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Local SUNY Canton Criminal Investigation Intern Helps Examine Egyptian Mummy

While continuing to hone her professional forensic skills, a SUNY Canton Criminal Investigation student helped examine a 2,000-year-old Egyptian mummy.

Brandi Simmons of Heuvelton, '06, said she was very fortunate to do her senior-year internship with the Onondaga County Medical Examiner's office and help analyze "Hen," a display mummy from the Cazenovia Library. "It certainly is not every day that you get to touch, move or conduct any testing on a real Egyptian Mummy."

Many Criminal Investigation majors have the opportunity to intern with an agency or organization, according to School of Public Service Dean Dr. Jonathan Gueverra. "Internships provide excellent professional experience for our students," said Gueverra. "The Onondaga County Medical Examiner's office gave Brandi the opportunity to begin applying the skills she developed during her four-year studies. They, in turn, had the chance to see her apply the skills she learned at SUNY Canton."

Hen, who was estimated to be an 18 to 35 year old female, was originally purchased by Robert James Hubbard of Cazenovia in 1894. Hen's remains were brought to Syracuse, to Crouse Hospital to be examined and tested. Simmons was directly involved in all procedures from opening the mummy's outer case, to examining its remains.

"I could barely wait to see what the radiologist could learn from scanning this mummy," Simmons said. "They were able to see actual musculoskeletal tissue. It is approximately 2,000 years old, which is absolutely amazing."

Simmons learned how to have fabric analyzed through carbon dating to help determine its age, another key to the mummy's history. During the examination, people from other departments in the hospital came to see the mummy. "All of the people we came in contact with at the hospital were very excited and amazed that we had brought Hen there."

There were hopes of creating computer images of the mummy's face. "Unfortunately, they were unable to reproduce her likeness," Simmons said.

Far from just working with the mummy, Simmons was also mentored by the forensic anthropologist and other professionals at Cazenovia. The experience helped Simmons gain a clearer understanding of how a Medical Examiner's office really works. "You never know what kind of project you might get involved with when you are in a place like this," Simmons said.

School of Business and Public Service Internships offer on-the-job training for in-demand careers. They often lead to full-time employment.

SUNY Canton is celebrating its 100-year anniversary this year and is in the midst of its highly successful SUNY Canton Centennial Campaign: Cultivating the Minds of Tomorrow. In addition to 26 associate degree programs, SUNY Canton currently offers 10 four-year degrees with plans to announce several other new programs during the next academic year. SUNY Canton also offers three unique master's degrees in conjunction with SUNYIT, Utica. The College has recently embarked upon articulation agreements with Lomonosov Moscow State University and Osaka College of Foreign Languages and International Business in Japan, allowing international scholars the ability to obtain a SUNY Canton degree locally or abroad.

June 22, 2006

Media inquiries should be directed to Greg Kie, Media Relations Coordinator, or call 315/386-7527.

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