Megan Smolenyak

Who is Megan Smolenyak?

Megan Smolenyak Smolenyak, born October 9, is a genealogist, author, speaker, and on-air expert Since 1999, she has been a consultant with the U.S. Army's repatriation efforts and has located the families of nearly a thousand soldiers still unaccounted for from WWI, WWII, Korea and Vietnam. As a genealogist, she is best known for unearthing celebrity roots, conducting forensic research for coroners, police departments, NCIS and the FBI, and championing the use of DNA testing to learn about one’s ancestry. Her news-making discoveries include uncovering Michelle Obama's family tree, revealing the true story of Annie Moore, the first immigrant through Ellis Island, tracing Barack Obama's roots to Moneygall, Ireland, and discovering that Al Sharpton’s great-grandfather had been owned by relatives of Strom Thurmond. Formerly Chief Family Historian for Ancestry.com, she also founded Unclaimed Persons.

Smolenyak holds a BSFS in Foreign Service from Georgetown University, an MBA in International Business from George Washington University and an MAS in Information Technology from Johns Hopkins University.