Content Warning: This post contains reference to sexual violence.
I started reflecting on this post-trip blog a few days before our return. Initially, my goal was to focus solely on the efforts of Dr. Krista Latham, my amazing colleague and mentor who started the Beyond Borders forensic science humanitarian project 14 years ago. Although brief, each trip to Texas requires significant funding, energy, time, and dedication — before leaving, during the work itself, and long after returning home. This post will highlight the immense work that goes into planning annual field seasons and maintaining relationships with colleagues.
I returned to the Texas borderlands believing I understood what migrants go through because I had experienced the thorny, rugged, and sandy terrain the year before. I was wrong. The heat this year was 30-40 degrees hotter than last, reaching temperatures of over 90° F. In January. Each day, I wished for even the slightest breeze to help cool us down.
Upon returning home, I honestly struggled more than I expected. Waking up with no one there to guide my day made me feel incomplete. When my partner asked about my trip, I said it went well and explained that we conducted various searches across different areas of rural Texas ranch land. Keeping it vague felt easier. How do you casually describe encountering evidence of sexual violence? As the day went on, I continued processing the week’s experiences. It’s difficult to see, with your own eyes, the evidence of what humans are capable of. The things that people leave behind tell a story, even when those people have long since passed through the area.
Facing this reality has been humbling and unsettling. It’s one thing to know these stories exist but it’s another thing to stand in the places where they have unfolded.
These eye-opening moments remind me why I wanted to become an Anthropologist. People fascinate me, and I feel compelled to help prepare the next generation to navigate and confront the challenges they will certainly face. As core faculty in the Human Biology Master’s Program at the University of Indianapolis (UIndy), Dr. Latham and I are committed to ensuring that students receive meaningful experiential learning opportunities, where they can apply their academic training in real-world contexts.
This year, I paid much closer attention to the many ways that Dr. Latham supports the team. While no amount of preparation can fully ready someone for this work, thoughtful pre-planning is essential. Before we leave, she holds multiple team meetings on campus in the preceding weeks to ensure students understand what to expect from the environment and can plan accordingly. This includes packing lists, detailed itineraries, discussions about allergies, and assigned readings to help students familiarize themselves with the project and the history of border crossing. She also takes care of all arrangements, including travel, lodging, and meals.
Once we arrive, she drives early in the morning and late at night, allowing others to rest when we grow tired. This helps keep everyone on track and on time. She wakes up at a ridiculously early hour each morning to proofread and post daily blogs highlighting student experiences. Each evening concludes with a group debrief, during which the team reflects on what we learned, what went well, and what we can improve the following day. Dr. Latham is committed to ensuring that our students leave with something transformative, whether it be improved forensic skills, a deeper understanding of border dynamics and migrant experiences, or strengthened soft skills such as communication and teamwork. On one evening, we discuss why making mistakes and learning from them can be an important and defining moment in life. These conversations deepen our understanding of the work and of one another, making it easier to connect with the many amazing individuals we worked alongside this year, including Deputy Don White and Paramedic Ray Gregory, UIndy alum Dr. Reed McKinney, DDS, and Melissa (and her horse, Danny) of South Texas Mounted Search and Rescue.
After returning home, we gradually slip back into our daily routines and journaling helps ease this transition. Post-trip reflections are a crucial component of the Beyond Borders experience, which can be deeply cathartic. Ultimately, this project is about more than just fieldwork; it is also about commitment, care, and continuity. Dr. Latham’s leadership exemplifies how persistent dedication can create a meaningful impact, not only for the missing and their families, but also for the students who will carry these lessons forward. I look forward to seeing how our UIndy students of the 2026 Beyond Borders team (Makenna, Lilly, Amanda, and Peytin) integrates this experience into their academic and professional journeys.
–AE
