DebbieParkerWayne

Debbie Parker Wayne is a board-certified genealogist (CG) and genealogical lecturer (CGL). She is a full-time genealogist experienced in using DNA analysis, as well as more traditional techniques, for genealogical research in Texas, the South and Western U.S. She has successfully used DNA analysis to solve problems for adoptees and those of multi-racial ethnic groups. Her website is http://debbiewayne.com/ and her blog is Deb's Delvings at http://debsdelvings.blogspot.com/.

Debbie is a Trustee for the Education Fund, a non-profit charitable trust founded by members of the Board for Certification of Genealogists. This trust promotes genealogical education focusing on skills needed by any genealogist and advocates professional standards. Topics are geared to intermediate and advanced practitioners.

Debbie coordinates the Practical Genetic Genealogy course to be offered in 2014 at the Genealogical Research Institute of Pittsburgh (GRIP). This will be the first week-long, comprehensive, interactive course on how to interpret and apply DNA test results to your genealogical research. Instructors in the course include Debbie, Your Genetic Genealogist CeCe Moore, and The Genetic Genealogist Blaine T. Bettinger, PhD, JD. Debbie has presented sessions on forensic DNA techniques at the Forensic Genealogy Institute of the Council for the Advancement of Forensic Genealogy and for professional and aspiring professional genealogists at the Institute for Genealogy and Historical Research (IGHR). Debbie has also presented individual sessions and day-long seminars on DNA at the first DNA Day held at the Southern California Genealogy Jamboree, the Texas General Land Office's Save Texas History Symposium, conferences of the U.S. National Genealogical Society and Federation of Genealogical Societies, Angelina College Genealogy Conference (Lufkin, Texas), and for many other groups in Texas and surrounding states.

Debbie has been a member of ISOGG since 2005. She is the Texas State Genealogical Society's (TSGS) DNA Project Director. This group was formed by TSGS to assist members in ordering DNA tests that will help solve genealogical research problems; to find surname, geographical, haplogroup, and other projects pertinent to their needs; and to provide information to help with analysis of DNA test results. Debbie no longer administers other projects she once assisted with, but is active in analysis of results for projects for her surnames and family groups as well as clients.

Debbie has worked on multiple genealogical television series. In 2008, before the recent popularity of genealogy-related shows, Debbie worked on an episode of the Canadian series Ancestors in the Attic. This episode featured the descendants of a slave family in Smith County, Texas, who had migrated to Canada. In 2011 Debbie worked on an episode of the PBS series Finding Your Roots with Henry Louis Gates Jr. featuring a descendant of another East Texas slave family. This episode with Ruth Simmons, president of Brown University, was broadcast on 29 April 2012. Work on some other television shows was performed, but didn't make it into the broadcast.

Debbie previously worked in the computer industry doing support, training, programming, and Web design. She is a past board member and Advocacy Committee Chair of the Association of Professional Genealogists (APG) and past president of the Lone Star Chapter of APG. Debbie has completed many courses at the Forensic Genealogy Institute, Institute for Genealogy and Historical Research (IGHR), the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy (SLIG), including advanced methodology courses from IGHR and SLIG and the Advanced Library Research: Law Libraries and Government Documents course at IGHR.