Qualifications

Education

• Ramapo College of New Jersey, Investigative Genetic Genealogy Certificate Program

  • • Targeted training and education in DNA collection/processing, ethics, and analytical techniques unique to Investigative Genetic Genealogy

• Minnesota State University Moorhead, Bachelors of Science in Project Management

  • • Education centered on effectively leading and overseeing teams and projects, ensuring optimal efficiency, thorough documentation, and comprehensive execution from beginning to end. These attributes are of immense value in the realm of genetic genealogy.

• Other

  • The Ramapo Investigative Genetic Genealogy Conference (RIGG), attendee (June 2024)

  • Investigative Genetic Genealogy (IGG) Bootcamp at Ramapo College of New Jersey, participant (June 2024)

  • I4GG 2024, attendee (February 2024)

  • East Coast Genetic Genealogy Conference (ECGGC), attendee (October 2023)

  • International Homicide Investigators Association (IHIA) DNA & Genealogy Summit, attendee (October 2023)

  • International Symposium of Human Identification (ISHI), attendee (September 2023)

  • The Ramapo Investigative Genetic Genealogy Conference (RIGG) , attendee (July 2023)

  • Investigative Genetic Genealogy (IGG) Bootcamp at Ramapo College of New Jersey, participant (July 2023)

  • Dr. Densen Cao Spring Symposium, Decoding: Forensic Investigative Genetic Genealogy (FIGG), attendee (2023)

Certification

Currently, there is no official industry recognized certification available for Forensic Investigative Genetic Genealogy (anyone who tells you differently isn't being entirely truthful). However, efforts are underway to establish officially recognized certification, which may be available in 2024.  

For more information, please visit the Investigative Genetic Genealogy Accreditation Board. 

Experience/Casework

• Genealogy

  • • 30+ years genealogy experience

    • Personally experienced the transition from pre-internet paper-based genealogy to the modern era of online research, DNA, and digital record keeping. 

• Genetic Genealogy

  • • 10+ years genetic genealogy experience

    • Found resolution in over 80 cases, including the identification of: birth parents in adoption cases, birth parents in misattributed parentage cases, and identification of misattributed or unknown ancestry from over 200 years ago -- including cases with extremely high endogamy and pedigree collapse.

• (Forensic) Investigative Genetic Genealogy

  • • Independent FIGG Case/Team Coordinator, Manager, Analyst (Current), managing multiple human remains cases.

    • FIGG Program Coordinator at cesFIGG (June-November 2023), managing multiple human remains cases (case management ongoing).

    • Participated in the 2023 and 2024 IGG Bootcamp at Ramapo College of New Jersey which resulted in leads in both unidentified human remains cases and a wrongful conviction case.

    • Participated in the investigative genetic genealogy casework of six unidentified human remains cases while in the Ramapo College of New Jersey Investigative Genetic Genealogy Certificate Program.  

• CASEWORK EXPERIENCE BREAKDOWN

  • • 80+ standard genetic genealogy cases

    • 15 FIGG cases coordinated/managed

    • 23 unidentified human remains cases

    • 1 wrongful conviction case

    • 1 violent crime case (perpetrator)