinary thinking to her students, her research and the justice system.

Member of Adelphi University’s 10 Under 10