When Abby Fuchs ’26 walks into the Montgomery County Coroner’s Office twice a week for her internship, she never knows what the day will bring.

“I am really into the idea of having a career where every day is slightly different,” said Fuchs, a Criminal Justice major with a minor in Forensics from Brick, N.J. “So I value that daily changing environment in my internship. You don’t know what case you’re going to have on that day, or if you’re going to end up going to a scene.”

Since late January, Fuchs has assisted with autopsies and examinations, helped document evidence, and maintained chain-of-custody procedures.

“I weigh organs, I help with toxicology, like taking specimens from decedents,” she said. “We also learn a lot about the cleaning process and the proper procedures of taking documentation of identity, gathering property, and making sure it’s being stored correctly.”

This internship marks her second experience with Montgomery County. Last spring, she interned with the Adult Probation and Parole Office, giving her a look at the legal side of criminal justice before transitioning to the forensic side. Nearly a month into this internship, Fuchs said the hands-on experience has accelerated her learning.

“Since I’m a Criminal Justice student, I don’t necessarily have anatomy classes or specific biology classes, so being able to see a real human being on a table and doing an exam is really eye-opening,” she said. “I’ve been able to pick up everything so fast. I’m able to tell you all the different organ types, or if something’s abnormal in the person immediately.”

She also credits Arcadia’s faculty with helping to mentally prepare her for the realities of the field.

“I was lucky enough that a lot of my professors in the Criminal Justice program here are either retired from a criminal justice background, or still active in the field,” Fuchs said. “So I have been exposed to so many different types of materials and felt very prepared for my internship because you’re seeing a lot of things that are a little more disturbing to the regular individual.”

Fuchs describes herself and others in the profession as “last responders,” who take on a great mental challenge in their roles.

“It’s valuable work, and I think a lot of people don’t realize how much work and care goes into it after death,” Fuchs said. “It’s not just as simple as just finding the cause and manner of death; we’re actually helping a family get through this process, helping them find a funeral home, helping them lay their loved one to rest. Taking care of someone after they’re deceased and handling a grieving family is super hard to carry daily.”

The Coroner’s Office offers access to mental health professionals and even a dedicated decompression room, a benefit that, as a longtime advocate for mental health awareness, Fuchs appreciates. Outside of her coursework and internship, she serves on the executive board of Arcadia’s Chapter of The Hidden Opponent (THO).

“The advocacy behind mental health is continually expanding, and I know that what I’m feeling might be different than the person next to me, but I’m sure we could both relate on something,” she said. “I just think I’m appreciative of how big this conversation is continuing to grow, and that continuing the conversation really impacts everyone, no matter what field you’re in, who you are, or where you are in life.”

In addition to her role with THO, Fuchs is a member of the women’s soccer team, serves on the executive board for the Criminal Justice Society, and works with Arcadia’s Athletics Department to create social media content for various teams’ accounts and working almost all varsity sports games keeping live stats, and with the athletic trainers to run the “Battle Bar,” providing nutritious snack recipes and samples for student athletes.

Fuchs plans to remain in the Montgomery County area after graduation and is applying for jobs within the county. She also intends to pursue her EMT certification this summer to broaden her experience.

For Fuchs, this internship has reinforced her career goals and expanded her professional network. She learned about the opportunity through a former classmate, Hope Rozycki ’24, ’25M, and now hopes her own story will inspire younger students.

“There are opportunities. You just have to find them and find the right people. It’s all what you make of it,” she said. “Although there are some days where I have so much on my plate with all the different activities I’m a part of, I wouldn’t want that to be changed because I would never have met the people that I’ve met without doing all these extra things.”