Meet our students

RQG takes particular pleasure in acknowledging the effort and commitment being made by students who are devoting two or even three years to advanced study in genealogy and family history. Our student members are entitled to many of the benefits enjoyed by Qualified Genealogists, and they are guaranteed to be accepted as full members once they have received their qualification. This page shows some of our 70+ student members. These are names for the future in genealogy and family history.

John Boeren photo
Boeren, John johnboeren@student.regqualgenes.org
John holds a law degree from Tilburg University in the Netherlands and has completed the Professional Development and English Records Certificates (PLCGS) at the National Institute for Genealogical Studies in Canada. He is now studying for the PG Certificate in Genealogical, Palaeographic and Heraldic Studies at the University of Strathclyde. He is a full-time professional genealogist, specialising in Dutch research, with 30+ years of experience. He is based in the south of the Netherlands.

Tom Clark photo

Clark, Tom     thomasclark@student.regqualgenes.org

Having decided to turn a lifelong interest in genealogy to the next level, Tom is currently pursuing a PG certification at the University of Strathclyde. He lives in Atlanta, Georgia. His research interests include early New England, US Civil War, US westward migration, and the UK West Midlands.

Lisa Constanti photo

Constanti, Lisa   lisaconstanti@student.regqualgenes.org

Lisa is studying the PG Certificate in Genealogical, Palaeographic & Heraldic Studies at the University of Strathclyde and plans to move onto the PG Diploma later this year, followed by the MSc after. Her genealogical interests include Cypriot ancestry and family research, Cambridgeshire family History, Heraldry, House studies and English/Scottish records.

Sarah Coy photo

Coy, Sarah     sarahcoy@student.regqualgenes.org

Sarah is studying part time for the Higher Certificate in Genealogy on the IHGS Correspondence Course whilst working as a long-haul pilot based at Heathrow. She has 20 years of experience as an amateur genealogist tracing family in Yorkshire, Lancashire, Lincolnshire and Cumbria. She is based in Bingley, West Yorkshire.

Jo Cross photo

Cross, Joanne joannecross@student.regqualgenes.org

Based in the West Midlands, Joanne has recently completed the PG Certificate in Genealogical, Palaeographic & Heraldic Studies with the University of Strathclyde and plans to start the PG Diploma later this year. Having previously worked in IT, she has been researching family history for family and others for 20+ years.

Dr. Nicholas Dixon photo

Dixon, Dr. Nicholas     nicholasdixon@student.regqualgenes.org

Nicholas is currently studying towards a PG Diploma in Genealogical, Palaeographic and Heraldic Studies at the University of Strathclyde. Awarded a PhD in History degree by the University of Cambridge in 2019, he works as a professional genealogist and historical researcher in London. He also gives talks concerning a variety of genealogical topics, both online and in person. His research interests include maritime occupations, disputes concerning inheritance and property, workhouse records, house history, freemasonry, the Church of England and connections to the British monarchy.

Stacey Dodd photo

Dodd, Stacey     staceydodd@student.regqualgenes.org

Stacey is based in Coventry and is studying the PG Certificate in Genealogical, Palaeographic & Heraldic Studies at the University of Strathclyde. She is taking a career break from the education sector to focus on genealogy. Her interests include women’s/social history, military ancestors, convict transportation, domestic service, and genetic genealogy.

Kathryn Feek photo

Feek, Kathryn     kathrynfeek@student.regqualgenes.org

Kathryn is currently studying the PG Diploma in Genealogical, Palaeographic & Heraldic Studies through the University of Strathclyde. Located in South Lincolnshire and with 20 years of family history research under her belt, she now works full time as a professional genealogist. Her areas of interest are Villages of East Anglia, Occupations and Social History, and Genetic Genealogy including DNA Analysis.

Paul Feetum photo

Feetum, Paul     paulfeetum@student.regqualgenes.org

Paul is a Classics graduate of Durham University and now lives in France. Having started researching his family history forty years ago, he recently gained the PG Certificate at Strathclyde and will start the Diploma later this year. Research interests include the North of England, military, merchant marine and France.

Kirsty Hooper photo
Hooper, Kirsty kirstyhooper@student.regqualgenes.org

Warwickshire-based Kirsty is studying for the University of Strathclyde’s PG Certificate. She has over thirty years’ experience of genealogical research, house history and local history in England and Wales. Her particular area of expertise is the history and genealogy of Britain’s Anglo-Spanish (including Basque, Catalan, Galician and Filipino) communities during the long nineteenth century.

