
Diana Lynn Messer, PhD
ANTHROPOLOGIST
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Western Carolina University
Department of Anthropology & Sociology
Cullowhee, NC
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828.227.2430
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August 2020-Present
Assistant Professor
WESTERN CAROLINA UNIVERSITY
I am looking forward to joining the faculty in the Anthropology and Sociology Department in the fall. I'm excited to teach Origins of Civilization and Introduction to Forensic Anthropology. And I can't wait to involve students in my research!
2018-2020
Forensic Anthropologist
SNA INTERNATIONAL IN SUPPORT OF DPAA
I am employed as a forensic anthropologist for SNA International in support of the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA). My primary position is as a member of the Cabanatuan Project. The Cab Project represents DPAA’s effort to identify unknown service members from a POW prison camp cemetery in the Philippines. I also work on forensic anthropology, commingled human remains, and material evidence reports.
2017-2018
Post-Doctoral Faculty
MERCYHURST UNIVERSITY
At Mercyhurst, I was involved in forensic anthropological casework in a leadership role, which consisted of anthropological analysis, report writing and review, and supervision of graduate and undergraduate students . I also taught several introductory and graduate level anthropology and anatomy courses, including Skeletal Trauma Analysis, Human Growth and Development, and Anatomy and Physiology.
EXPERTISE
EXPERIENCE
EDUCATION
2013-2019
Doctoral Degree
THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY
Division of Anatomy, College of Medicine
2011-2013
Master's Degree
MERCYHURST UNIVERSITY
Department of Applied Forensic Sciences
Master's Thesis: Human Craniometric Sexual Dimorphism: Assessing Rensch's Rule and Its Implications for Forensic Classification (e-mail to request copy)
2006-2010
Bachelor's of Science Degree, with honors
SOUTHERN CONNECTICUT STATE UNIVERSITY
Department of Anthropology