Cynthia holds a Certified Genealogist® credential. She specializes in Great Lakes area research. Her current projects include teaching Guided Autobiography classes through Family History Catalysts, writing documented ancestor stories, and creating a digital archive to memorialize her family’s history. She is exploring digital storytelling as a means of bringing ancestor stories to life.

Cynthia is the ProGen 70 Study Group mentor. She teaches Verbal Feedback Strategies and the Verbal Feedback Workshop for the Assemblage: Preparing, Writing, and Revising Case Studies Course at the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy (SLIG). She has lectured on planning for your Genealogical Afterlife: Don't Let Them Throw Away Your Research! Cynthia volunteers as a mentor for the Advanced Skills in Genealogy Course for the National Genealogical Society and participates in a monthly National Genealogical Society Quarterly Study Group. She facilitates a Digital Legacy archive group and a Family Archivists group. 

Cynthia completed ProGen Practicum 02 (now Certification Practicum), ProGen 50, ProGen Study Group 52, and holds a Certificate in Genealogical Research from Boston University’s Online program (OL31). 

Cynthia retired as a public-school superintendent and chief school business officer in Illinois. Post-retirement, she served as an interim assistant superintendent for instruction (technology) and through her consulting practice provided facilitation and coaching services for principals and faculty to improve collaborative relationships. Her PhD in Organization Development is from Benedictine University in Lisle, Illinois. 
 

Geographic Specialities
Great Lakes Region

Publications/Media
"Using Multiple Sources to Trace an Ancestor’s Journey Along the Oregon Trail” Crossroads, Vol 14, no. 3, Summer 2019.
 

Lectures
Guided Autobiography, 2025, 2026.
Verbal Feedback Strategies and Workshop, Assemblage: Preparing, Writing, and Revising Case Studies Course, Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy (SLIG), Fall Virtual 2024, 2025, 2026
Genealogical Afterlife, Chicago Chapter, Association of Professional Genealogists, 2023.

Repositories

 

Research Time Periods

• 20th Century
• 19th Century
• 18th Century

Honorifics/Credentials
CG^®, Board-Certified Genealogist, Board for Certification of Genealogists^®

 

Certificates
Certificate in Genealogical Research (OL31), Boston University, 2019.
Certified Instructor, The Birren Center for Autobiographical Studies, Guided Autobiography, 2025.

Affiliations
Fox Valley Genealogical Society
Illinois State Genealogical Society
National Genealogical Society
National Society for Daughters of the American Revolution
New England Historic and Genealogical Society
Ohio Genealogical Society
Virginia Genealogical Society
 

Degrees
PhD, Organization Development, Benedictine University, Lisle, Illinois
MS Ed. Education Leadership and School Business Management, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, Illinois
B.S. Merchandising, Summa cum laude, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, Illinois