Michael W. McCormick, hobbyist since 1999, mentor since 2004, professional since 2007, APG member since 2008, heir searcher since 2012, as well as Accredited Genealogist^® and university educator since 2015, served on the Board of Directors for the Association of Professional Genealogists 2024 to 2026, and the Association of Genealogy Educators and Schools 2024 through 2028.

Michael enjoys giving back to his community, hiking/walks, event running (e.g. a marathon in 2024), and Nintendo. He's interested in causes like immigrant rights, neurodivergence, and nonprofit work. Michael manages the McCormick/McCormack surname group and a few others on FamilyTreeDNA where he has awarded 150+ free DNA kits and upgrades to help expand the genealogical community's understanding of these surnames. His prior work obtaining over 16-million Maryland vital records (now fully searchable in partnership with MyHeritage) was recognized in local and national news media. Michael volunteers in his community along with his wife, supporting those experiencing economic challenges. Examples include work with foster care, exchange students, sponsoring immigrants, stocking and distributing resources, and arranging housing. He is also active in church groups and service clubs.

Highlights of Michael's genealogy career include:
• Discoveries on numerous genealogical research projects including focuses in US, international, DNA, and living relative research (direct for clients or as a subcontracted researcher).
• Mentoring and teaching genealogy employees, volunteers, students, and interns in his own business or for other organizations, and the positive outcomes he has fostered for them.
• Records acquisition or advocacy work for Reclaim The Records, PaHR-Access, and Occupy Genealogy, engaging toward greater records access in the field.
• Practicing the highest legal and ethical standards such as in research and management for heir search firms.
• Social media management for various organizations including the MTSU History Department, the Oral History Association, American Research Bureau, and FamilySearch.
• Volunteer work associating with many genealogists (including consulting and leadership roles at internationally respected organizations such as FamilySearch, APG, ICAPGen, and AGES).

Genealogical institutes:
Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy. "Material Culture." Utah Genealogical Association. Certificate issued Jan 2025.
Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy. "The Coaching Lab: Forensic Genealogy from Inquiry to Affidavit." Utah Genealogical Association. Certificate issued Jan 2017.
Forensic Genealogy Institute. "Master Practicum." Council for the Advancement of Forensic Genealogy. Certificate issued Mar 2015.

Select conferences attended:
RootsTech, 2012-2025
Ass. of Genealogy Educators and Schools, 2020-21, 2023-25
National Council on Public History, 2024
Oral History Association, 2020-2022
Eastern European Family History, 2016
Federation of Genealogical Societies, 2015
American Library Association, 2013
BYU Family History & Genealogy, 2008, 2014, 2016-17

Publications/Media
"Finding the Living." Utah Genealogical Association, Crossroads, Vol. 16, No. 1 (Winter 2021). "John Trust Severns and his wife Emma Jane Smith of Burlington County, New Jersey (Part Two)." GSNJ, The Genealogical Magazine of New Jersey, Vol. 95, No. 3 (Sept 2020). "John Trust Severns and his wife Emma Jane Smith of Burlington County, New Jersey (Part One)." GSNJ, The Genealogical Magazine of New Jersey, Vol. 95, No. 2 (May 2020). "The Research Process." Utah Genealogical Association, Crossroads, Vol. 14, No. 4 (Fall 2019). "Tracing German American Immigrants into 1600s Germany." Utah Genealogical Association, Crossroads, Vol. 14, No. 1 (Winter 2019). Michael has also published numerous articles in genealogical blogs and newsletters, including a series of paid articles for Price Genealogy.

Lectures
Courses taught (BYU-Idaho): FDREL 261 Introduction to LDS Family History FHGEN 111 (now 241) Intro to Family History Research, Part 1: Record Groups and Methodology FHGEN 160 The Family and Society (defunct course) FHGEN 411 (formerly 211) Research Methodology Select Presentations: "Forensic Genealogy, Unclaimed Inheritances, and Missing Persons," Family History Fanatics Conference on Overcoming Common Genealogy Challenges, Online, 7 Nov 2020. "German Ortsfamilienbücher," Family History Library [private staff presentation], Salt Lake City, UT, 19 January 2019. "Finding Your German Immigrant Ancestors," BYU myFamily History Youth Camp, Provo, UT, 27 July 2017. "School Records for Genealogy: A Case Study in Baltimore, Maryland," BYU Conference on Family History and Genealogy, Provo, UT, 26 July 2017. "Forensic Genealogy, Unclaimed Inheritances, and Missing Persons," BYU Conference on Family History and Genealogy, Provo, UT, 25 July 2017.  "Simply and Accurately Find Ancestors," 18th North Ward Family History Fireside, Salt Lake City, UT, 16 August 2015. "Add Photos to your Family Tree," Wilmette Family History Center Workshop, Wilmette, IL, 13 October 2013. "Research Resources at FamilySearch.org," Wilmette Family History Center Workshop, Wilmette, IL, 8 September 2013 and 12 January 2014. Workshops: Michael has also led numerous weekly community genealogy research workshops usually lasting between several weeks and one semester. These workshops included hands on guidance and presentations, and have been offered primarily to church and university groups from 2004-2016.

Research Time Periods

• 21st Century
• 20th Century
• 19th Century

Honorifics/Credentials
AG®

Certificates
Graduate Certificate in College & University Teaching (MTSU) Certified Online Instructor (BYU-Idaho)

Affiliations
Genealogical & Historical Societies: National Genealogical Society (life member); New England Historic Genealogical Society (life); Palatines to America German Genealogy Society (life); New York Genealogical and Biographical Society (life); Genealogical Society of New Jersey (life); Ulster Historical Foundation (life); Utah Genealogical Association (life); Maryland Genealogical Society & Maryland Historical Society (intermittent); Baltimore County Genealogical Society (ongoing); Gloucester County Historical Society, New Jersey (life); Genealogical Society of Pennsylvania (inactive); Phi Alpha Theta (life) Lineage Societies: Sons of the American Revolution (inactive); The Winthrop Society (life); Order of Descendants Colonial Physicians and Chirugeons (life); Society of the Descendants of the Colonial Clergy (life); Descendants of Founders of New Jersey (life); National Society, Descendants of Early Quakers (life); Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War (inactive)

Degrees
MSc (Genealogical, Palaeographic & Heraldic Studies)
BSc (History)
AAS (Family History Research)