April Stonehouse

April Stonehouse joined the School of Interdisciplinary Forensics as a Professor of Practice in August 2024 after serving 23 years as a forensic serologist and DNA analyst in government crime laboratories. She brings more than 20 years of experience as a Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) administrator, with extensive expertise in DNA database management, eligibility review, and interjurisdictional investigations.

Throughout her forensic career, April examined items of physical evidence for the presence of biological fluids, conducted human DNA analysis, authored forensic laboratory reports, and provided extensive expert testimony regarding her scientific findings in both Federal District Court and Arizona Superior Court. Her testimony experience includes participation in a Daubert hearing, where she addressed the scientific validity and reliability of forensic DNA methodologies. Her casework experience includes felony investigations such as homicides, sexual offenses, burglaries, and criminal paternity matters. She has also contributed to the resolution of cold cases through advanced DNA analysis and database searching.

April served for five years as the DNA Supervisor at the Arizona Department of Public Safety Southern Regional Crime Laboratory, where she managed DNA services for five counties in Southern Arizona and supported approximately 70 law enforcement agencies. In that role, she oversaw casework operations, personnel supervision, quality assurance compliance, and laboratory workflow management. She later served as the DNA Technical Leader at Mesa Forensic Services, where she was responsible for technical oversight, validation, method implementation, and adherence to accreditation standards.

She currently serves as Director of the online Professional Master of Forensic Science program. Her teaching portfolio includes Forensic Science and Governance, Laboratory Leadership, Policy and Practice, Advanced Topics in Human Forensic DNA, and Quantitative Methods.