She has attended the FBI academy at Quantico for skull reconstruction and facial imaging as well as the Henry C. Lee Institute for Forensic Science at the University of New Haven. In addition, Cornell has completed seminars on blood spatter, palm and latent prints, terrorism, discovery, and the analysis of human remains.
After serving as a military police officer during the Persian Gulf War, Cornell joined the Providence Police Department. After six years, she advanced to an officer’s position in the Special Services Bureau.
In August of 1996, Cornell was promoted to detective in the Bureau of Criminal Identification. That same year, she earned an associate’s degree in criminal justice from Roger Williams University.
Most recently, Cornell was awarded the Providence Police Department Chief’s Award in May 2003 and is a consultant for skull reconstruction at the Henry C. Lee Institute for Forensic Science.