Megan Smolenyak


Megan Smolenyak Smolenyak, born October 9, is an American genealogist, author, and speaker.
Smolenyak holds a BSFS in Foreign Service from Georgetown University, an MBA in International Business from George Washington University and an MAS in Information Technology from Johns Hopkins University.

Genealogy work

Since 1999, she has been a consultant with the U.S. Army's repatriation efforts and has located the families of over a thousand soldiers still unaccounted for from World War I, World War II, Korea and Vietnam. As a genealogist, she is best known for unearthing celebrity roots, conducting forensic research for coroners, police departments, NCIS and the FBI, and championing the use of DNA testing to learn about one’s ancestry. She researched Michelle Obama's family tree, researched Annie Moore, the first immigrant through Ellis Island, traced Barack Obama's roots to Moneygall, Ireland, and discovered that Al Sharpton’s great-grandfather had been owned by relatives of Strom Thurmond. She herself is of Irish and Rusyn heritage with roots in Ireland, Slovakia, Poland and Ukraine. Formerly Chief Family Historian for Ancestry.com, she also founded .

Author

Smolenyak has authored six books. She was the winner of a 2009 gold Folio Eddie award, as well as five writing awards from the International Society of Family History Writers and Editors. She has written articles for Ancestry, Family Chronicle, Family Tree Magazine, , Genealogical Computing, Heritage Quest, NGS NewsMagazine, Everton's Family History Magazine, and APG Quarterly. Smolenyak is also a Huffington Post contributor. Smolenyak conducted research and wrote the companion book for the U.S. version of Who Do You Think You Are?.

Speaking and consulting

Smolenyak has also consulted for and appeared on CBS's The Early Show, Good Morning America, the Today Show, Top Chef, CNN, ESPN, BBC Breakfast, African American Lives, PBS's Ancestors, TimeWatch, They Came to America, Who Do You Think You Are?, Faces of America, Finding Your Roots, NuvoTV, NPR, BBC Radio, and local , and has spoken at the National Genealogical Society, Federation of Genealogical Societies, Who Do You Think You Are? Live?, Australasian Federation of Family History Organizations, and other historical, military, ethnic and literary events.

Awards

Smolenyak was awarded the for her work in advancing responsible genealogy to a broad popular audience. She is the recipient of four Telly awards for video production, six magazine writing awards, and a former board member of the Association of Professional Genealogists.

Works