Pioneers’ Schneider follows in footsteps of past forensic investigation majors to Florida internship

Platteville, Wis.- Junior Kelli Schneider, a member of the University of Wisconsin-Platteville women's track and field program, was one of many who tuned into the popular crime scene investigation shows that littered televisions since the 2000s. It was her love of watching the shows that got her interested in crime scene investigation (CSI), a summer program and class that sealed the deal for her.

"I watched NCIS as a kid," Schneider said. "Then, my school had a summer program for elementary and junior high students that offered a crime scene investigation class that I took. That is where I really got hooked on it." 

Schneider researched possible schools where forensic investigation was offered as a major. UW-Platteville is one of only 49 schools to offer forensic investigation nationwide and the only school in the state of Wisconsin. UW-Platteville was on her short list along with a school in Florida and a private school in her home state of Minnesota.

Not too thrilled about the distance to Florida and the cost of a private school, Schneider took a visit to UW-Platteville where she toured campus and met with Director of Track and Field Chris Rotzenberg and then Associate Head Coach Patti Laufenberg. 

Schneider enjoyed the visit, and the small town made her feel at home. Then, she found out that the coach of her event, the triple jump, had something in common with her father.

"Getting to talk with Coach Rotz and Coach Patti was fun, and they showed me around the facilities," she said. "Then, Patti told me the jumping coach's name was Rich Schneider, which is the same as my dad's. I knew it was a sign to come here."

Schneider took the sign and committed and enrolled at UW-Platteville majoring in forensic investigation. After one semester, she added a chemistry major as well.

With graduation scheduled for May of 2023, she applied for summer internships. One internship she applied for was in Havana, Florida, at the Bureau of Fire and Arson Investigations. Not worried about the distance now, Schneider accepted the position and continued the relationship between the Florida lab and UW-Platteville. 

Since 2007, UW-Platteville has had at least one student intern at the Bureau of Fire and Arson Investigations. A forensic conference led to a meeting between UW-Platteville professor Dr. Charles Cornett and Carl Chasteen, chief of forensic services at the Havana lab. That meeting began the pipeline from UW-Platteville to Florida for students wanting to intern in forensic science. 

"I was speaking at, I believe the American Academy of Forensic Science, and I was speaking about fire debris and mentioned that we accept interns," Chasteen said. "Dr. Cornett approached me and said, 'I have these forensic students that would love to do an internship.' I explained that it was completely unpaid, completely voluntary and if they did come, they would have to pay their own way, that is how it started. And every year, it seems that we have at least one, sometimes two, and we have had as many as three at one time."

The Florida Bureau of Fire and Arson Investigations is a state agency that accepts evidence from any public service agency in the state of Florida. The lab is one of seven laboratories around the state but specifically deals with fire debris and explosives. Occasionally the FBI and ATF will use the lab for a quicker turnaround.

Part of Schneider's internship is assisting the analyst run inspections and build interpretations of the tests ran. 

"We will receive the evidence or batch that needs to be tested and we will seal them up in paint cans and heat them for 16 hours," Schneider said. "Following that we will take the strips and put a solvent on them and run test through our machines, which can take 12 to 16 hours. Once we have all the data we can determine if there is enough of an ignitable liquid present or not."

The chemistry major has played a big role into the internship and a class with Dr. Cornett has really helped her succeed during the internship.

"Forensic chemistry is taught by Dr. Cornett. It has really helped," she said. "We went over the different kinds of analyses that are in forensics, and we went over some of the fire debris stuff that I am doing right now. I had the classroom training that the analysts do here, and I understand a lot of the dynamics of what causes fire and keeps fire going before starting, which makes things easier."

The classroom knowledge that Schneider is using is something Chasteen feels helped her from the start.

"She jumped right into assisting and watching the analyst do the interpretations," he said. "Obviously she can't do the interpretations herself, but the analyst will ask her for her interpretations on a test before giving their interpretation. I have heard nothing but high regard from the analysts that she's worked with." 

Chasteen has had similar feelings on all the prior interns as well simply because they wanted a successful internship and showed eagerness to learn. 

"I have found that most of the people who are willing to make this long trip down here and find the funds to do it are very invested in making sure that they have a successful internship," he said. "One thing I noticed from all the interns from UW-Platteville, they know when to stop and ask questions. There are so many young people that will just plow through things and not get it right and then come say, 'what should I have done here.' UW-Platteville interns would ask, 'how do I do this? How do you want me to do this, how do you want this to appear?' They have an understanding of how to construct a good research background. I am very pleased with the UW-Platteville interns over the years."

With Schneider being the latest UW-Platteville with a successful internship at The Florida Bureau of Fire and Arson Investigations, the pipeline will continue to be available for UW-Platteville students due to the knowledge they come in with.
"They come in with a pretty good background in organic chemistry and analytical chemistry," Chasteen said. "They come in with a very good and well-developed work ethic."