Steve Little is the AI Program Director for the National Genealogical Society, the founder of AI Genealogy Insights, and a co-host of The Family History AI Show podcast, and he has lifelong passions for language, technology, and genealogy. Steve completed graduate-level courses in applied linguistics, specializing in natural language processing and computational linguistics, two pillars of today’s large language models of AI; his first career was spent in and around libraries (law, local, university, and state archives) building information systems. Steve traces his deep roots to one Appalachian county, where, by 1820, all 32 of his 3rd-great-grandparents had settled—many even earlier than that. In fact, 60 of his most recent ancestors were born, lived, and died there, in Ashe County, North Carolina. His passion lies in AI & genetic genealogy: with a keen interest in endogamy, pedigree collapse, deciphering multiple relationships, and an insatiable curiosity to explore beneficial uses and current limits of artificial intelligence in genealogy. Beyond genealogy, Steve wears many hats: he’s a husband and a dad, a Methodist pastor, and a Virginian. His hobbies span from bird watching and sky gazing, to chess and film. Additionally, he’s an avid reader, writer, photographer, and regex script hacker (a geeky name for sophisticated find-and-replace searches).

Mark Thompson is a professional genealogist and educator. He specializes in genetic genealogy, researching personal family archives, and the use of AI in genealogy research. Mark co-hosts the Family History AI Show podcast with Steve Little. Mark is the President of the Victoria Genealogical Society (VGS) in Victoria, BC and, is the chair of their DNA Special Interest Group. He is also a member of the Association of Professional Genealogists.

Rob has been interested in genealogy since a young age when his Aunt (who was a librarian) introduced him to the concept. Rob is the founder of DNAGedcom and cofounder of DNAAdoption. He became interested in DNA as a way to help his wife find her birth family. Even after succeeding in that goal, he has continue to help promote the ability to gather and share information. Rob is a Johns Hopkins and Virginia Tech Graduate, with a Masters in Science and a Bachelors in Science and has used his knowledge of programming, design and development to power his career in Software and product development in the IT industry. He was a Technical Director at Nasdaq. He teaches part time at University of Phoenix as well as standing in front of audiences giving DNA Lectures.

Andrew Hochreiter is a genetic genealogist who manages multiple DNA surname projects and has successfully applied DNA to trace several related family branches overseas. He has over 30 years of experience in genealogical research with 17 years involved in genetic genealogy.

Mr. Hochreiter instructs continuing education courses in basic and advanced genetic genealogyat Howard Community College in Columbia, MD, and leads a Beginning DNA focus group at the Washington DC Family History Center. Previously, he was a facilitator for the genetic genealogy module of the on-line Genealogical Research Course at Boston University. Mr. Hochreiter writes a DNA column for the quarterly journal of the Mid-Atlantic Germanic Society and was featured on two Bavarian TV programs for his genealogical work tracing relatives in Germany using DNA. He serves as a director on the non-profit Accreditation Board for Investigative Genetic Genealogy.

Mr. Hochreiter is a great enthusiast and user of genetic genealogy as another valuable means to trace family history.

Greg is a husband, father, grandfather,  retired high school Mathematics and Computer Science teacher, church music director, Doctor Who fan, webmaster, and genealogist!  He is an active WikiTree member and app programmer, and also on the board for mitoYDNA.org.

This is Greg's fourth year as a member of the organizing committee for the East Coast Genetic Genealogy Conference.  This year he organized the virtual website and is Tech Coordinator.

Rob has been interested in genealogy since a young age when his Aunt (who was a librarian) introduced him to the concept. Rob is the founder of DNAGedcom and cofounder of DNAAdoption. He became interested in DNA as a way to help his wife find her birth family. Even after succeeding in that goal, he has continue to help promote the ability to gather and share information. Rob is a Johns Hopkins and Virginia Tech Graduate, with a Masters in Science and a Bachelors in Science and has used his knowledge of programming, design and development to power his career in Software and product development in the IT industry. He was a Technical Director at Nasdaq. He teaches part time at University of Phoenix as well as standing in front of audiences giving DNA Lectures.

Diahan Southard knows firsthand what a difference it can make to know where you came from. What started off as an educational and career interest in genetic genealogy became deeply personal when she used DNA to discover her mom’s birth parents and connect with new relatives.

