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Kathryn Townsend

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My name is Kate Townsend. I live in Pittsburgh, PA. I hold a BA in American Studies from The George Washington University (including a Junior Year Abroad at King's College London) and an MA in Cultural Heritage Studies from University College London. I completed the Boston University Certificate in Genealogical Research in Spring 2020. I am enrolled in ProGEN 58. 
My interest in genealogy was piqued during a field trip to the National Archives when I was 16. I found my grandpa in the 1930 US Census and was hooked (I signed up for Ancestry that night). I ended up working at the National Archives in two departments while in college where my passion for genealogy really flourished.  After college, I worked in the world of investigative due diligence and financial crime where I ultimately served as the team lead for the Suspicious Activity Reporting Team at BNY Mellon.  In the fall of 2019, I realized that I was unhappy working in Corporate America. I wanted to make a change to do something I truly love, so I decided to pursue a career in genealogy. I like to say that I used to investigate the living and now I investigate the dead. 
I serve as the co-program chair of the North Hills Genealogists. I am the vice-chair for the NGS Delegate Council Steering Committee. 
I enjoy cooking, spending time with my eight-month old son and traveling in a non-pandemic world.