UGA's Distinguished Service Award Goes to Angela Packer McGhie!

Angela Packer McGhie has provided outstanding service to the Utah Genealogical Association over the course of ten years. During this time, Angela has been a student, a committee member, an instructor, and a course coordinator. After attending Tom Jones’ Advanced Genealogical Methods course in 2011, Angela--along with Harold Henderson, Christy Fillerup and Kimberly Powell--developed the concept of the Advanced Evidence Analysis Practicum with the intent to provide hands-on practice applying advanced genealogical methods. The course debuted in 2012 and has been a popular course for the past seven years. In fact, it has been such a hit that Barbara Ball has participated every year. In 2016, Angela began offering the course in a virtual format and it will be offered again in the fall of 2018.

Angela is a Board-certified genealogist who has devoted herself to genealogy education. In addition to her work with SLIG, she coordinates the Intermediate Genealogy course at the Institute of Genealogy and Historical Research, is an instructor at the Genealogical Research Institute of Pittsburgh, and an instructor at the Genealogical Institute on Federal Records. She is an instructor for the Boston University Genealogical Research Certificate program, and serves as a trustee of the Board for Certification of Genealogists Education Fund.Angela created the ProGen Study Group program, administered it for several years, and is now on the board of directors. ProGen takes like-minded students preparing to open their own research business and pairs them with a professional mentor who oversees each group. The program has revolutionized how professional genealogists prepare to start their own research businesses.

Angela's passion for education has been obvious in her development and coordination of the Advanced Evidence Analysis Practicum. The course requires extensive effort in locating five new cases every year that provide sufficient depth and breadth of different geographic areas and the ability to reinforce a variety of methodologies. Angela personally works each case, essentially designing a new curriculum each year. Beginning in 2019, Angela will be coordinating a new course in the SLIG Academy for Professionals.