About Me
Thanks to my paternal grandmother, I grew up with a passion for family history. This interest lead to earning a certificate in Family History and Genealogy from the University of Washington in 1999. My career in nursing (BSN, Washington State University, 1982; MN, University of Washington, 1988, Board Certified Geriatric Nurse Practitioner, 1993-2018) kept family history as a parallel interest for many years. I continued my research on my family as my nursing career took me to each of the 50 states, most Canadian provinces, and several countries abroad. I have visited libraries, archives, and courthouses throughout the US and Canada and driven around the backroads of states and provinces searching for places with links to my ancestors.
I started offering professional genealogy services in 2018. My focus is on genetic genealogy and I have been working with DNA since 2015. In September of 2022, I joined the team at Your DNA Guide where I work as an Instructor and DNA Coach and contribute to the blog. I have a special interest in supporting the descendants of enslaved and enslavers as part of reparative genealogy. Only by facing the past can we move forward into a better future.
Professional Development (selected)
- 15th Annual Conference on Genetic Genealogy (2023)
- Empowering Genealogists with AI, National Genealogical Society (2023)
- Indiana African American Genealogy Group Annual Conference (2023)
- Intermediate and Advanced Genetic Genealogy, Texas Institute for Genealogical Research (2023)
- Research Like A Pro Study Group Leader (2022)
- AppGen: Applied Genetic Genealogy (2022)
- Your DNA Guide Academy Endogamy and Y-DNA skills courses (2021)
- Institute for Genealogical and Historical Research: Military Records I: The Colonial Era to the Vietnam War (2021)
- Genealogical Research Institute of Pittsburgh: Law School for Genealogists (2021)
- ProGen 46 professional genealogy peer study program (March 2020-May 2021)
- Eastern Mennonite University, Center for Justice and Peacebuilding: Strategies for Trauma Awareness and Resilience I (2020) and II (2021)
- Genealogical Research Institute of Pittsburgh: Women and Children First: The Hidden Half of the Family (2020)
- Your DNA Guide Academy DNA Skills Workshop (2020)
- Midwest African-American Genealogy Institute: Intermediate Genealogy, Pre- and Post- Slavery Era Research (2020)
- Genealogical Research Institute of Pittsburgh: Advanced Genetic Genealogy (2019)
- Institute for Genetic Genealogy (2017, 2018, 2022, 2023)
- Certificate in Genealogy and Family History, University of Washington (1999)
Memberships
- Association for Professional Genealogists
- National Genealogical Society
- New England Historic Genealogical Society
- Daughters of the American Revolution
- British Columbia Genealogical Society
- Virtual Genealogy Association
- Coming to the Table, an organization dedicated to “working together to create a just and truthful society that acknowledges and seeks to heal from the racial wounds of the past, from slavery and the many forms of racism it spawned”
- Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers, an international group promoting excellence in communication to improve well-being
Genealogical Interests
- Genetic genealogy
- African American family history
- The role of family history in personal identity and healing
- Family history research as a catalyst to address historic injustices
- Communication skills for genealogists
- Geographic Experience: As a genetic genealogist, I work with records from any locality where the DNA leads. I have worked with records in all regions of the United States and most provinces in Canada, and several European countries. My own family history research includes the southern United States, midwest, west, and colonial New England and the Maritimes in Canada.
Building knowledge, skills, strength, and resilience through
connecting people to their family history.