The JSU public relations department announced that true crime legend Nancy Grace recently visited the campus to film a show for Fox Nation with Joseph Scott Morgan, Distinguished Scholar of Forensic Investigations. 
Morgan and Grace also presented together at the world’s No. 1 true crime event, CrimeCon, held in Las Vegas. Morgan’s podcast, “Body Bags,” was been nominated for a first-ever Clue Award, honoring the best in true crime content. Nominees were announced by Variety and Morgan’s independent podcast is in the running against media giants like Dateline NBC, Oxygen Network and Spotify.
The Calhoun Journal had the chance to speak to Mr. Morgan about his most recent collaborations and why he choose to join the JSU family. In regards to his relationship with Nancy Grace, he said his relationship goes back many years when he was the senior investigator with the medical examiner in Atlanta while Nancy was a prosecutor there. Their paths crossed many times professionally, but they each went their own way and he chose the path of academia. That path did eventually lead him to start doing TV appearances while she she was also doing her show. She knew of his unique skill set as a forensic scientist and also needed someone to appear regularly on television with her. He also stated that, “I think that she began to appreciate the fact that I would bring science to the table and try to look at things as objectively as possible.” While taping the shows in the the studio together they developed a friendship. He also wanted to note, “Her persona… everybody sees her as being very aggressive on air, but she is arguably one of the most generous people that I’ve ever come across in my life.” Ms. Grace eventually started her own podcast channel and it was a natural transition to join her and eventually that led to his very own podcast.
Two weeks ago Nancy came to the JSU campus where Mr Morgan and the forensic department had meticulously reconstructed a crime scene. JSU nor the forensics department wanted to publicize her visit because Nancy is a huge draw. She is known for never turning down her fans and has been known to sit in a chair for hours signing autographs. The department also didn’t want the scene to become disturbed, as it was a true representation of the original scene.
Mr. Morgan also wanted to note that Nancy always mentions JSU on her podcast and really gives them free publicity. She has 5 million+ downloads of her show and that is publicity that would cost the university millions if they were paying for it. She is a huge supporter of the program and school. In turn the administration has been great about making this visit work from the very top with President Killingsworth. This particular show will now air in August instead of the originally planned September date.
Mr. Morgan also shared a not-so-secret goal “to get Nancy over here as frequently as we can.” This is a real possibility because JSU has great experts in forensics and is one of the very few investigative forensics programs in the country. He also went on to explain the history that JSU has in this field. “The state crime lab used to actually be in Brewer Hall and so did the police academy for the state of Alabama. We’ve got a long history of forensics and forensic excellence here on campus and Nancy understands that, and she is so very generous and very appreciative.” JSU also rolled out the “Southern hospitality red carpet” and made the visiting team feel welcomed.
When asked how Mr. Morgan came to JSU he explained that he was teaching at the University of North Georgia, but often came over to JSU because he had attachments. He actually attended JSU for a while when he was “very, very young and and always felt like home.” He described it as “one of these interesting things that happened in life.” He had been working on campus since the late 90’s, teaching at the police academy occasionally and then was creating curriculum for coroners. The transition just came about naturally when JSU approached him about the position of distinguished scholar. He stated “I couldn’t say no, I mean I would rather be here in Jacksonville, Alabama, than anywhere.” He also knew he had made the right choice when his home was destroyed during the tornadoes. He suffered a direct hit and the home was leveled except for the one room he and his family and dogs were in. He said that JSU wrapped their arms around him and it truly was a family level of care. He said “sometimes in life you’ll look up and ask yourself if I’m doing the right thing in life or am I where I’m supposed to be and then sometimes things happen in order to demonstrate that you are in fact in the right place and that was my song. As horrible as that was, as terrible as it was, it confirmed to me that this is where I want to be the rest of my life.” He also talked about all the great colleagues he has that have become true friends. He also notes how warm the campus is. He really wanted to say that JSU is a practitioner’s university. It is a place where people go and they learn essential tasks. He explained that the forensics program is an applied forensics program. It’s not theoretical, it is taught by people that are actually either still in the field or have been in the field and are working in their specific jobs. He said when students don’t understand real life applications, then they are limited. JSU gives this real world experience and not just in forensics, but in nursing and other technical fields. This is why experts, such as Nancy Grace, want to come visit JSU and be a part of its history and strong academic programs.
*Photos courtesy of Joseph Scott Morgan
