Joseph Scott Morgan

Joseph Scott Morgan serves as the Distinguished Scholar of Applied Forensics and Associate Professor of Applied Forensics at Jacksonville State University's College of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Department of Criminal Justice and Forensic Investigation. With extensive experience spanning decades in medicolegal death investigation, Morgan brings practical field expertise to his academic role in Alabama.

Dr. Morgan's research focuses on critical aspects of forensic death investigation including estimation of time since death, injury assessment at death scenes, mass fatality investigations, and forensic practice in rural settings. His expertise extends to training curricula development for state coroner systems and notification of next of kin methodologies, with particular interest in how these notifications impact practitioners emotionally and professionally.

• Master of Forensic Sciences from National University
• Board Certified Fellow of the American Board of Medicolegal Death Investigators (F-ABMDI)
• One of fewer than 200 individuals nationwide to attain Fellow status through ABMDI
• Former Senior Investigator with Fulton County Medical Examiner in Atlanta
• Former Jefferson Parish Coroner's Office employee (New Orleans, 1985)

Morgan helped establish national training guidelines for Medicolegal Death Investigators and is considered one of the leading experts on the Coroner System in the United States. His memoir "Blood Beneath My Feet: The Journey of a Southern Death Investigator" earned him the Georgia Author of the Year award in 2013.

• Georgia Author of the Year (2013)
• Regular media commentator on forensic topics for CNN and Headline News
• Host of the "Body Bags with Joseph Scott Morgan" podcast

As an educator, Morgan previously helped establish the forensics program at University of North Georgia before joining Jacksonville State University. His practical experience informs his teaching approach, emphasizing preparation and communication skills essential for forensic professionals working with law enforcement and legal systems. Morgan frequently collaborates with law enforcement agencies and has extensive experience teaching at police academies.