What motivated you to pursue accreditation? I have always loved genealogy and I felt that pursuing accreditation would help me achieve a higher level of excellence in this field. I also still have young children at home and liked the idea of being able to have a career that I enjoyed but I could still make the schedule work well with family life.  I felt that accreditation would help me to achieve this goal.

What are some challenging or unique aspects to researching in your area of accreditation?  I specialize in Gulf South research. Often collections are not complete due to loss or destruction and other records are not always found where you might expect them to be.  Several states in the Gulf South were under the jurisdiction of other countries and other states during their history and it’s important to know where to look for records.

What advice do you have for those pursuing accreditation?  Don’t get discouraged and work hard.  It’s important to know the history of the area you specialize in.  Often events that occurred have a direct impact on the records that are available.

What are some of your goals as a genealogist?  I would love to be involved in teaching and training others to be excellent researchers.  I also enjoy writing and would like to continue to have some of my articles published in genealogical forums.  I have been published in the Arkansas Historical Society’s genealogical magazine in the past and received the first place award for “Best Written Article of 2017.”

What research projects are you involved with now, or have planned for the future?  I am currently involved in a project tracing and tying together several of the mulungeon (mixed race) families that left Virginia and spread through Appalachia and the Gulf South.

Is there anything else you want to let us know about your genealogy experience or activities?  I have been involved in genealogical research for almost five years now.  In addition to my accreditation I have an Associate degree from BYU-Idaho in Family History research.  I am also the lineage research chairman for my local Colonial Dames chapter, Star of Destiny.  I love researching and learning new things and I am currently expanding my horizons and learning how to do French, German and Danish research as well.  I look forward to a lifetime of learning and researching and I am very excited to have received my accreditation.