Dr. Krystal Hans is the Director of Forensic Science and an Assistant Professor of Forensic Entomology, College of Agriculture. She teaches forensic science and forensic entomology courses, as well as conducts workshops for criminal investigators, coroners and forensic pathologists. She has two publications focused on the scholarship of teaching and learning–one on the CSI effect and student perceptions of forensic science and the second on trauma-informed education. She also received the Service-Learning Fellowship and Societal Impact Fellowship through the Office of Engagement, as well as a Teaching Leadership Award and an instructor fellowship with CURE-Purdue Professional Development Program.

Hans’ passion for forensic science and forensic entomology translates to students, even non-STEM majors, in both face-to-face and virtual classroom spaces, hooking them in to learn about the field. Her goals as an educator are to facilitate learning in her courses, teach students how to critically evaluate data and information, and to be able to apply this information in her courses and beyond. In order to accomplish these goals, Hans employs a variety of methods, which include exposure to scientific literature, problem-based and experiential learning, and incorporating relevant and relatable examples.

She also integrates a cold-case service-learning component into her forensic investigation course that focuses on research and accessing information about an unsolved missing persons or homicide case, generally for victims of marginalized communities that unfortunately received little media attention for their case. Students work in groups and engage in discussions around the disparity in reporting of information for marginalized victims, driving students to consider various social aspects that can influence an investigation, media coverage, and how the case is perceived by the public.

As the service-learning project incorporates many social justice aspects and is sometimes the first opportunity for students to engage with these concepts, Hans aims to create a safe and inclusive environment, for students to feel comfortable discussing the social issues, and share their feelings regarding the investigation and media content. In the classroom, she emphasizes inclusive, and victim-focused language and brings in guests to speak on victim advocacy, and the impact that students can have in this community. Her recent inaugural Cold Case Symposium focused on education and advocacy with family members leading as experts sharing their stories of their missing or murdered loved ones and leading discussions about how the public and students can help with these cold cases. The goal was to build a network of advocates and community members to support these cases, raise awareness, and move people toward action bridging the gaps preventing these cases from getting the attention they need and justice that they deserve.

As an educator, Hans’ roles are varied, and include instruction, mentorship, advising and training. She mentors a diverse cohort of undergraduate and graduate students in her research  lab, fostering an atmosphere of teamwork, respect, and empowerment, and encourages students to not only understand the science, but also develop a better understanding of who they are and how they fit into the STEM world.

The following table maps Dr. Hans’ teaching excellence evidence to evaluation activities.

Activity	Example Evidence
Student Ratings	Passion for forensic science and forensic entomology translates to students, even non-STEM majors, in both face-to-face and virtual classroom spaces, hooking them in to learn about the field As the service-learning project incorporates many social justice aspects and is sometimes the first opportunity for students to engage with these concepts Hans aims to create a safe and inclusive environment, for students to feel comfortable discussing the social issues, and share their feelings regarding the investigation and media content. In the classroom, she emphasizes inclusive, and victim-focused language and brings in guests to speak on victim advocacy, and the impact that students can have in this community.
Mentoring and Advising Learners Beyond the Classroom, e.g., undergraduates, graduates, interns, residents	Mentors a diverse cohort of students in her lab fostering an atmosphere of teamwork, respect, and empowerment, and encourages students to not only understand the science, but also develop a better understanding of who they are and how they fit into the STEM world.
Professional Development	Service-Learning Fellowship Societal Impact Fellowship Teaching Leadership Award CURE-Purdue Professional Development Program
Curriculum Development and Teaching Innovations	Employs a variety of methods, which include exposure to scientific literature, problem-based and experiential learning, and incorporating relevant and relatable examples integrates a cold-case service-learning component into her forensic investigation course that focuses on research and accessing information about an unsolved missing persons or homicide case, generally for victims of marginalized communities that unfortunately received little media attention for their case. Students work in groups of five-six and engage in discussion around the disparity in reporting of information for marginalized driving students to consider various social aspects that can influence an investigation, media coverage, and how the case is perceived by the public Her recent inaugural Cold Case Symposium focused on education and advocacy with family members leading as experts sharing their stories of their missing or murdered loved ones and leading discussions about how the public and students can help with these cold cases. The goal was to build a network of advocates and community members to support these cases, raise awareness and move people toward action bridging the gaps preventing these cases from getting the attention they need and justice that they deserve.
Scholarship of Teaching and Learning	Conducts workshops for criminal investigators, coroners and forensic pathologists Two publications focused on the scholarship of teaching and learning–one on the CSI effect and student perceptions of forensic science and the second on trauma-informed education