Career Tips from Dr. Laura

 

I created my career by foregoing much of my social life, embracing my academic life, and choosing my career over nearly everything else. I started out studying psychology for my BS. Then I studied out in the work field for five years. Then I went back and got my masters honing it in specifically to exactly what I wanted: forensic science and forensic psychology. Then I continued with post-graduate research, working in the field, striving to be the best of the best, and never taking my eye of the ball. Four years later I started my PhD work again hyper focusing it to a specific area of homicide study: crime scene staging in homicide cases. Post doctorate, I continued to write, present, publish, research, develop and invent, etc. To say missing family events and lots of other personal sacrifices were necessary to build my career would be an understatement to be and do what I am today. This was a conscious choice: I chose my career over family and social relationships.

My interpersonal relationships were few during my masters and doctoral work. I kept focused and eliminated any distraction from my environment. I had my daughter at 17 years old, I’ve never known life without her, so raising her while in High School, College, Grad School, and PhD school was natural and normal to me. Sure, it was probably harder, but I didn’t know what it was like not to have a child, so it was no problem for me. If you want to do what I do, at the international level of which I do it, be the best at what you do, prepare to champion your own career and push yourself farther than you thought possible.

Early on my inventions, techniques, and methodologies were met with resistance during the position I held as a DA’s investigator. Those same inventions, techniques, and methods are now adopted, taught, and sold worldwide now and have been for more than a decade. Back then I was blackballed and ridiculed, made fun of and insulted, called names like “Spatter Girl”, walked on, shunned, bullied, treated unprofessionally and disrespectfully, but I never took my eye off the ball; I never allowed this type of behavior discourage me. You see the foresight of those mistreating me was equivalent to the length of their eye lashes. I understood they didn’t understand. I understood strong, independent, competent, intelligent women can be intimidating to some for reasons that are their own psychology. Today, LPA is “a fortress” build with the very stones thrown at me. One by one, being pelted by adversity made me and my company stronger, wiser, more adaptable, highly educated, more determined. I am grateful to everyone who stood in my path, for their objection to who I am and what I stand for validated the necessity of my mission, bolstered my political position, gave rise to international recognition, and led me to be embraced by some of the world’s greatest minds and staunchest leaders who saw the early days of their own careers reflected in my plight.

My recommendations for those interested in this field, specifically a career similar to mine. You’re welcome to follow the trail I forged over the past 25 years for myself and others…I welcome you aboard a wild ride, or you can forge your own. You need a BS, MS, and PhD; you need to be highly formally educated and highly experientially educated. You need your own specialization and years and years of research, writing, study, and field experience. You need to understand that this is not a “fun” career and that ultimately you are dedicating yourself to helping others devastated by violent crime. It is often a thankless, less recognized position in the world like school teachers, law enforcement, fire fire fighters, EMS. Hopefully, the trail is a bit easier for you now that it is clear and free of obstruction because “it’s been done before.” If you choose to follow, 100 years from now, you too will be remembered as a pioneer in the early days. Your books, articles, inventions, methodologies, will live on way past the end of your life. Should you choose to embark on this journey, buckle up because going against the norm, doing things and inventing things others have never seen is breeding ground for adversity. Embrace it. Understand it. Use it to ascend as a stepping stone to the next level. Develop thick skin political skin, diplomatic ways of handling bullies, polite ways of standing your ground, always keeping kindness in your heart, empathy on your lips, your eyes on the ball, your hands busy contributing to society, and a fire in your belly for justice.

More than anything else, never give up.

All my best for your journey,

Laura

 

Additional Appearances

  • 2019 Cast - DNA of Murder with Paul Holes, pending

  • 2019 June, Death at the Mansion: The Rebecca Zahau Case, Oxygen

  • 2019 OzTeam Forensic Criminologist Season 11 contract renewed (non-exclusive)

  • 2019 April, Secrets of the Morgue: Out of the Wilderness, The Zilpha Lowry Case,Discovery ID

  • 2018 November, OzTeam Facebook LIVE Studio On-Camera Oz Team Forensic Criminologist, The Dr. Oz Show, Facebook Group Video for Oz Investigates: Science, Medicine, and Mystery, NYC (May 16, 2018)

  • 2018 November, OzTeam Facebook LIVE Studio On-Camera Oz Team Forensic Criminologist, The Dr. Oz Show, Facebook Group Video for Oz Investigates: Science, Medicine, and Mystery, NYC (May 16, 2018)

  • 2018 November, Rhoden Murders, Studio On-Camera Oz Team Forensic Criminologist, The Dr. Oz Show NYC (May 16, 2018)

  • 2018 November, Rebecca Apodaca Murder, Studio On-Camera Oz Team Forensic Criminologist, The Dr. Oz Show NYC (May 16, 2018)

  • 2018 October, Steven Clayton Murder, Studio On-Camera Oz Team Forensic Criminologist, The Dr. Oz Show NYC (May 16, 2018)

  • 2018 March, Lauren Phillips Murder, Studio On-Camera Oz Team Forensic Criminologist, The Dr. Oz Show NYC (May 16, 2018)

  • 2018 March, Studio On-Camera Oz Team Forensic Criminologist, The Dr. Oz Show NYC (May 16, 2018)

  • 2018 March, Skype On-Camera Appearance, Erica Parsons Murder Case Update, Daily Mail TV Show

  • 2018 February, On-Location Appearance, Medical Examiner Show, Ciniflix

  • 2018 February, Skype On-Camera Appearance, Women Leading Double Lives, Daily Mail TV Show