Now she has 20+ years of genetic genealogy experience. She built her company, Your DNA Guide, to show that learning DNA doesn’t have to be intimidating, frustrating, or require a college degree in biology. Her goal is to teach you to “Do the DNA”–and feel confident and have fun in the process!

Diahan teaches internationally, writes for popular magazines, authored Your DNA Guide–The Book, and produces Your DNA Guide–the Academy, an online learning experience.

Jerome Spears, Afro-American Historical & Genealogical Society (AAHGS) member – Native of Baltimore, Maryland, earned Geography degrees from Morgan State University & the University of Hawaii & over the years, has used his formal training & other life experiences to champion the cause of uncovering & preserving his family’s narrative & history (going back many generations). He is an Historic Sotterley & Susquehanna Plantation descendant, as well as a (Georgetown) GU272 relative, who in 2016, authored a manuscript entitled “I’VE GOT YOUR BACK”, where he chronicled his eight linear ancestral families (in southern Maryland) – rising out from slavery to freedom & beyond. This effort garnered him the esteemed [ AAHGS – Elizabeth Clark-Lewis Genealogy Award ] acknowledging his measured contributions to original African American research. In 2023 he was a featured panelist at the inaugural stakeholders Descendants of Slavery Empowerment Conference at the National Museum of African American History & Culture, in Washington, D.C., & is also featured in three (award winning) short-film documentaries, the first being “Talking and Walking Common Ground”, the second (viewable via PBS) is entitled: “FINDING US”, as well as a third project (via YouTube) entitled: “The Story of Camp Stanton”. He has extensively used DNA (including “Genetic Visual Phasing”) & other advanced methods to find & then successfully contact distant relatives in Africa & other places around the world. His previous national-level presentation appearances include: AAHGS, RootsTech Connect, the Southern California Genealogical Society Jamboree, and the East Coast Genetic Genealogy Conference. Jerome is also a retired U.S. Army veteran & current Board Member of the Descendants of Jesuit Enslavement Historical & Genealogical Society, who now spends his time researching, lecturing, & discovering remarkable family treasures to some day pass-on to his present & future generations.

https://www.instagram.com/fightdoctor5

Dedicated to Genealogy since 1986, Daniel was the teacher and the study guide editor of the family history project “Searching for My Roots” in Venezuela for 15 years. He is involved in several crowdsource digitization and transcription projects, and holds a board-level position at The Israel Genealogy Research Association (IGRA). Since 2006 Daniel has been working at MyHeritage liaising with genealogy societies, bloggers, and media, as well as lecturing, and attending conferences around the world.

Greg is a husband, father, grandfather,  retired high school Mathematics and Computer Science teacher, church music director, Doctor Who fan, webmaster, and genealogist!  He is an active WikiTree member and app programmer, and also on the board for mitoYDNA.org.

This is Greg's fourth year as a member of the organizing committee for the East Coast Genetic Genealogy Conference.  This year he organized the virtual website and is Tech Coordinator.

Mags Gaulden is a Professional Genealogist specializing in Genetic Genealogy as a founder of Grandmas Genes in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.

She is also the founder of mitoYDNA.org, a free and accessible YDNA and mtDNA database. As a sought-after international speaker and workshop coordinator, Mags has continued to share her expertise on a range of topics related to genetic genealogy and family history research. Her talks are known for their easy flow of technical terminology and knowledge, combined with a down-home, relaxed, and humorous style that connects with audiences. She is a member of the International Society of Genetic Genealogy, among other organizations.

Peggy Jude has been conducting genealogical research for family and clients for over 40 years. She specializes in and teaches five areas of genealogical interest: DNA, genealogical technology, genealogical methodology, Swedish genealogy, and preserving family history and family heirlooms.

Peggy is a member of the Association of Professional Genealogists, the Genealogical Speakers Guild, NGS and multiple other genealogical societies. She has presented at genealogical societies and conferences across the US and Canada. She is an alumna of ProGen and has completed multiple advanced genealogical institutes at IGHR, SLIG, GRIP and Gen-Fed. She is currently an instructor for the DNA Foundations course at IGHR. Peggy serves as Vice President and member of the Board for the Manatee Genealogical Society (FL) She leads both their Technology for Genealogy and DNA Special Interest Groups where she teaches monthly. Peggy holds a B.S. in Zoology from Iowa State University and an MBA from the University of Michigan.

