Kate Spradley

Dr. Kate Spradley, Faculty PhotoKate Spradley
Professor
PhD, The University of Tennessee
E-mail: mks@txstate.edu
Phone: (512) 245-8272
Office: ELA 234

I received my MA from the University of Arkansas in 2000 and my PhD from The University of Tennessee in 2006. I am a biological anthropologist with specific research interests in human biological variation, forensic anthropology, bioarchaeology, and quantitative methods. I use metric data from human skeletons to address identification methods in forensic anthropology, to track population migrations when there is little or no historical documentation, and to explore the skeletal morphological changes associated with human migrations and changing environments (e.g. climate, nutrition, health). My current research broadly addresses migration and sex and ancestry estimation within forensic anthropology using quantitative methods and more specifically my research addresses Hispanic identification issues. Additional research interests include secular change, growth and development, quantitative methods, and geometric morphometrics.

My research interests and current projects are combination of academic and applied anthropology.

I typically accept 2 – 3 MA graduate students each Fall.  My graduate students are welcome to participate in my current research and projects or to pursue their own academic or applied interests. 

Select Publications

Journal Articles

Spradley MK. 2016. Metric Methods for the Biological Profile in Forensic Anthropology: Sex, Ancestry, and Stature. Academic Forensic Pathology,6(3):391-399.

Anderson BE and Spradley MK. 2016. The Role of the Anthropologist in the Identification of Migrant Remains in the American Southwest. Academic Forensic Pathology, 6(3):432-438.

Spradley MK, Stull KE, Hefner JT.  2016. Craniofacial Secular Change in Recent Mexican Migrants.  Human Biology, 88.1.

Spradley MK and Jantz  RL. 2016. Ancestry Estimation in Forensic Anthropology: Geometric morphometric vs traditional and non-traditional inter-landmark distances. Journal of Forensic Sciences Early View, doi: 10.1111/1556-4029.13081.

Suckling JK (GST), Spradley MK, Godde K. 2015. A Longitudinal Study on Human Outdoor Decomposition in Central Texas. Journal of Forensic Sciences. DOI: 10.1111/1556-4029.12892Impact Factor 1.306

Spradley MK, Anderson BE, Tise ML. 2015. Postcranial Sex Estimation for Mexican Hispanics. Journal of Forensic Sciences. 60(s1):s27-s31.

Owsley DW, Bruwelheide KS, Cashion Lugo M, Spradley MK, Romero Palanco JL. 2015. Identification of Ramon Power y Giralt: Puerto Rico’s Diplomat to the 1812 Spanish Constitutional Court. CENTRO – Journal of the Center for Puerto Rican Studies XXVIII(II):178-207.

Spradley MK. 2014. Towards Estimating Geographic Origin of Migrant Remains along the United State Mexico Border. Annals of Practicing Anthropology.

Tise ML, Kimmerle EH, and Spradley MK. 2014. Craniometric Variation of Diverse Populations in Florida: Identification Challenges within a Border State.  Annals of Practicing Anthropology.

Hefner JT, Spradley MK, Anderson BE.  2014. Ancestry Assessment using Random Forest Modeling. Journal of Forensic Sciences. Early View: doi:10.1111/1556-4029.1202.

Báez-Molgado S, Meza Peñaloza A, Spradley MK, and Bartelink EJ. 2013.  Analysis of Bone Healing in a Post-Operative Patient: Skeletal Evidence of Medical Neglect and Human Rights Violations. Journal of Forensic Sciences 58(4):1050-1054.

Tise ML and Spradley MK.  2012. Postcranial Sex Estimation of Individuals Considered Hispanic. Journal of Forensic Sciences. 58(1):s9-s14.

Spradley MK, Hamilton MD, and Giordano A. 2012. Spatial patterning of vulture scavenged remains. Forensic Science International 219:57-63.

Bongiovanni R and Spradley MK.  2012. Estimating sex of the human sternum based on metrics of the sternum. Forensic Science International 219:290e1-290e7.

DiMichele DL and Spradley MK. 2012. Sex estimation in a modern American osteological sample using a discriminant function analysis from the calcaneus.  Forensic Science International 221:152.e1-152.e5.

Haden-Pinneri K, Love J, Spradley MK.  2012 Is Race Determination in the Medicolegal Setting Important? Academic Forensic Pathology 2(2):142-149.

Spradley MK, Jantz RL. 2011. Sex estimation in forensic anthropology: Skull vs. postcranial elements*. Journal of Forensic Sciences 56(2): 289-296.

Hamilton MD and Spradley MK. 2011.  Purported drug cartel use of vultures as a method for body disposal. Journal of Forensic Identification 61(5):425-429.

Spradley MK, Jantz RL, Robinson A, and Peccerelli F. 2008. Demographic change and forensic identification: Problems in metric identification of Hispanic skeletons. Journal of Forensic Sciences 53(1):21-28.

Book Chapters

Spradley MK, Weisensee KE, Jantz RL. 2014. Two-Dimensional Geometric Morphometrics. In Owsley, DW and Jantz, RL (eds.) Kennewick Man. College Station: Texas A&M.

Jantz RL and Spradley MK. 2014. Cranial Morphometric Evidence for Early American Relationships and Population Structure. In Owsley, DW and Jantz, RL (eds.) Kennewick Man. College Station: Texas A&M.

Spradley, MK. 2014. Ancestry Estimation from the Postcranial Skeleton. In  Berg, G. and Ta'ala, S. (eds.) "Biological Affinity in Forensic Identification of Human Skeletal Remains: Beyond Black and White"  ISBN-10: 1439815755.

Spradley, MK and Weisensee KE. 2013. Why do forensic anthropologists estimate ancestry and why is it so controversial? In Tersigni-Tarrant M and Shirley N (eds.):Forensic Anthropology: An Introduction" CRC Press. ISBN-10: 1439816468.

Courses Taught

Undergraduate Courses

  • ANTH 3343 | Human Biological Variation and Adaptation
  • ANTH 3319 | Human Growth and Development
  • ANTH 4382 | Methods in Skeletal Biology
  • ANTH 3376Q | Field Methods in Forensic Anthropology

Graduate Courses

  • ANTH 5312 | Seminar in Biological Anthrpology
  • ANTH 5319 | Human Growth and Development
  • ANTH 5343 | Advanced Human Biological Variation and Adaptation
  • ANTH 5375 | Advanced Methods in Skeletal Biology
  • ANTH 5326 | Field Methods in Forensic Anthropology