Elissa Scalise Powell, CG®, a western Pennsylvania researcher for over 35 years, is the “Genealogy as a Profession” course coordinator at the Institute of Genealogy and Historical Research (IGHR). She was co-director and creator of the Genealogical Research Institute of Pittsburgh (GRIP) (2011-2023), an instructor and module creator for Boston University’s Genealogical Research Certificate program (2008-2016). She was the mentor for ProGen Study’s first, 25th, and 50th groups and author of two chapters in the 2018 Professional Genealogy: Preparation, Practice and Standards. She was a course co-coordinator of the AG/CG Preparation Course at Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy (SLIG). She is a national speaker on such topics as Pennsylvania records, methodology, professional development, and society management. She won the Association of Professional Genealogists 2017 Professional Achievement Award. She was honored in May 2010 with the NGS President’s Citation in recognition of outstanding, continuing, or unusual contributions to the field of genealogy.

She was a Trustee for the Board for Certification of Genealogists for nine years and BCG President (2012-2014). She was a Director for the Association of Professional Genealogists (APG) for six years; taught genealogy courses locally 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”). She is past-President of two Pittsburgh area societies and a contributing author to many publications including the NGS Quarterly and the APG Quarterly.

Along with local genealogical societies, memberships include the National Genealogical Society and the Association of Professional Genealogists. She is a member of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR); First Families of Ohio; First Families of Medina County, Ohio; Pioneer Families of Mahoning County, Ohio; First Families of Western Pennsylvania; and Society of Civil War Families of Ohio. She is 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.

Courses

  • 2025 – Course One – Methods and Sources in Practice
  • 2024 – Course One – Methods and Sources
  • 2024 – Course Four – Writing and Publishing for Genealogists
  • 2024 – Course Ten – Advanced Library Research: Law Libraries and Government Documents
  • 2023 – Course One – Methods and Sources
  • 2023 – Course Four – Writing and Publishing for Genealogists
  • 2022 – Course One – Methods and Sources
  • 2022 – Course Four – Writing and Publishing for Genealogists
  • 2022 – Course Ten – Advanced Library Research: Law Libraries and Government Documents
  • 2021 – Course One – Methods and Sources
  • 2021 – Course Four – Writing and Publishing for Genealogists
  • 2021 – Course Ten – Genealogy as a Profession
  • 2020 – Course One – Methods and Sources
  • 2020 – Course Four – Writing and Publishing for Genealogists
  • 2020 – Course Ten – Advanced Library Research: Law Libraries and Government Documents
  • 2019 – Course One – Methods and Sources
  • 2019 – Course Four – Writing and Publishing for Genealogists
  • 2018 – Course One – Methods and Sources
  • 2018 – Course Four – Writing and Publishing for Genealogists
  • 2018 – Course Nine – Advanced Library Research: Law Libraries and Government Documents
  • 2017 – Course Four – Writing and Publishing for Genealogists
  • 2017 – Course Nine – Genealogy as a Profession