Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility Faculty | Anthropology | University of West Florida
Skip to main content
University of West Florida lettermark University of West Florida logo University of West Florida logo

Allysha Winburn

Biography

Dr. Allysha Winburn is an associate professor of anthropology and a practicing forensic anthropologist.

A Diplomate of the American Board of Forensic Anthropology and a Registered Professional Archaeologist, she conducts research on skeletal aging and age estimation and the skeletal embodiment of structural inequity. She currently serves as the Highly Qualified Expert in Biological Anthropology for the U.S. Office of Army Cemeteries, in which capacity she leads the forensic anthropology laboratory for the Army's Carlisle Barracks Disinterment Program.
 
She served as the consulting forensic anthropologist for the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences and Florida’s District 1 Medical Examiner’s Office between 2017-2025. Previously, she worked as a forensic anthropologist for the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command; Quality Assurance Coordinator at the University of Florida’s C.A. Pound Human Identification Laboratory; and forensic technician with the New York City Office of Chief Medical Examiner Emergency Recovery of World Trade Center Remains operation.
 

Winburn has held a variety of leadership roles within the field of forensic anthropology, including as Chair of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences Anthropology Section in 2023, Secretary in 2022, and Program Chair in 2021. She is taking a leave of absence from teaching (2026-2027) in order to serve as the Forensic Laboratory Coordinator for the Office of the Director of Authorised Intervention, Tuam in Galway, Ireland.

Degrees & Institutions

Winburn received a bachelor’s degree in archaeological studies from Yale University, master’s degree in anthropology from New York University, and doctorate in anthropology from the University of Florida.

Research

Forensic Anthropology and Race

Publications

2022 Stephanie Hartley, Allysha P. Winburn, and Itiel E. Dror. Metric Forensic Anthropology Decisions: Reliability and Biasability of Sectioning-Point-Based Sex Estimates. Journal of Forensic Sciences 67:68-79. doi.org/10.1111/1556-4029.14931

2022 Allysha P. Winburn, Phoebe R. Stubblefield, and Susan C. Antón. Introduction to the Forensic Anthropology Special Issue on Diversity and Inclusion. Forensic Anthropology 5: 79-83. doi.org/10.5744/fa.2021.0023

2022 Allysha P. Winburn, Sean D. Tallman, Audrey L. Scott, and Cate E. Bird. Changing the Mentorship Paradigm: Survey Data and Interpretations from Forensic Anthropology Practitioners. Forensic Anthropology 5:115-132. doi.org/10.5744/fa.2020.4028

2022 Allysha P. Winburn, Antaya L. Jennings, Dawnie W. Steadman, and Elizabeth A. DiGangi.

Ancestral Diversity in Skeletal Collections: Perspectives on African-American Body Donation. Forensic Anthropology 5:141-152. doi.org/10.5744/fa.2020.1023

2022 Donovan Adams*, Justin Goldstein*, Mari Isa*, Jaymelee Kim*, Megan Moore*, Marin

Pilloud*, Sean D. Tallman*, and Allysha P. Winburn*. A Conversation on Redefining Ethical Considerations in Forensic Anthropology. American Anthropologist. *Equal doi.org/10.1111/aman.13753 

2021 Allysha P. Winburn and Chaunesey M.J. Clemmons. Response to Letter to the Editor

regarding Objectivity is a Myth that Harms the Practice and Diversity of Forensic Science. Forensic Science International (FSI): Synergy. doi.org/10.1016/j.fsisyn.2021.100212

2021 Allysha P. Winburn and Chaunesey M.J. Clemmons. Objectivity is a Myth that Harms the Practice and Diversity of Forensic Science. FSI: Synergy. doi.org/10.1016/j.fsisyn.2021.100196

