Speakers – 9th We Are Cousins Virtual Genealogy Conference

Ryan Jordan is an academic historian and accredited genealogist, currently teaching at National University in La Jolla, CA. His research and teaching interests have included 18th and 19th century US history, as well as the history of California. He holds a Ph.D in History from Princeton University (2004). Read More

Eleanor Brinsko specializes in Scandinavian-American and Midwest-American genealogy. She gives presentations for organizations across the country. Eleanor has contributed to Henry Louis Gates' "Finding Your Roots" and taught a graduate-level class on genealogy for University of Wisconsin-Madison. - Read More

Edward A. Rueda is a digital journalist and editor who has researched his Colombian and Ashkenazi Jewish families for 30+ years. He graduated from Columbia University and NYU, has lived in New York for nearly 25 years, and has two magnificent children, Matteo and Cecilia. Read More

Lori Samuelson is a genealogist, speaker, and author dedicated to helping people discover the stories behind their ancestors. Through Genealogy At Heart, she combines historical research, migration analysis, and storytelling to connect families with their past. Lori presents internationally and writes extensively on genealogy methodology and narrative family history. - Read More

Kate Penney Howard is a professional genealogist, DNA specialist, and national speaker. She helps researchers make sense of complex family history using clear, practical methods. Known for a trauma-informed approach, she teaches evidence evaluation, DNA analysis, and ethical storytelling, equipping genealogists to handle both technical challenges and difficult discoveries. Read More

Moises Garza is the founder of We Are Cousins and Las Villas del Norte Genealogy Group. He is also the author of over 40 publications and the popular book series Last Names of Nuevo Leon. He is also the creator of the Mexican Genealogy blog and the many Facebook groups that form part of the Mexican Genealogy Network. Read More

John P. Schmal is an historian, genealogist, and lecturer. He manages the IndigenousMexico.org website, which includes articles and presentations about the Indigenous people of Mexico, Texas, and California. This website has had more than 42,000 page views in the last 30 days. Read More

Retired SoCal college professor (MA – Speech, PhD – Folklore), national speaker/author, with 45+ years of experience, Jean researched for 2 genealogy TV programs. Currently, she is 1st VP and webmaster for Corona Genealogical Society; consultant for Corona, California FamilySearch Center; and writer for Jefferson County NY Genealogical Society’s INFORMER. Read More

Wesley Johnston holds Master's degrees in Mathematics and History. Since his family is like the United Nations he has researched in many different countries and languages. His 28 books are on family history, art history and World War II history. Read More

Dee is an experienced genealogist with a 30-year career and a knack for finding ancestors. She has two BAs (in History and Sustainability) and is working on her History MA at IU. With experience in genetic genealogy, historical writing, and biographies, Dee has helped hundreds trace their family trees. Read More

Allyson is a genealogy speaker, writer, and consultant. She speaks at national and state conferences including RootsTech. She wrote articles for The Crossroads Magazine. She holds an AG in the Southwest Region and a BS from Idaho State. Her website is rememberingrelatives.weebly.com. She lives in Salt Lake City. Read More

Sunny Jane Morton is Editor of NGS Magazine, Contributing Editor at Family Tree Magazine and Course Coordinator for GRIP Genealogy Institute. She is an expert on US religious denominational records and teaches genealogy writing/storytelling skills. She has spoken at conferences around the US and globally. Read more

Natalie Webb lives where technology and genealogy meet, and she’s happiest helping people feel less intimidated by both. Through her business, Family Tree Technology, she is on a mission to help genealogists make sense of online research platforms, data organization, and emerging tech without feeling overwhelmed. Read More

Frank Dominguez started researching his family history in 1987. In the summer of 1988 he attended a presentation in Boulder, Colorado given by David Salazar of the Genealogical Society of Hispanic America (GSHA). He became a charter member of GSHA later that year. He has amassed many records relating to his ancestral fam... Read more

Salvador (Sal) Montana has been a GSHA-SC Member since January 2021.  Sal’s raíces are from the State of Chihuahua, Mexico.  He possesses a Ph.D. in Social Work, University of Texas at Austin. MSW, Fresno State, and B.S., Political Science, University of California, Santa Barbara. He taught for over 20 years at Fresno State, Department of... Read More

I served for 33 years as a Civil Servant with the Department of Defense, specializing in Information Technology and Military Warfighting Systems Engineering. I hold a Bachelor of Science in Information Systems Engineering from Western International University and retired in December 2018. Read more

Laura Cubbage-Draper is a genealogical researcher who is a New Jersey native with deep Pennsylvania roots. She began researching her family in 1999 and earned the Certified Genealogist credential in 2024. Laura has lectured at local and regional societies and libraries where she enjoys teaching about genealogical methodology and resources. Read More

Paula specializes in using DNA to solve problems. She's a board member of the Virginia Genealogical Society and of GRIVA, running the latter's DNA Special Interest Group. She has lectured for Legacy Family Tree Webinars, RootsTech, NGS, and more. She is also the Virtual Tech Coordinator for GRIP. Read more

Sue McNelly, AG® holds accreditation in the England region and, as an Arizona-based genealogist, brings solid research experience across the U.S. Southwest, South Africa, the Isle of Man, and Australia. She teaches genealogical writing at the university level and has presented webinars, classes, and workshops for conferences and societies. Read More

Carol Genung is a professional genealogist and speaker specializing in traditional and genetic genealogy. She holds a Certificate in Genealogical Research from Boston University and is a ProGen graduate. Carol delivers presentations that help audiences build skills, solve problems, and preserve family stories; whether they’re beginners or refining advanced techniques. Read more