My Story

MY STORY

I began my genealogy studies as a child with a storytelling grandmother and a reference librarian mother who shared a common love of family history. I grew up hearing stories of my Swedish immigrant ancestors, never imagining that with the exception of these “recent” immigrants in the 1880s, my family lineage is deeply rooted in the American colonies and the western migration. Building on a lifelong love of history, I hold a Masters in American History, which I completed while serving as an Air National Guard officer teaching leadership and military history to new Air Force officers. I turned genealogy into a profession after serving over 20 years in uniform. I hold a Certificate in Genealogical Research from Boston University, am a graduate of ProGen 61, and I am a member of the Association of Professional Genealogists.

I am also a professional indexer, specializing in back-of-the-book indexes for scholarly and trade books and, notably, family histories and genealogies. I understand the value of both bringing history to life and making it accessible for researchers and historians.

As a military officer and the spouse of a Gold Star family member, I have a particular calling towards the military repatriation efforts of the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency and their mission to account for and, whenever possible, bring home every fallen service member. I also have a particular draw towards family stories surrounding our nation’s wars and the military service of our ancestors.

EDUCATION

• ProGen 61, 2023
• Certificate in Genealogical Research, Boston University, 2021
• Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy, Fundamentals of Forensic Genealogy, 2023
• Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy, Advanced Research Tools: Land Records, 2024
• M.A. in American History, American Military University, 2011
• B.A. in Psychology, Western Washington University, 2000