When I Say Forensics, You Say Science

Kelly Carey, a senior forensic science major, has figured out a way to balance an internship, cheerleading, and school. Carey has excellent grades, is captain of the cheerleading team, and has had an internship with one of the premier law enforcement agencies around the world her entire senior year.

Carey grew up in Holbrook. Her father worked with the NYPD and retired with the Nassau PD as a detective lieutenant, and her mother works for a pharmaceutical company, so Carey knew forensic science was in her blood. She started doing gymnastics at the age of three and continued for 10 years until deciding to switch to cheerleading. “Cheerleading became big in New York and I wanted to try something new,” Carey explained.

Growing up, Carey knew exactly what she wanted to be: an elementary school teacher. When she was a sophomore in high school, Carey had a special connection with her English teacher and thought she might want to be an English teacher instead, until the following year. In her junior year, Carey began watching shows such as “Criminal Minds” and “CSI,” which led to her discovering her love for forensic science.

In September 2013, Carey began her studies as a forensic science major, with a minor in chemistry. “The minor automatically comes with it, you just have to choose to claim it or not,” Carey said. Carey also made the cheerleading team her freshman year and was co-captain by her junior year.

Throughout her years on campus, Carey has excelled academically, making the dean’s list every semester. In summer 2016, Carey started an internship with the Department of Justice. “I’ve always wanted to work for them,” she said. Carey works side-by-side with DOJ employees, Suffolk County PD, and NYPD, among others, and she is exposed to different law enforcement positions. She was asked to continue her internship past the summer and is still interning today.

Carey is also captain of the cheerleading team; she is leading practices, organizing team fundraising events, and prepping the team for National Cheerleading Association’s Nationals held in Daytona, Florida on April 5-9. Gina Cammarata, a junior psychology major and fellow cheer-team member said, “Kelly is the most hard-working and dedicated person I know. She is able to balance cheerleading, an internship, and school with an amazing GPA.”

Carey is also the secretary of the Forensics Science Club on campus; the club voted her in at the end of the spring 2016 semester. Recently, Carey and eight other members of the club went to New Orleans for the American Academy of Forensic Sciences annual meeting. During the meeting, students attended lectures where professionals in the field presented research and interesting cases. The speakers gave students information and tools to help them become successful in the future.

After she graduates in May, Carey hopes to eventually achieve her dream job of working in the FBI Laboratory.