SHORT INTRODUCTION for Presentations
Board-certified since 1995, Elissa Scalise Powell, CG®, CGLSM, is a western Pennsylvania researcher and co-director of the Genealogical Research Institute of Pittsburgh (GRIP). She also is the course coordinator for “Genealogy as a Profession” at the Institute for Genealogy and Historical Research (IGHR) in Athens, Georgia, author of two chapters in the 2018 Professional Genealogy book, and 2017 APG Professional Achievement Award winner.
FULL BIOGRAPHY
Elissa Scalise Powell, CG®, CGLSM, a western Pennsylvania researcher for over 30 years, is the co-director of the Genealogical Research Institute of Pittsburgh (GRIP), and “Genealogy as a Profession” course Coordinator since 2007 at the Institute of Genealogy and Historical Research (IGHR). She was an instructor and module creator for Boston University’s Genealogical Research Certificate program (2008-2016). She was the mentor for ProGen Study’s 1st, 25th and 50th groups and author of two chapters in the 2018 Professional Genealogy: Preparation, Practice and Standards book. She was the course co-coordinator of the AG/CG Preparation Course at the 2010 and 2013 Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy (SLIG) and was an instructor for the Virtual Institute of Genealogical Research (VIGR). She was honored with the Association of Professional Genealogists 2017 Professional Achievement Award for which she received multiple nominations. She is a regional and national speaker on such topics as Pennsylvania records, methodology, professional development, and society management.
She has been Board-certified since 1995, successfully renewing every 5 years since. In April 2011, Elissa earned the additional credential Certified Genealogical Lecturer(SM) from the Board for Certification of Genealogists as CGL no. 33. She was a Trustee for the Board for Certification of Genealogists for nine years, their President (2012-2014), and past Outreach Committee Chairperson. She was a Director for the Association of Professional Genealogists for six years; taught genealogy courses at the local community college for fourteen years; co-edited a cemetery book series, appeared on the PBS-TV show Ancestors2 cemetery episode and on the Travel Channel’s Dead Files in 2015 (“The Instigator”) and 2019 (“Devil’s Triangle”) episodes. She is a past-President of two local Pittsburgh area societies and a contributing author to many publications including the NGS Quarterly, NGS Magazine, and the APG Quarterly.
An NSDAR member, she is also a lifetime member of the Ohio Genealogical Society; the Medina County Chapter, OGS; and the Baltzer Meyer Historical Society (Greensburg, PA) which was named for her ancestor.