Dallas Regional Chamber

Dallas, TX (11/06/08)……The Dallas Regional Chamber's Distinguished Women Leaders Lecture Series, presented by The Dallas Morning News, will host Dr. Rhonda Roby, leading forensic expert, author and Research and Development Project Coordinator for the University of North Texas Center for Human Identification, Missing Persons program, on December 2, 2008 at Cityplace, 2711 Haskell Ave., 39th floor in Dallas. Tickets for the luncheon are $45 (Chamber members) and $65 (general public) and may be reserved on line at www.dallaschamber.org or by calling 214-746-6728 for additional information.

Roby realized that she wanted to be a forensic scientist at a very young age. While growing up in Oklahoma, she followed a case that involved the murder of three Girl Scouts. This case inspired her life long passion to assist families who seek closure for loved ones. Today, she is a world renowned expert in her field—a real life CSI investigator. Dr. Roby has worked on numerous homicide and rape investigations and testified in several states and countries. She most recently concluded testimony in the Kilgore KFC murder trial.

Along with the City of New York Office of Chief Medical Examiner, Dr. Roby led the efforts to identify the victims of 9-11. She spent three years processing DNA samples for what has become known as the largest forensic case in history. She was also the Chief DNA Analyst for the identification of the victims from the airline disaster carrying Secretary Ron Brown and colleagues.

In 2006, the executive branch of the Chilean government requested her to be the lead forensic geneticist for an audit of victim remains from Dictator General Augusto Pinochet’s regime. Although previous efforts had been made to identify the estimated 3,000 victims, Roby and her team reevaluated these identifications and oversaw the exhumation of 30 unidentified bodies.

Rhonda Roby received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri in Biology and French in 1985. She obtained her Masters of Public Health in forensic biochemistry and behavioral and environmental health sciences in 1989 from the University of California at Berkeley and her doctorate degree in Genetics from the University of Granada, Spain. She also completed the requirements for a European Doctorate certificate and has recently been nominated for Extraordinary Doctor of the year at the University of Granada.

The Chamber's Distinguished Women Leaders Lecture Series educates the public about women leaders, identifies opportunities and challenges for women leaders, and highlights the achievements of women leaders while focusing on the challenges they have met and conquered. Former speakers include: Nancy Pelosi, current Speaker of the House; Michelle Peluso, President and CEO, Travelocity; Mary Suhm, City Manager, City of Dallas; Sheila Crump Johnson, co-founder of BET and the first black female billionaire and Donna Orender, President, WNBA

The Distinguished Women Leaders Lecture series is presented by The Dallas Morning News and sponsored by Southwest Airlines. Women's Enterprise serves as the series media sponsor.

The Dallas Regional Chamber promotes prosperity through public policy, economic development, and member engagement.

Sponsorship opportunities are still available. For more information, please contact Kimberly Sims at 214-746-6728 or ksims@dallaschamber.org