Genealogist and Author
No Man Left Behind (Bringing our Soldiers Home from WWI, WWII, Korea, and Vietnam)
Megan Smolenyak is a real life history detective who loves to solve mysteries. You might have spotted Megan or her handiwork on Who Do You Think You Are?, Finding Your Roots, Faces of America, Top Chef, Good Morning America, the Today Show, CNN, PBS and NPR.
Her news-making discoveries include revealing the true story of Annie Moore, the first immigrant through Ellis Island, and uncovering Michelle Obama’s family tree. Formerly Chief Family Historian for Ancestry.com, she also founded Unclaimed Persons, a volunteer organization that assists medical examiners nationwide.
Megan is the author of six books, including Hey, America, Your Roots Are Showing and Who Do You Think You Are? (companion to the popular TV series), and conducts forensic research for the Army, NCIS, FBI, coroners, and the BIA. In this talk, she will share her experience with the repatriation cases of more than 1,300 soldiers.