Following a successful career as a global Human Resources executive for a Fortune 500 company, Peggy opened her genealogy business – Jude Family Research, centered on the West Coast of Florida.

Kelli Bergheimer is a writer, teacher, editor, and international genealogical speaker. Kelli holds a Bachelor’s in Biology, a Master’s in Education: Curriculum and Instruction, and a Master’s in Business Management. Kelli is the Director of Curriculum and Assessments for Blue Kayak, a K-12 textbook company. She also works as the Director of Education for Your DNA Guide. Kelli runs a small business—Mess on the Desk, a genealogical organization company with a YouTube channel. Kelli is the facilitator for Genetics, Genealogy, and You, an online DNA Interest Group. Kelli is a member of the Association of Professional Genealogists and the Genealogical Speaker’s Guild.

Dawn Kosmakos is a self-employed genetic genealogist in the San Francisco Bay Area in CA. She discovered the power of DNA in 2016 after identifying her own unknown biological father. Shortly afterward, she began volunteering as a search angel with DNA Detectives and Search Squad. Since then, she has successfully solved hundreds of unknown parentage cases, specializing in complex unknown father mysteries. Dawn also volunteers as an Investigative Genetic Genealogist with Moxxy Forensics and serves on the board of DNA Justice.

Paula Williams is a professional genealogist who has been researching for more than two decades in primarily southern US states and has been using DNA to solve problems for more than a decade. She has studied at IGHR, SLIG, GRIP, and the Genealogical Institute on Federal Records (Gen-Fed). In addition, she’s a board member of the Virginia Genealogical Society and of the Genealogical Research Institute of Virginia (GRIVA) and is the facilitator for the latter’s DNA Special Interest Group. She has taught at the IGHR and GRIP institutes and has lectured for Legacy Family Tree Webinars, the Southern California Genealogical Society’s Genealogy Jamboree and for the National Genealogical Society conference, among other organizations. She also serves as the Virtual Tech Coordinator for the GRIP Genealogy Institute.

Jonny Perl is a genealogist, DNA enthusiast and web developer based in London. He is the creator and founder of dnapainter.com, an award-winning web application for chromosome mapping. Jonny has also collaborated with leading genetic genealogists to create other popular tools that help people around the world interpret the results of their autosomal DNA tests. His passion is in exploring new ways of visualising DNA and family tree information to help make it more inviting and user-friendly. Born in Belfast, Jonny has family roots in Ireland, England and Germany.

Roberta Estes, author of the books, DNA for Native American Genealogy, and The Complete Guide to FamilyTreeDNA: Y-DNA, Mitochondrial, Autosomal and X-DNA, is a scientist, National Geographic Genographic affiliate researcher, Million Mito team member and founding pioneer in the genetic genealogy field. An avid 40-year genealogist, Roberta has written over 1700 articles at her popular blog, dna-explained.com about genetic genealogy and how to combine traditional genealogy research with DNA to solve those stubborn ancestor puzzles.

John Motzi, Ph.D., is a retired pharmaceutical research scientist and manager with more than 30 years of industrial experience. He is a passionate amateur genealogist with over twenty-five years of experience, including genetic genealogy since 2013. He has developed expertise in Italian and French-Canadian research, as well as in various autosomal DNA tools. John has tested with all the major genetic testing companies and participated with other two other genealogists in the published mtDNA triangulation of his matrilineal 9th great-grandmother, who migrated from France to Quebec in 1668. He has studied at GRIP, is the co-leader of an advanced genetic genealogy discussion group and is a Co-Administrator of the FTDNA T1 mtDNA Haplogroup Project.

Margaret Press, AIGG, PhD is a co-founder of BanyanDNA, a novel online genetic genealogy tool for analyzing complex trees, which launched in February 2024. Since then, she has worked extensively with users of BanyanDNA, exploring techniques with the tool and helping them tackle research questions and brick walls. Margaret also co-founded the DNA Doe Project in 2017, shortly after retiring from the software industry. DDP is a non-profit corporation dedicated to identifying human remains through Investigative Genetic Genealogy. She also serves on the Investigative Genetic Genealogy Accreditation Board and additionally is a founding member of the DNA Justice Foundation, a non-profit DNA database created specifically for IGG purposes.

