Loren Lease

Dr. Loren Lease is a Professor and current Chair of the Humanities & Social Sciences Department at Youngstown State University (YSU). She specializes in Biological Anthropology with a focus on dental morphology, forensic anthropology, and primatology. Her work includes consulting for local law enforcement and the Mahoning Coroner's Office on skeletal materials analysis.

Dr. Lease holds a PhD in Anthropology from The Ohio State University (2003). Her research interests span deciduous dentition, oral exostoses, mandibular/palatine torus, and dental wear patterns. She teaches courses in Biological Anthropology, Primatology, Paleoanthropology, and Forensic Anthropology, emphasizing science communication and skeletal biology.

Her research trends highlight interdisciplinary approaches to dental morphology, linking anthropological methods with forensic applications. She has explored genetic influences on dental traits, primate conservation education, and population dynamics through skeletal studies. Though no awards are explicitly listed, her extensive publication record reflects significant contributions to dental anthropology and evolutionary biology.

Dr. Lease advises no named students in the provided texts but actively collaborates with law enforcement agencies. Her professional service includes academic leadership roles and community-engaged forensic work. No lab teams are explicitly mentioned, though her consulting role suggests involvement in forensic skeletal analysis networks.