  • 2018 January, Studio On-Camera Oz Team Forensic Criminologist, The Dr. Oz Show NYC (aired February 2018)

  • 2018 January, Assisted in Producing Package How Coroners Crack Cases, The Dr. Oz Show (February 2018)

  • 2018 January, Tanner Barton Accidental Death, On-Camera Oz Team Forensic Criminologist & Assisted in Producing Video Package Tanner Barton (February 2018)

  • 2018 January, On-Camera Appearance, NBC Charlotte News, Expert Commentary on Erica Parsons Autopsy Report

  • 2017 December, On-Air Appearance, Real Crime Profile Podcast with Laura Richards from The Case Of and Lisa Zambetti from Criminal Minds

  • 2017 November, Tupac & Biggie Reconstruction, Studio On-Camera Oz Team Forensic Criminologist, The Dr. Oz Show NYC (aired January 25, 2018)

  • 2017 October, On-Camera Appearance, Skype, Las Vegas Shooter, Daily Mail TV Show

  • 2017 September, Lauren Phillips Murder, Studio On-Camera Oz Team Forensic Criminologist, The Dr. Oz Show NYC (aired Dec 5, 2017)

  • 2017 April, Trenton Mallory Murder, Studio On-Camera Oz Team Forensic Criminologist, The Dr. Oz Show NYC (aired July 25, 2017)

  • 2017 April, On-Camera Appearance, On-Location, Washington State, Radical Media

  • 2017 June, Host & Co-Executive Producer, WebTV Series, Notorious True Crime Stories with Laura Pettler, Beaver County, PA

  • 2017 January, On-Camera Appearance, On-Location, Ohio, Radical Media

  • 2017 January, Screen Test, Radical Media

  • 2016 Fall: Screen Test, Riot Productions

  • 2016 Spring: Screen Test, Jupiter Production

  • 2015 December 17: The Mike Pintek Show, KDKA Radio 1020AM 2pm Slot

  • 2015 December 16: TV Pittsburgh Now with Chris Moore, PCNC 35 NBC Affiliate WXPI Channel 11

  • 2015 November 16, 17, 18: Hollywood, CA, On-Camera , TV Sizzle Reel Shoot

  • 2015 September 29: CN2 News, Rock Hill, SC

  • 2015 September 29: The Herald, Rock Hill, SC

  • 2015 September 23: Channel 7 Interview, Panama City, FL

  • 2015 September 24: Channel 13 Interview, Panama City, FL

  • 2015 July - Cold Case Beaver County Extra!

  • 2015 June - The Briar Lee Mitchell Radio Show

  • 2015 May - KDKA New Radio, Pittsburgh, PA

  • 2015 May - Pittsburgh Now TV Show, WPXI, Pittsburgh, PA

  • 2015 May - Pittsburgh Today Live TV Show, KDKA, Pittsburgh, PA

  • 2015 April - Cold Case Special, WIS TV, Columbia, SC

  • 2015 April - Interview about New Staging Book

  • 2014 August - Pittsburgh Now, WPXI/PCNC Pittsburgh, PA with Chris Moore

  • 2014 February - Night Talk, WPXI/PCNC Pittsburgh, PA with Ellis Cannon

  • 2014 February - Sizzle Reel with Jupiter Entertainment for Cold Case Squad

  • September 2013 - Sizzle for potential new daytime TV Show

  • March 2012 - Deadly Women on ID with Beyond Production's and Discovery ID's

  • May 2010 - News 14 Carolina, Hollywood Changes Juror's Expectations

  • May 2010 - Stanly County Community College TV Show Interview

  • September 2009 - Capella's Mock Crime Scene shoot

  • September 2009 - Capella's Public Service Leadership shoot

  • 2009 - Shopping Agreement with Storyboard Productions for Final Analysis

  • July 2006 - Face to Face with Andrea Sebastyan, Comporium, Inc., Channel 14, Rock Hill, SC

  • April 2006 - The Queenscup Steeplechase Singing the National Anthem

  • 2006 Time-Warner Cable Channel 6, Charlotte, NC

  • April 2006 - The John Schilling Show Time-Warner Cable Channel 9, Indian Trail, NC

  • October 2006 - The Kool Kat Ken Show, Time-Warner Cable Channel 19, Charlotte, NC

  • July 2005 - The Kool Kat Ken Show Time-Warner Cable Channel 19, Charlotte, NC

  • March 2005 - The Kool Kat Ken Show, Time-Warner Cable Channel 19, Charlotte, NC

  • December 2007 - The Britt Pope Show, WIXI 1190 AM, Monroe, NC—Waxhaw’s Christmas Events and Stocks for Tots

  • October 2007 - The Britt Pope Show, WIXI 1190 AM, Monroe, NC—Pageland Farm Festival and Waxhaw’s Autumn Treasures

  • September 2007 - The Britt Pope Show, WIXI 1190 AM, Monroe, NC—Cherry Jam Fall Festival and Italian Show 5pm

  • June 2007 - The Britt Pope Show, WIXI 1190 AM, Monroe, NC—Trucks Radio Release Interview 5pm

  • May 2007 - The Britt Pope Show, WIXI 1190 AM, Monroe, NC—Speed Street, Trucks CD Interview 5pm

  • December 2006 - The Britt Pope Show, WIXI 1190 AM, Monroe, NC—Live in Waxhaw, National Anthem

  • August 2005 - The Brit Pope ShowWIXI 1190 AM, Monroe, NC—Interview

Print:

*Incomplete List