Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility

As a gay, first-generation college student, Dr. Tallman has prioritized diversity, equity, and inclusion engagement in his work in biological and forensic anthropology. Nationally, he served as Co-Chair (with Dr. Cate Bird) of the Diversity & Inclusion Committee in the Anthropology Section of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences (AAFS) from 2017 to 2020, which was disbanded by the AAFS Board of Directors in 2020. The D&I Committee was the first of its kind in the forensic sciences and strived to increase diversity in the discipline through addressing important issues related to inclusion, recruitment, and retention. As such, the Committee assessed membership demographics; led student and professional discussion forums at the annual AAFS meetings; oversaw specialized subcommittees on topics related to diversity and inclusion; managed the Anthropology Section D&I Mentorship Program (now disbanded); organized symposia; provided a monetary award to an undergraduate or graduate student from an historically underrepresented community to attend the annual AAFS meeting trough the D&I Travel Award; and fostered a community of inclusion. Additionally, Dr. Tallman served as the Chair of the AAFS Diversity Outreach Committee from February to October 2020 (resigned). Also at the national level, Dr. Tallman has served as a reviewer for the National Organization of Gay and Lesbian Scientists and Technical Professionals' (NOGLSTP) Out to Innovate Scholarship (Educator of the Year; Scientist of the Year; Career Development Fellowship for Trans, Nonbinary, and Intersex People in STEM) since 2018. Presently, he serves as a Mentor for the Out in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (oSTEM) national organization.

At BU, Dr. Tallman is presently engaged in DEI initiatives as a member of BUSM’s Diversity Steering Group; the Department of Anatomy & Neurobiology’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice Committee; the LGBTQIA+ Recruitment Committee; and the Faculty Council’s Equity and Inclusion Committee. Additionally, he is a member of BU's Alpha Alpha Alpha National Honor's Society (for first-gen students and faculty).

In addition to skeletal biology and forensic anthropology-related research, Dr. Tallman's scholarship critically explores DEI-related issues in forensic anthropology, including mentorship, developing trans-inclusive perspectives and methods, and questioning the role of binary sex and ancestry estimation in forensic anthropology. This work engages with queer, critical race, and embodiment theories:

Meloro RM, Tallman SD, Streed Jr. CG, Stowell J, Delgado TA, Haug JD, Redgrave A, Winburn AP. A framework for incorporating diverse gender identities into forensic anthropology casework and theory: Recommendations for inclusive practices. Current Anthropology (in press).

Tallman SD (organizer). Vital Topics Forum: Cultivating a socially conscious, activist, and inclusive forensic anthropology. American Anthropologist 2022; 124(3).

Tallman SD, George RL, Baide AJ, Bouderdaben F, Craig AE, Garcia SS, Go MC, Goliath JR, Miller E, Pilloud MA. Barriers to entry and success in forensic anthropology. American Anthropologist 2022; 124(3):580-596. DOI: 10.1111/aman.13752.

Adams DM, Goldstein JZ, Isa M, Kim J, Moore MK, Pilloud MA, Tallman SD, Winburn AP (all authors contributed equally). A conversation on redefining ethical considerations in forensic anthropology. American Anthropologist 2022; 124(3):597-612. DOI: 10.1111/aman.13753.

McCrane SM, Hsiao CJ, Tallman SD. Implementing an antiracist framework in forensic anthropology: Our responsibility in professional organizations and as scientists. American Anthropologist 2022; 124(3):575-579. DOI: 10.1111/aman.13754.

Tallman SD, Kincer CD, Plemons ED. Centering transgender individuals in forensic anthropology and expanding binary sex estimation in casework and research. Forensic Anthropology 2022; 5(2):161-180. DOI: 10.5744/fa.2020.0030.

Winburn AP, Tallman SD, Scott AL, Bird CE. Changing the mentorship paradigm: Survey data and interpretations from forensic anthropology practitioners. Forensic Anthropology 2022; 5(2):115-132. DOI: 10.5744/fa.2020.4028.

Tallman SD, Bird CE. Diversity and inclusion in forensic anthropology: Where we stand and prospects for the future. Forensic Anthropology 2022; 5(2):84-101. DOI: 10.5744/fa.2020.3001.

Tallman SD, Parr NM, Winburn AP. Assumed differences; unquestioned typologies: The oversimplification of race and ancestry in forensic anthropology. Forensic Anthropology 2021; 4(4):73-96. DOI: 10.5744/fa.2020.0046.

Winburn AP, Clemmons C, Delgado T, Hartley S, Latham K, Pilloud MA, Tallman SD (all authors contributed equally). Strengthening the American Academy of Forensic Sciences vision, mission, and values statements: Critiques, revisions, and proposed actions. Forensic Science International: Synergy 2021; 3 (100197). DOI: 10.1016/j.fsisyn.2021.100197.

Tallman SD. Opinion: The forensic sciences have a diversity, inclusion problem. Forensic Magazine 2020; https://www.forensicmag.com/569912-Opinion-The-Forensic-Sciences-Have-a-Diversity-Inclusion-Problem/.

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In addition to these self-described keywords below, a list of MeSH based concepts is available here.

Biological Anthropology
Forensic Anthropology
Human Osteology
Forensic Science
Human Identification
Forensic Archaeology
Bioarchaeology
Paleopathology
Human
Variation
Sex and Ancestry Estimation
East and Southeast Asia
Human Gross
Anatomy
NAGPRA