The Forensics Department at Piedmont University is growing every year due to incoming first-year students, and one professor continues to share her passion for the field through teaching.
Dr. Kristin Ford’s passion for the forensics field began when she was young. Ford grew up in Long Island, New York. While many famous crime cases were associated with Long Island, that wasn’t what sparked her interest in forensics and criminal justice. Middle school was a time when Ford found herself reading endless books on the topic, along with many hours spent watching Law and Order, declaring a lifelong interest. Unfortunately, there was limited access to the internet, movies and forensic classes growing up.
Her dream job was to work for the FBI’s crime lab as a DNA technician.
“Since I’m more focused on the forensic psychology side of the house, I read a lot of John Douglas, Mind Hunter… and different books on different cases,” said Ford, reflecting on her interest. “I love studying cases. Now I have the luxury of listening to a podcast and learning so much more.”
While in high school her family moved to Virginia where Ford graduated from and attended various colleges and universities. Because her passion was to work in the FBI’s crime lab, she attended James Madison University. Ford took her first organic chemistry course and decided otherwise on that track of forensics. She switched it up and took her first psychology course and struck gold. She graduated with her undergraduate degree in Psychology.
After finding her path on the psychology and forensics road, she attended Argosy University in Virginia with a master’s degree in forensic psychology.
After graduating, Ford had finally landed a career of a lifetime at the FBI. To get her foot in the door, she started a position as an administrative assistant.
While Ford was pursuing her dream career, she worked on achieving a PhD. in criminal justice online through Capella University. With previously working for police departments, word got out about her extensive experience. She then landed a position in crisis management in the FBI. Dr. Ford had the privilege to work with some of the country’s biggest and most complex cases. Her final position with the bureau was as a crime analyst for the Behavior Analyst Unit for eight years.
With getting experience in both the field and intelligence branches of the bureau, Ford experienced what most would not.
Unfortunately, the field agents were primarily men, but this did not discourage Ford. The intelligence branch, fortunately for Ford, was very female dominated. This opened the door for Ford to see both sides of the table, neither being toxic workspaces. Ford branched out into experiences in Women in Leadership.
Ford worked a total of 20 years with the FBI. After meeting her husband, they decided to move to North Georgia to spend their lives together. After her extensive experience working in D.C., Dr. Ford continued her work with a police department in North Georgia as a tactical analyst for nine years, still working for the FBI.
She later found herself teaching online classes at Liberty University. Ford realized while she loved having field experience, teaching about the forensics and criminal justice pathway was just as valuable to her. The only trouble: Ford preferred in-person teaching.
The former vice president of Piedmont University’s wife had formerly worked with Dr. Ford as an analyst. After moving to Georgia and working more with police departments and teaching, the opportunity to teach was right on her doorstep. The former VP’s wife mentioned that Piedmont University had a position open for a forensics professor.
The choice was too easy for Ford to make.Without hesitation, Ford took the position and began her in-person teaching at Piedmont University in the fall of 2023.
Having experiences in field work, intelligence and leadership, students at Piedmont University can learn and continue their passion through the guidance of Dr. Ford.
“I want to show the students the opportunities that they have, especially female students,” says Ford. “There are plenty of opportunities for us out there, even though it doesn’t seem like it sometimes.”
After many long years of achieving her goal working for the FBI, Dr. Ford is very content with her current position at Piedmont University. While her original plan was to retire from the FBI and then teach, the plans changed for the best. She can finally take on that leadership plan and pursue another one of her passions.
Students can learn from not just her experience in studying forensics, psychology and criminal justice, but also her extensive years working in the field and different areas of the field. She shows not just women, but all students that there are endless opportunities for them within their passion.
