Dr. Jennifer Hall Rivera

The field of forensics has grown far beyond catching criminals by finding their fingerprints or footprints at crime scenes, techniques first popularized in Sherlock Holmes’ mysteries 100-plus years ago. Over the decades, investigative advancements in forensics have made significant progress and solved untold numbers of crimes. They have become a part of popular culture, including various TV programs.

Recognizing how the field of forensics can be applied to apologetics, Dr. Jennifer Rivera leads popular hands-on forensics programs at AiG’s attractions as the Director of Educational Programs. In addition to over 15 years of teaching experience in the sciences, Dr. Rivera holds an education doctorate in curriculum and instruction, an MAT with a science concentration, and a BA in criminal justice, with hundreds of training hours in the forensic disciplines. Dr. Rivera used to work in a crime scene unit in southern Florida (no, it wasn’t of CSI: Miami TV fame!) and has had multiple speaking engagements for the International Association for Identification, the largest organization for crime scene personnel.

Today, Dr. Rivera declares she’s thrilled to educate children, teens, and adults as she presents “the truth of God’s Word using science, showing how science confirms the Bible.” In addition, she leads Explore Jr., Explore Days and Exploration. These are hands-on programs (for ages 5–10, 11–18, and 18+) at the Creation Museum and Ark Encounter. Dr. Rivera also presents free Discover programs for daily guests at the museum. Topics include forensic fingerprint basics, forensic DNA fingerprinting, forensic hair analysis, and more. Dr. Rivera directs and teaches high school labs, such as the popular High School Lab Forensic Science program, in the new state-of-the-art laboratory at the Ark Encounter and in the lab at the Creation Museum.

Dr. Rivera’s writings include the book Work of Your Hand: Fingerprints, God, and You!, a high school textbook titled Intro to Forensic Science from a Biblical Worldview, and articles in professional journals.

On days when Dr. Rivera is not hard at work teaching or writing, she enjoys hiking and traveling.

Fun Facts

• Favorite verse: Proverbs 3:5–6
• Favorite forensic show on TV: Forensic Files
• Food she most misses in southern Florida: Authentic Cuban cuisine
• Most unusual vacation: The Arctic Circle of Alaska with her daughter; they saw the Northern Lights, went dogsledding, etc.
• How she first connected to AiG: Watching a video of Ken Ham
• Favorite book (excluding the Bible): Lord of the Rings trilogy

Interested in reserving an exclusive presentation with a speaker during your visit to the Creation Museum or Ark Encounter?

Latest Articles by Dr. Jennifer Hall Rivera

• Topic

  Evolution in Schools

  

  Instead of being an open platform where students can critically discuss the merits and flaws of a scientific model, education is overcome by evolutionary dogma.

• Biography

  Diana Waring

  Diana Waring, author of the History Revealed curriculum, discovered years ago that "the key to education is relationship." She has been enthusiastically received by audiences on four continents.

• Children Kids Topic

  Worldview

  

  Everyone has a “worldview,” a way that they see the world. Christians need to have worldview that is built out of the Bible.

• Biography

  Paul Garner

  
• Biography

  Buddy “Uncle Robby” Robinson

  Buddy Robinson, a.k.a. “Uncle Robbie,” has spent most of his life teaching children. A gifted speaker, singer, and storyteller, he incorporates humor, drama, energy, and suspense into his sessions.

• Topic

  Evangelism

  

  The central mission of every Christian should be proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ to others. Creation evangelism provides the perfect platform!

• Biography

  Tony Perkins

  

  Tony Perkins is Family Research Council’s (FRC) fourth and longest-serving president, having joined the organization in August 2003.

• Study Guide

  The Great Dinosaur Mystery Solved!

  

  At last! An information-packed dinosaur book based on the authority of the Bible! Ken Ham, in his own distinct and understandable teaching style, explains how to understand the big picture of earth’s history… from a biblical perspective.

• Biography

  Anthony Biller
• Biography

  Dr. Diana Lynn Severance

  

  Dr. Diana Lynn Severance, a frequent writer on Christian history, received her PhD in history from Rice University and is the director of the Dunham Bible Museum at Houston Baptist University.

• Topic

  How Are Fossils Formed?

  

  Do fossils really require millions of years to form? The evidence shouts no! A lot of water and a little bit of time rapidly laid down the fossil record.

• Biography

  Roger Patterson

  

  Roger Patterson earned his BS Ed degree in biology from Montana State University. He currently serves as the Education Specialist for Answers in Genesis.

• Topic

  Dinosaur Footprints

  

  Dinosaur bones aren’t the only artifacts left behind by these creatures. Fossilized footprints point toward the watery cataclysm that buried the dinosaurs.

• Topic

  Higgs Boson (God Particle)

  

  The Higgs boson, nicknamed the “God particle,” reveals nothing about the origin of the universe—but it does divulge secrets about how the universe operates.

• Page

  Rocky Mountain National Park

  

  In addition to outdoor adventure and beauty, this park is a great place to learn about how mountains were formed from rock layers at the end of the global Flood.

• Biography

  Justin Peters

  

  Justin is committed to the expositional preaching of God’s Word. Justin has a Master of Divinity with Biblical Languages and a Master of Theology from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.

• Biography

  Marcia Montenegro

  
• Biography

  Tony Brown

  

  Tony is a missionary/evangelist to those caught in New Religious Movements, especially Jehovah’s Witnesses and Mormons.

• Topic

  Animal Genetics

  

  Does our growing understanding of animal genetics support evolutionary principles or special creation by a caring, intelligent Designer as the Bible proclaims?

• Topic

  Animal Migration

  

  After animals came off the Ark following the Flood and spread across the earth, they established complex migratory patterns that continue to puzzle scientists.

• Biography

  Jason Carlson

  

  Rev. Jason Carlson is the president of Christian Ministries International, an organization devoted to evangelism and equipping Christians to share their faith.

• Topic

  Primordial Soup

  

  In a quiet pond somewhere on early earth, the many complex chemicals necessary for life came together to produce the first living cell—or did they?

• Biography

  Doreen Virtue

  

  Doreen graduated with a master’s degree in biblical and theological studies from Western Seminary in 2021, and she holds a BA and MA in counseling psychology from Chapman University.

• Article Series

  A Response to Adam and the Genome

  

  Adam and the Genome illustrates that, as new scientific data accumulate, evolutionists find new and more nuanced ways to contradict the Bible.

See more