Richard Hill was the first adoptee to identify his birth family through genetic genealogy DNA tests. He shared his story in an award-winning book, “Finding Family: My Search for Roots and the Secrets in My DNA.” He has founded two websites on DNA testing, most recently, DNAFavorites.com. Richard gives presentations on genetic genealogy topics both virtually and in person. He is a member of the Genealogical Speakers Guild and the American Adoption Congress. He lives in Michigan with his wife of 57 years.

Katherine Borges is the co-founder and director of the International Society of Genetic Genealogy (ISOGG), which promotes and educates about genetic genealogy to over 20,000 members in over 70 countries. She works to increase professional standards in the practice, research, and discussion of relevant issues in DNA testing, interpretation, and ethics. Katherine gives many presentations on genetic genealogy to groups across the United States, the United Kingdom, and Ireland.

Dr. Adina Newman, EdD, the creator of My Family Genie, is a professional genealogist and educator. Her specialties include Jewish genealogy, genetic genealogy, social media, and New England, and she presents on these topics in a variety of venues, from major genealogy conferences to local genealogy societies. Her findings have received international media attention, such as mentions in The Daily Mail, Washington Post, AP News, TODAY, Us Weekly, People, and The Times of Israel, and she has made appearances on several news outlets such as NPR and I24NEWS. She co-founded the Holocaust Reunion Project, a program to raise awareness about the potential of DNA testing within the Holocaust survivor community and provide survivors and their children with free commercial DNA tests. She volunteers as a Team Lead for the DNA Doe Project, which uses investigative genetic genealogy to identify unidentified deceased persons and as a moderator for a popular Jewish genetic genealogy Facebook group. She was also a 2020 recipient of the AncestryProGenealogists scholarship.

Since February 2020, Aimee Rose-Haynes has generously devoted her time and expertise to the non-profit organization DNAngels. Aimee’s fascination with genetic genealogy, which began in 2016, has led her to deeply immerse herself in the field. Her commitment and wealth of knowledge have positioned her to co-present with DNAngels at esteemed events like the 2023 RootsTech DNA Day and the 2023 Untangling Our Roots Summit. During these occasions, Aimee shared her insights and experiences through presentations titled “DNA Search Angels to the Rescue.” Aimee’s expertise was further recognized when she was selected to present multiple times at the 2024 RootsTech event. Beyond her speaking engagements, Aimee has contributed significantly to genetic genealogy. In 2022, she was interviewed by the Cherokee Phoenix, and in 2023, she appeared as a guest on the GenFriends Genealogy Chat Show with Cheryl Hudson Passey and the Missing Pieces NPE Life podcast with Don Anderson. Moreover, in 2024, she was a guest on the Ask the Experts live show with Diahan Southard. Aimee has also demonstrated her writing prowess by authoring an article for Severance Magazine titled “Genetic Genealogy.” Additionally, she collaborated with Penny Walters to deliver a captivating presentation at the 2023 Ohio Genealogical Society conference, exploring the intriguing domain of “Forensic Genetic Genealogy.” Aimee specializes in DNA cases spanning 1-3 generations, allowing her to trace ancestral lines from grandparents to great-great-grandparents. Her unique skill set equips her to authenticate or refute claims of Native American heritage. As an enrolled citizen of the Cherokee Nation, a federally recognized Native American tribe, Aimee has dedicated herself to reuniting lost Native cousins with their tribes and aiding them in reconnecting with their cultural heritage.

Mags Gaulden is a Professional Genealogist specializing in Genetic Genealogy as a founder of Grandmas Genes in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.

She is also the founder of mitoYDNA.org, a free and accessible YDNA and mtDNA database. As a sought-after international speaker and workshop coordinator, Mags has continued to share her expertise on a range of topics related to genetic genealogy and family history research. Her talks are known for their easy flow of technical terminology and knowledge, combined with a down-home, relaxed, and humorous style that connects with audiences. She is a member of the International Society of Genetic Genealogy, among other organizations.

Dr. Miguel Vilar is a molecular anthropologist and a science writer. His fieldwork has taken him to remote places throughout the South Pacific, East Africa, Mesoamerica, and the Caribbean. In the laboratory, he researches the modern genetic diversity of human populations from Melanesia, Micronesia, North and Central America, and the Caribbean. Miguel has published in several anthropology and genetics journals, as well as popular science magazines.

