BELL, Suzanne

PERSONAL: Female. Education: New Mexico State University, degree in chemistry; University of New Haven, M.S. (forensic science); Ph.D.

ADDRESSES: Office—West Virginia University, P.O. Box 6201, Morgantown, WV 26506; fax: 304-293-4904. Agent—c/o Author Mail, Facts on File, 132 W. 31st St., 17th Fl., New York, NY 10001. E-mail—suzanne.bell@mail.wvu.edu.

CAREER: Eastern Washington University, Cheney, former professor of chemistry; West Virginia University, Morgantown, research assistant professor of forensic chemistry.

WRITINGS:

Encyclopedia of Forensic Science, foreword by Barry A.J. Fisher, preface by Max M. Houck, Facts on File (New York, NY), 2004.

The Facts on File Dictionary of Forensic Science, Facts on File (New York, NY), 2004.

Contributor to Journal of Chemical Education, Analytical Chemistry, and Journal of Forensic Science.

SIDELIGHTS: A professor of forensic chemistry, Suzanne Bell is the author of Encyclopedia of Forensic Science, a book that, according to a Booklist reviewer, "seeks to narrow the gap between forensic fiction and the actual capabilities of forensic science by providing an overview to a very complex discipline." The Booklist contributor went on to note that Bell's book is not as technical as other similar volumes, but "will provide readers with a nuts-and-bolts understanding." Bell arranges her topics alphabetically with fourteen extended feature essays interspersed among some six hundred other topics. Additionally, full-color illustrations help to illuminate herexplanations and descriptions of laboratory techniques and even famous criminal cases, such as the Lindbergh kidnapping and the O.J. Simpson trial. Writing in the Journal of Chemical Education Online, Sally Mitchell called Encyclopedia of Forensic Science "an excellent resource for the beginning student in forensic science." Similarly, Library Journal contributor Judith Matthews thought it is "accessible to lay readers and useful as an introduction to beginning students."

BIOGRAPHICAL AND CRITICAL SOURCES:

PERIODICALS

Booklist, April 1, 2004, review of Encyclopedia of Forensic Science, p. 1396.

Library Journal, April 15, 2004, Judith Matthews, review of Encyclopedia of Forensic Science, p. 70.

ONLINE

Facts on File Web site, http://www.factsonfile.com/ (October 7, 2004), "Suzanne Bell."

Journal of Chemical Education Online, http://jchemed.chem.wisc.edu/Journal/ (October 7, 2004), Sally Mitchell, review of Encyclopedia of Forensic Science.

West Virginia University Web site, http://www.wvu.edu/ (October 7, 2004), "Suzanne Bell."