Genealogy Studies Program

Instructors

Melissa A. Johnson

Program Director

Instructor, Genealogy as a ProfessionMelissa Johnson

  • Certified Genealogist® from the Board for Certification of Genealogists®
  • Instructor, Institute of Genealogy and Historical Research, Genealogical Research Institute of Pittsburgh, Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy
  • President, New Jersey Chapter of the Association of Professional Genealogists
  • Chair, Association of Professional Genealogists Professional Development Committee
  • Reviews Editor, Association of Professional Genealogists Quarterly
  • Trustee, Genealogical Society of New Jersey
  • Vice President, International Society of British Genealogy and Family History
  • BS in Business Administration, Susquehanna University

Allison Ryall

Instructor, Principles Module 7, Genealogical MethodsAllison Ryall

  • Modern records research expert
  • Technology specialist, online research
  • Grader, National Genealogical Society’s Home Study Course
  • Program Director, NERGC 2011
  • FGS Ancestors Road Show co-chair
  • Bachelor’s degree in History and Russian Studies, University of Southern Maine
  • Master’s degree in American and New England Studies, University of Southern Maine

Julie Michutka

Instructor, Principles Modules 1-4Julie Michutka

  • Genealogy Studies Program, Boston University: Instructor, facilitator, content developer, Certificate in Genealogical Research, Genealogical Essentials, Genealogical Principles
  • Teaching Assistant, Excelsior College online Genetic Genealogy
  • Professional genealogy researcher; special interests immigration, early Massachusetts, and Slovakia
  • Certificate courses, Genetic Genealogy and Practicum in Genealogical Research, Excelsior College
  • Certificate in Genealogical Research, Boston University
  • BA and MA in Latin and Teacher’s Certificate, University of Michigan
  • Former Latin teacher for middle school, high school, and university courses

Shannon Green

Instructor, Principles Modules 5-6Shannon Green

  • Certified Genealogist® from the Board for Certification of Genealogists®

  • Professional genealogy researcher and writer
  • Certificate in Genealogical Research, Boston University
  • ProGen Study graduate
  • Completed the NGS Home Study Course
  • Published in the National Genealogical Society Quarterly (NGSQ), the NYG&B Record, and The Connecticut Nutmegger
  • BA degree from Duke University; MBA from Vanderbilt University

Corey Oiesen

Instructor, Evidence, Evaluation, and Documentation

  • Association of Professional Genealogists, board member
  • Working professional genealogist in U.S., French, and Italian research
  • Certificate in Genealogical Research, Boston University
  • ProGen Study Group program
  • Excelsior College’s Advanced Practicum in Genealogy course
  • B.A., Georgia State; B.A., Virginia Tech.

Michelle Roos Goodrum

Instructor, Evidence, Evaluation, and Documentation

  • GenProof Study Groups, mentor and administrator, studying Mastering Genealogical Proof
  • Attended Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy, Genealogical Research Institute of Pittsburgh, Genealogical Institute on Federal Records, Virtual Genealogical Research Institute
  • Presenter at RootsTech, Southern California Genealogy Jamboree, and the Northwest Genealogy Conference
  • ProGen graduate
  • Certificate in Genealogical Research, Boston University
  • BA, Business Administration, University of Washington, Accounting Concentration,
  • Retired CPA

Emily Hackett-Fiske

Instructor, Forensic Genealogical Research

  • Working professional genealogist
  • DNA and unknown parentage research specialist
  • Advanced Forensic Genealogy, certificate, Boston University
  • Certificate in Genealogical Research, Boston University
  • ProGen Study graduate
  • FGI Foundation and Advanced Certificate earned
  • Certificates, Excelsior College Genetic Genealogy and Practicum of Genealogical Research
  • BS degree in Chemistry, ACS Certified and Education; Master of Science in Civil Engineering

Jennifer Zinck

Instructor, Forensic Genealogical Research
Jennifer Zinck

  • President, Connecticut Professional Genealogists Council, Inc.
  • International lecturer
  • Genetic genealogy specialist
  • Modern records research specialist
  • Program director, NERGC 2019
  • Master of Business Administration with a concentration in Project Management
  • Certificate, Genealogical Research Program, Boston University
  • Certificate, Practicum in Genealogical Research, Excelsior College

Kimberly Powell

Instructor, Genealogy as a Profession

  • Professional genealogist
  • Past president, Association of Professional Genealogists; severed on the APG Board and Professional Development Committee
  • Instructor, Genealogical Research Institute of Pittsburgh, Institute of Genealogy and Historical Research and the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy
  • Genealogy expert for About.com
  • Author, The Everything Guide to Online Genealogy, 3rd edition
  • Articles published in BBC’s Who Do You Think You Are? Magazine, Family Tree Magazine, and the Association of Professional Genealogists Quarterly.
  • Recipient of IGHR’s Walter Lee Sheppard Jr. prize, Utah Genealogical Association’s Silver Tray award for genealogical publishing and the Grahame T. Smallwood Jr. Award of Merit from the Association of Professional Genealogists