Summary
Erica (Ricky) Klafehn is an Indigenous Latinx Ph.D. student in the Anthropology doctoral program at UNR specializing in forensic anthropology. She is a recipient of the Deans Merit Fellowship and is working under associate professor Dr. Marin Pilloud. Ricky completed her M.S. in Forensic Science (2022) and B.S. in Cell and Molecular Biology (2016) from John Jay College of Criminal Justice - City University of New York (CUNY). During her time at John Jay, Ricky was a member of the Program for Research Initiatives in Science and Math (PRISM) and Ronald E. McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement Program, where she conducted forensic anthropology and entomology research under Dr. Angelique Corthals and Dr. Jennifer Rosati. For her masters thesis, Ricky investigated the effects of blow fly larvae feeding on sharp force trauma (SFT) wound patterns in decomposing bones. At UNR, Ricky hopes to either continue her research in taphonomy or explore the ethics of forensic anthropology, and hopes to pursue a career as a forensic anthropologist in a medicolegal or humanitarian setting.
In her free time, Ricky loves to watch and play sports, listen to and play music, and spend time with her friends and family. She is an avid movie-goer, loves board games, and enjoys learning about different cultures. You can often find her at a local Starbucks enjoying a refreshing cup of coffee, or at the fields playing softball.