2026 Animal ForensiCon Agenda

** This information is preliminary and subject to change. **

Wednesday, May 6, 2026 – Day 1
Workshops & Masterclasses

Morning Session

Time Event presenter(s)
7:30 to 8:00 am Sign in desk open
8:00 am to 12 pm Choose One:
Option A Workshop – Forensic Photography (Outdoor Photography Focus) Dr. Sharon Plotkin (Miami-Dade College)
Option B Masterclass – Forensic Entomology: Collection and Shipping Dr. Samantha Sawyer (University of New Haven)
Option C Masterclass – Veterinary Forensic Medicine Dr. Rachel Barton (Tallahassee Animal Services)

Afternoon Session

time event presenter(s)
12:00 to 1:00 pm Lunch (on your own)
1:00 to 5:00 pm Choose One:
Option D Masterclass – Animal Crime Scene Processing Adam Leath (Jacksonville Humane Society)
Option E Masterclass – Crimes Against Wildlife Dr. Adam Stern (University of Florida)
Option F Masterclass – Animal Cruelty and Human Violence Jessica Rock (Prosecuting Attorneys’ Council)

Thursday, May 7, 2026 – Day 2
Panels & Information Sessions

Morning Session

Time Event presenter(s)
8:00 to 8:30 am Sign in desk open
8:30 to 8:45 am Opening Remarks Dr. Adam Stern (University of Florida)
8:45 to 9:30 am Reptile Husbandry and Welfare Dr. Steven Tillis (University of Florida)
9:30 to 10:30 am Disaster Response Dr. Lawrence Garcia (University of Florida)
10:30 to 10:45 am Break
10:45 to 11:45 am Keynote Speaker

Afternoon Session

Time Event presenter(s)
11:45 am to 1:00 pm Lunch (on your own)
1:00 to 2:00 pm Illegal Gambling Investigations Amanda Wiggins (Florida Gaming Control Commission)
2:00 to 3:00 pm Inside a Turkey Fraud Enterprise Camille Soverel (Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission)
3:00 to 3:15 pm Break
3:15 to 4:00 pm An Overview of Digital Evidence Georgie Torres and Peter Hernandez (Florida Department of Law Enforcement)
4:00 to 5:00 pm Latent Prints: Best Practices Tonia Smith (Orange County Sheriff’s Office)

Friday, May 8, 2026 – Day 3
Panels & Information Sessions

Morning Session

Time Event presenter(s)
8:00 to 8:30 am Sign in desk open
8:30 to 9:30 am Presenting Clinical Pathology Data to Juries Dr. Laurie Millward (Ohio State University)
9:30 to 10:30 am Animal Forensics: Ballistics Dr. Nancy Bradley (Arizona Humane Society)
10:30 to 10:45 am Break
10:45 to 11:15 am Microwave Injuries in Rats Dr. Michael Cruz Penn (Texas Tech University)
11:15 to 11:45 am Animal Law Jamie McManus (Roper, Townsend & Sutphen, P.A.)

Afternoon Session

Time Event presenter(s)
11:45 am to 1:00 pm Lunch (on your own)
1:00 to 2:00 pm The Puppy Mill Pipeline Shalimar Oliver (Humane World for Animals)
2:00 to 3:00 pm Pain in Cats, Dogs, and Horses Dr. Marta Romano (University of Florida)
3:00 to 3:15 pm Break
3:15 to 4:00 pm Drones – Applications and Limitations Chris Urban (Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation)
4:00 to 5:00 pm Forensic Toxicology Case Studies Dr. Rachel Scheffler (Michigan State University)
4:45 to 5:00 pm Closing Remarks Dr. Adam Stern (University of Florida)