2021 Allysha P. Winburn, Chaunesey M.J. Clemmons*, Thomas A. Delgado*, Stephanie

Hartley*, Krista E. Latham*, Marin A. Pilloud*, Sean D. Tallman*. Responding to the American Academy of Forensic Sciences Vision, Mission, and Values Statements: Comments, Revisions, and Proposed Actions. FSI: Synergy. *Equal coauthors. doi.org/10.1016/j.fsisyn.2021.100197

2021 Sean D. Tallman, Nicolette M. Parr, and Allysha P. Winburn. Assumed Differences; Unquestioned Typologies: The Oversimplification of Race and Ancestry in Forensic Anthropology. Forensic Anthropology 4:73-96. doi.org/10.5744/fa.2020.0046

2021 Stephanie Hartley and Allysha P. Winburn. A Hierarchy of Expert Performance as Applied to Forensic Anthropology. Journal of Forensic Sciences 66:1617-1626. doi.org/10.1111/1556-4029.14761

2021 Aubrie Sanchez, Sean D. Tallman, Allysha P. Winburn, and Joshua Stefanik. The Effects of Orthopedic Pathologies on the Prevalence of Hip Osteoarthritis. Homo 72:183-203. DOI: 10.1127/homo/2021/1329

2021 Allysha P. Winburn and Bridget F.B. Algee-Hewitt. Evaluating Population Affinity Estimates in Forensic Anthropology: Insights from the Forensic Anthropology Database for Assessing Methods Accuracy (FADAMA). Journal of Forensic Sciences 66:1210-12:19. doi.org/10.1111/1556-4029.14731

2019 Allysha P. Winburn, Michala K. Stock. Reconsidering Osteoarthritis as a Skeletal Indicator of Age at Death. American Journal of Physical Anthropology 170:459-473. doi.org/10.1002/ajpa.23914

2019 Carme Rissech, Allysha P. Winburn, Marta San-Millán, Jaume Sastre, Jairo Rocha. The Acetabulum as an Adult Age Marker and the New IDADE2 (the IDADE2 Web Page). American Journal of Physical Anthropology 169:757-764. doi.org/10.1002/ajpa.23856

2019 Allysha P. Winburn. Validation of the Acetabulum as a Skeletal Indicator of Age at Death in Modern European-Americans. Journal of Forensic Sciences 64:989-1003. doi.org/10.1111/1556-4029.13972

2018 Allysha P. Winburn Subjective with a Capital S? Issues of Objectivity in Forensic Anthropology. In Forensic Anthropology: Theoretical Framework and Scientific Basis, 1st Edition (Cliff and Donna Boyd, editors). Chapter 2, pp. 21-37. John Wiley & Sons Ltd., Hoboken, NJ.

2017 Michala K. Stock, Allysha P. Winburn, George H. Burgess. Skeletal Indicators of Shark Feeding on Human Remains: Evidence from Florida Forensic Anthropology Cases. Journal of Forensic Sciences 62:1647-1654. doi.org/10.1111/1556-4029.13470

2017 Allysha P. Winburn, Katie M. Rubin, Carrie B. LeGarde, Janet E. Finlayson. Use of Qualitative and Quantitative Techniques in the Resolution of a Small-Scale Medicolegal Case of Commingled Human Remains. Florida Scientist 80:24-37. jstor.org/stable/44202492

2017 Allysha P. Winburn, Raphael Martinez, Sarah Schoff. Afro-Cuban Ritual Use of Human Remains: Medicolegal Considerations. Journal of Forensic Identification 67:1-30.

2016 Allysha P. Winburn, Sarah K. Schoff, Michael W. Warren. Assemblages of the Dead: Interpreting the Biocultural and Taphonomic Signature of Afro-Cuban Palo Practice in Florida. Journal of African Diaspora Archaeology and Heritage 5:1-37. doi.org/10.1080/21619441.2016.1138760

Keywords: forensic anthropology, bioarchaeology, human osteology, human evolution, skeletal biology, medicolegal, medical examiner, age at death, age estimation, aging, arthritis