Meet Our Experts

Angela Fern Nelson is the Forensic Scientist Lab Supervisor for the Salt Lake City Police Department Crime Lab. Since 2021, she has overseen the daily operations of the laboratory and supervised latent print and firearms examiners, while remaining actively engaged in forensic testing, evidence processing, crime scene reconstruction, and training.

Mrs. Nelson began her career in the criminal justice field in 2002 as a Victim/Witness Advocate for the Weber County Attorney’s Office, serving as a liaison between crime victims and prosecutors. She later worked as a legal assistant and paralegal for a private law firm specializing in defense and family law. These foundational roles cultivated her understanding of the legal process for her transition into forensic science.

Over the past two decades, Mrs. Nelson has served in a range of forensic positions including Crime Scene Investigator, Serologist, Latent Print Examiner, and Forensic Investigator II. She also deployed with the Department of Defense to Afghanistan, where she conducted post-blast forensic analysis in support of military operations. Her work has encompassed complex investigations, high-profile crime scenes, and courtroom testimony.

Mrs. Nelson holds a Master of Science in Pharmacy with a concentration in Forensic Science from the University of Florida and a Bachelor of Science in Forensic Science from Weber State University. She is a Certified Latent Print Examiner (CLPE) and a Certified Senior Crime Scene Analyst (CSCSA) through the International Association for Identification (IAI), where she served on the Crime Scene Certification Board from 2019 to 2022. She currently serves as Undersecretary for the Utah Chapter of the IAI.

Mrs. Nelson is also a member of the Utah Child Abduction Response Team (CART), a U.S. Department of Justice-certified rapid response team deployed to assist law enforcement agencies statewide in the recovery of abducted or endangered missing children. As a CART member, she collaborates with investigators, forensic experts, analysts, and victim advocates to bring a multidisciplinary approach to child abduction investigations.

In addition to her full-time role, Mrs. Nelson is an Adjunct Professor at Utah Valley University, where she teaches forensic science and mentors students pursuing careers in the field. She is a member of the Association for Crime Scene Reconstruction (ACSR), the International Association for Identification (IAI), the Utah Chapter of the International Association for Identification, and actively presents at forensic training events, including the Utah IAI, citizen’s academy, and law enforcement agencies.

Mrs. Nelson remains deeply committed to advancing forensic science through mentorship, inter-agency collaboration, and professional training.