Dr. Paul Maier is the lead Population Geneticist at FamilyTreeDNA and Gene by Gene, where he builds ancestry estimation tools, and studies the genetic history of human life on earth. Since 2018, he has developed numerous products and features, including myOrigins® 3.0, the Chromosome Painter, Big Y Age Estimates, the FTDNATiP™ Report, the upcoming Mitotree, Geo-Genetic Triangulation (for Beethoven research), and now Globetrekker.

Paul earned his Ph.D. in evolutionary biology, studying the genetic past, present, and future of a much squishier creature, the Yosemite toad in the Sierra Nevada of California. His research used conservation genomics to inform the US Fish & Wildlife Service’s strategy for this federally threatened species. His work is published in journals such as Heredity, Evolution, Frontiers, Evolutionary Applications, Current Biology, and Nature Scientific Reports. While earning his doctorate, he worked as lead biologist for the US Geological Survey, and taught university students about genetics, evolution, zoology, and herpetology.

His scientific outreach tries to emphasize the simplicity of DNA, amidst a complex field. He has given numerous talks, including at RootsTech, Jefferson Public Radio, the Int’l Conference on Genetic Genealogy, Portland ISOGG, and East Coast Genetic Genealogy Conference. He is passionate about using DNA to reconstruct the hidden stories of human and wildlife populations. 

Roberta Estes, author of the books, DNA for Native American Genealogy, and The Complete Guide to FamilyTreeDNA: Y-DNA, Mitochondrial, Autosomal and X-DNA, is a scientist, National Geographic Genographic affiliate researcher, Million Mito team member and founding pioneer in the genetic genealogy field. An avid 40-year genealogist, Roberta has written over 1700 articles at her popular blog, dna-explained.com about genetic genealogy and how to combine traditional genealogy research with DNA to solve those stubborn ancestor puzzles.

Prof. Dr. Maarten H.D. Larmuseau is a genetic genealogist at KU Leuven (University of Leuven, Belgium) and head of the Laboratory of Human Genetic Genealogy. His team combines family history with DNA analysis—both from living individuals and ancient remains—to study the evolution of biological kinship. He works closely with citizen scientists, fostering participatory research that connects the public with academia. Larmuseau also directs the KU Leuven Institute of Genetics in Society (LIGAS), which explores the ethical, legal, and social dimensions of human genetics.

Michelle Leonard is a Scottish professional genealogist, DNA detective, author, speaker, historian and the official genetic genealogist of #AncestryHour. She runs her own genealogy and DNA consultancy business, Genes & Genealogy, specializing in solving unknown parentage and all manner of unknown ancestor mysteries using a combination of DNA results analysis and traditional research methodologies. She also undertakes conventional family history research, living relative tracing, media consultation, lecturing, coaching, podcasts, webinars, speaking engagements, the creation and teaching of DNA courses and article, blog and book writing commissions. Additionally, she is known for her work on the WW1 Fromelles Genealogy Project, is a co-author of ‘Tracing Your Ancestors Using DNA: A Guide For Family Historians’ and is a regular speaker at major global genealogy events.

Martin McDowell has been interested in his family tree since primary school however things moved up a gear when he took his first DNA test in 2012. Since then he has been able to use DNA to prove the family tree that he had previously created and is now actively extending that tree backwards and sideways through combining genealogy with DNA.

His qualifications include an Honours degree in Modern and Ancient History and a Further & Adult Teaching Certificate. Following a career in sales, advertising and the civil service, Martin is now focused on family history research. As the education officer of the North of Ireland Family History Society, he is keen to promote the use of DNA for genealogical purposes and has helped create an annual DNA Summer School which has been running since 2018. He is a regular speaker on both DNA and family history related subjects and a co-administrator of the North of Ireland DNA Project.

Wesley Johnston holds Master’s degrees in Mathematics and History. His family is like the United Nations so that he has researched in many different countries and languages. His 28 books are on family history, art history and World War II history. See his recent genealogical publications and presentations at https://www.wwjohnston.net/famhist/wjgenpubs.htm

Mags Gaulden is a Professional Genealogist specializing in Genetic Genealogy as a founder of Grandmas Genes in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.

She is also the founder of mitoYDNA.org, a free and accessible YDNA and mtDNA database. As a sought-after international speaker and workshop coordinator, Mags has continued to share her expertise on a range of topics related to genetic genealogy and family history research. Her talks are known for their easy flow of technical terminology and knowledge, combined with a down-home, relaxed, and humorous style that connects with audiences. She is a member of the International Society of Genetic Genealogy, among other organizations.

