STARKVILLE — Mississippi State forensic anthropologist Jesse R. Goliath has been named the 2026 recipient of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences Community Connections Mosaic Award, a national honor recognizing individuals who advance advocacy and positive change in the forensic sciences.

The annual Mosaic Award celebrates contributions that strengthen community and belonging within forensic teams and research groups. Goliath, an AAFS Anthropology Section Fellow, will receive the honor at the Academy’s 2026 Annual Conference in New Orleans, Louisiana, in February.

An assistant professor in MSU’s Department of Anthropology and Middle Eastern Cultures, Goliath focuses his research on supporting marginalized populations and improving outcomes for missing and unidentified persons, particularly in underserved regions of the rural South.

“Jesse’s work embodies exactly what this award stands for,” said Rick Travis, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. “When you look at the purpose of the Mosaic Award – recognizing those who create positive change and ensure every voice is valued – you see Jesse at the center of that mission. He has been a blessing to this state and university.”

Goliath said the award is especially meaningful because it highlights advocacy in forensic science. “Much of our casework involves marginalized communities. Advocacy, collaboration and cultural understanding are essential if we want to bring answers to families and improve the way our field supports the public,” he said.

Since joining MSU’s faculty in 2021, Goliath has become one of Mississippi’s leading voices in forensic advocacy. He is MSU’s first AAFS Fellow and among only a few fellows in the state. His scholarship includes coauthored research on activism in forensic anthropology published in the international journal Humans, where he and colleagues argue for increased attention to justice and community needs within the field.

Goliath also is the founding director of the Mississippi Repository for Missing and Unidentified Persons, a searchable statewide database with a public portal at missinginms.msstate.edu. The repository provides public case information and biological profiles, helping families while giving law enforcement and forensic specialists tools to work toward identification. The project is also active on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Beyond research, Goliath assists law enforcement across the state through MSU’s Forensic Recovery Unit, offering field recovery, analysis and training for undergraduate and graduate students preparing for careers in forensic science.

A native of West Virginia, Goliath holds a Ph.D. in anthropology and a graduate minor in anatomy from The Ohio State University. Before joining MSU, he worked with the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency to identify missing U.S. service members from past conflicts.

For more information about MSU’s College of Arts and Sciences or the Department of Anthropology and Middle Eastern Cultures, visit www.cas.msstate.edu or amec.msstate.edu.