Dr Sophie Kay

Kay, Dr. Sophie     sophiekay@student.regqualgenes.org

Based in Berkshire, U.K., Dr. Sophie Kay is a full-time professional genealogist, educator and freelance writer at Khronicle. She is currently studying for the Higher Certificate in Genealogy with IHGS and her specialisms include genealogical mapping, death records and historical occupations. A former research scientist from the University of Oxford, she can also offer professional expertise in DNA extraction, analysis and genetic genealogy.

Melissa Keigher photo

Keigher, Melissa     melissakeigher@student.regqualgenes.org

Melissa is currently a student of the part-time MSc in Genealogical, Palaeographic and Heraldic Studies at the University of Strathclyde, and also a Registered Nurse based in Canada. Her interests include Irish, Scottish & English based research, as well as the Keigher one-name study (Guild of One Name Studies).

Rachel King photo

King, Rachel     rachelking@student.regqualgenes.org

Rachel is a UK-based forensic and investigative genetic genealogy specialist and holds the PG Certificate in Genealogical, Palaeographic & Heraldic Studies from the University of Strathclyde. She has worked on, and appeared on screen for Who Do You Think You Are? and the forthcoming Born From the Same Stranger.

Tina Ng photo

Ng, Tina     tinang@student.regqualgenes.org
Based in New Zealand Tina is currently studying towards the PG Certificate in Genealogical, Palaeographic & Heraldic Studies via Strathclyde University. She is an amateur genealogist with interests in family research, DNA analysis and researching the lives of British immigrants arriving in New Zealand during the period 1840-1880.

Jade Nunn photo

Nunn, Jade     jadenunn@student.regqualgenes.org

Jade has just started her MSc in Genealogy through Strathclyde University. Finding her own father at 21, she has worked on adoption cases here in the UK to as far as New Zealand using records and DNA. Jade recently wrote for Legacy Tree in September 2020 and is a lead researcher for Father Nicholas Schofield’s book ‘Victorian Crusaders: British and Irish Volunteers in the Papal Army, 1860-70.’ She also likes to research WW1 medals and silks and reunite them to the family.

John Parkinson photo

Parkinson, John     johnparkinson@student.regqualgenes.org
John is currently studying for the MSc in Genealogical, Palaeographic & Heraldic Studies at the University of Strathclyde. His research interests include the lives of health practitioners, and of speakers of Esperanto. Australian born, but now residing in Powys, Wales.

Rahman, Jananne  janannerahman@student.regqualgenes.org

Jananne is busy completing the Higher Certificate in Genealogy with the IHGS while undertaking bespoke research, particularly in relation to London and Lincolnshire. She combines skills as a researcher with experience in commercial strategy and theatre to create personalised journeys into the past through family history. She especially loves busting family myths while discovering new ones that are even more incredible.


Rick, Rachel     rachelrick@student.regqualgenes.org
Rachel is currently studying for the IHGS Higher Certificate in Genealogy. Based in Liverpool, she has 30 years’ experience in Genealogy and Local History Research. Rachel has extensive knowledge of Merseyside and Lancashire archives, and is well versed in accessing records from across the UK and Ireland.
Kathie Ross photo

Ross, Dr. Kathie     kathieross@student.regqualgenes.org
Kathie is based in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, and is currently studying the PG Diploma in Genealogical, Palaeographic and Heraldic Studies at the University of Strathclyde. She loves the puzzle of palaeography and her many years of researching her diverse family background has resulted in widespread interests, which include Canada, US, England, Scotland, Ireland, Norway and Sweden.

Russell, Rebecca rebeccarussell@student.regqualgenes.org
Having been a Montessori teacher for several years, Rebecca has completed the dissertation module of the University of Strathclyde’s MSc in Genealogical, Palaeographic & Heraldic Studies. She has wide genealogical interests; proficient in Russian and French, she enjoys British, Irish and European genealogy, as well as house histories.

Sorcha Sanouillet photo

Sanouillet, Sorcha     sorchasanouillet@qualifiedgenealogists.org
Sorcha has the postgraduate Certificate from the University of Strathclyde. She was formerly an editor of bilingual dictionaries and technical writer. She has French, Italian and some Latin, and her interests include women’s employment, particularly in teaching, and Huguenot communities in Britain and Ireland. Originally from Northern Ireland, Sorcha was brought up in Scotland, and now lives in Hertfordshire.
Sonja Sarantis photo

Sarantis, Sonja sonjasarantis@student.regqualgenes.org

Sonja is a qualified solicitor (BSc & LLB) based in Surrey and is currently studying part-time through IHGS on their correspondence course. She is an alumni of Strathclyde University’s Genetic Genealogy Course and has a special interest in unknown parentage and adoptee cases, having successfully solved several NPE’s. Sonja is actively documenting and connecting her South African roots from 17th-20th centuries back to Kent, Cambridgeshire, Dumfries in Scotland and Norway.