Maurice Gleeson is a medical doctor as well as a genetic genealogist. He is Honorary Research Fellow at the University of Strathclyde, and organiser of the DNA Lectures for “Genetic Genealogy Ireland” in Dublin/Belfast and “Who Do You Think You Are” in England. He also works with people of unknown parentage and has appeared on Irish TV as a consultant for the TV series Adoption Stories. His YouTube videos on genetic genealogy are very popular.

Jim Bartlett has been an active genealogist since 1974. He has been the Administrator of the BARTLETT-DNA Project at FTDNA (over 400 participants) since 2002 and has established 23 different lines using matching Y-DNA. He has provided original DNA samples and tested at FTDNA (Y-111, SNPs, Big-Y, FMS, and atDNA); Genographic; 23andMe; AncestryDNA; Genos (exome); LivingDNA; and My Heritage; and has uploaded his DNA to Y-Search, mitoSearch, GEDmatch, DNA.Land and NIH All-of-Us. He has been using autosomal DNA tests from all the main vendors since 2010 and currently has over 8,000 matching cousins who descend from most of his ancestry. He has mapped over 99% of his DNA to his parents, with 90% to more distant ancestors. He blogs about autosomal DNA at www.segmentology.org – in plain English for genealogist. He is an avid fan of these powerful, new DNA tools that will expand your genealogy, and enjoys teaching them to other genealogists. The DNA test is easy to take, fairly simple to use, and relatively inexpensive. No biology required.

Dedicated to Genealogy since 1986, Daniel was the teacher and the study guide editor of the family history project “Searching for My Roots” in Venezuela for 15 years. He is involved in several crowdsource digitization and transcription projects, and holds a board-level position at The Israel Genealogy Research Association (IGRA). Since 2006 Daniel has been working at MyHeritage liaising with genealogy societies, bloggers, and media, as well as lecturing, and attending conferences around the world.

Katy Rowe-Schurwanz has always loved stories. Growing up, her maternal grandparents told her tales of their family history, inspiring her to become a genealogist like her grandfather. After studying creative writing, history, and anthropology at Southern Methodist University, she joined FamilyTreeDNA in 2015. As Product Manager, Katy has been a customer advocate for improving FamilyTreeDNA’s tests, tools, and features to help customers discover their ancestral past and break more brick walls. Katy uses her passion to improve FamilyTreeDNA’s genetic genealogy products so everyone can discover their family story.

Kate Penney Howard is a genetic genealogist and speaker specializing in endogamy and breaking down challenging research barriers with DNA. She brings decades of experience in family research and hundreds of successfully solved genetic genealogy cases.

Known for her compassionate approach, Kate helps clients uncover ancestral mysteries while providing them with more complete family medical histories and a stronger sense of identity. Her presentations captivate audiences by seamlessly blending historical context, technical guidance, and well-placed humor that keeps listeners engaged throughout. Kate discovered her passion for teaching during her cancer journey, finding fulfillment in sharing knowledge with fellow genealogists. She approaches her work with integrity, deliberately addressing historical injustices and dispelling common myths in her presentations.

Her speaking engagements include RootsTech, Strathclyde Institute for Genealogical Studies, East Coast Genetic Genealogy Conference, the International Congress on Medieval Studies, the Society for German Genealogy in Eastern Europe, the International Association of Jewish Genealogical Societies, the New England Regional Genealogical Consortium, and the Foundation for East European Family History Studies, in addition to many state and county level organizations. Kate studied vocal music and earned a Master of Divinity from Christian Theological Seminary in Indianapolis in 2011. She has served as a pastor in Fort Wayne since her ordination in 2012.

Kevin Borland is the founder of Borland Genetics and has been writing tools to process DNA data since 2013. He holds a Physics degree from MIT and Law degrees from Rutgers University (JD) and Vermont Law School (LLM). He is on the board of mitoYDNA and has appeared on episodes of Relative Race.

John Cleary teaches in a university languages department in Edinburgh, Scotland, and contributes to the Masters programme in Genealogical Studies of University of Strathclyde, Glasgow.  He is a genetic genealogist interested in Y-DNA for surname projects, and also works on unknown parentage and ancestor searches using autosomal DNA. John is an author and speaker on genetic genealogy, most recently contributing as a co-author to DNA – A Guide for Family Historians, reissued in a new edition in 2025.