Alison Stephens photo

Stephens, Alison    alisonstephens@student.regqualgenes.org
Alison is based in Birmingham and is currently studying for the Higher Certificate in Genealogy with the IHGS. She has been researching family history for over 30 years and is now looking to turn her passion into a full time business, bringing other people’s past to life so they can deliver a legacy of their ancestry that will be cherished and handed down from generation to generation. Research areas she specialises in are the Midlands, South Wales and Worcestershire.

Laura Sutherland photo
Sutherland, Laura    laurasutherland@student.regqualgenes.org
Laura is a Chartered Fellow of the CIPD, has a M.A.(hons) in History and a Masters in Law. She is now studying for the MSc in Genealogy, Palaeography and Heraldry at Strathclyde University. She has 35+ years of research for family and friends and is most interested in UK genealogy, especially the North East of Scotland and Kent.

Photo of Grace Tabern

Tabern, Grace     gracetabern@qualifiedgenealogists.org

Grace is currently studying for the Higher Certificate in Genealogy with IHGS and intends to continue on to complete the Diploma. She has already completed the Advanced Diploma in Local History with Oxford University. Her background is in business. She was Managing Director of her own property company for many years and served as a Director of the local Chamber of Commerce. Her research areas include Lancashire and North West England, Business/Company heritage and non-conformism.

Eunice Taylor photo

Taylor, Eunice     eunicetaylor@qualifiedgenealogists.org

Eunice has a background in project management and nonprofits, but has always had a keen interest in family history. In the last two years whilst living in China, she completed the PG Certificate in Genealogical, Palaeographic & Heraldic Studies at the University of Strathclyde whilst offering genealogy services to ‘expat’ families. Now living back in Scotland, she is working on developing her passion for genealogy into a business. Her interests are Scottish and Irish History, genetic genealogy and migration.


Taylor, Hannah hannahtaylor@student.regqualgenes.org

Hannah graduated from Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah, United States in 2021 and is currently in the final master’s year of the Genealogical, Palaeographic and Heraldic Studies programme at the University of Strathclyde. Her genealogical research interests include various regions of the United States, Poland, palaeography, and genetic genealogy. Hannah is based in Salem, Oregon, United States.

Susan Taylor photo

Taylor, Susan susantaylor@student.regqualgenes.org
Susan is a chartered librarian, studying for the Postgraduate Certificate on the MSc programme in Genealogical, Palaeographic and Heraldic Studies (University of Strathclyde). Her main interests are the West of Scotland and the Scottish Highlands, palaeography, and provenance research into donors and collections – on occasions, in the cause of repatriation.
Photo of Helen Tovey
Tovey, Helen    helentovey@student.regqualgenes.org
Helen is currently a student on the PG Certificate in Genealogical, Palaeographic & Heraldic Studies (modular course). Her interest areas are British Isles genealogy (Scottish and English primarily), and the role of women in the textile history of the British Isles & Empire, medieval to present.

Janice Tullock photo
Tullock, Janice    janicetullock@student.regqualgenes.org
Currently studying at postgraduate certificate level at Strathclyde. Janice is a qualified archivist, with experience in archival policy, fundraising and audience development. Her archival work has helped to develop specialisms in sports archives, medical records and managing the archives of companies and individuals. She has researched genealogy for over 30 years for herself and others, with interests in emigration, particularly child and Mormon emigration. Janice is also a house historian, specialising in Liverpool and Cheshire.
Stephanie Weet photo

Weet, Stephanie     stephanieweet@student.regqualgenes.org
Stephanie has been an amateur genealogist since 2006 and is currently studying on the IHGS Correspondence Course in Genealogy, and aims to obtain the Diploma in Genealogy. Due to being based in Norfolk, her research interests include East Anglia. She is also interested in the history of disability and how disabled people were treated.

Wilshaw, Kathy     kathywilshaw@qualifiedgenealogists.org
Kathy has the Advanced Diploma in Local History from Oxford University and is about to start the MSc in Genealogical, Palaeographic & Heraldic Studies at the University of Strathclyde. Alongside being a genealogist, she has worked extensively with adoption agencies helping to reunite birth and adoptive families, and she has a special interest in the history of asylums and the treatment of mental illness.

Tracey Worboys photo
Worboys, Tracey     traceyworboys@student.regqualgenes.org
Tracey is currently studying for the PG Diploma in Genealogical, Palaeographic and Heraldic Studies with the University of Strathclyde. She has been researching for friends and family for over 20 years with experience of Lincolnshire, Yorkshire and East Midlands genealogy in particular. Research interests include social and local history, poor law and asylums.