Meet Our 2026
SCGS Officers 

President

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 Louise retired in 2019 after over four decades as an academic librarian, first at California State University, Northridge and then at UCLA. A native of Los Angeles, she holds a bachelor's degree in French and a master's degree in Library Science, both from the University of Southern California.

 

Her passion for genealogy stems from her parents, who embarked on extensive family research travels during the 1980s and 1990s, tracing their ancestral lines to 12th-century England and Germany. At the SCGS Library, she catalogs books and collaborates with volunteer librarians on collection management and building maintenance.

 

Louise began her presidency of SCGS in 2024. She maintains memberships in several other genealogical organizations, including the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (NSDAR), the National Genealogical Society (NGS), the International Cody Family Association, and genealogical societies in North Carolina and Pennsylvania. Through her research, Louise continues to find joy in uncovering the stories and historical contexts of her ancestors.​

First Vice President

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Born in LA, Debbie is a Registered Nurse and worked in emergency medicine and public health for over 40 years, She earned a BSN and a Masters in Public Administration. In 1976 she began researching her family at the West LA Family History Library, where she discovered a SCGS Jamboree flyer.

 

Now retired, her focus is on improving her genealogy research skills while also helping others discover their ancestors and volunteering at the library. Debbie was Jamboree Speaker Chair for two years. In 2023, she served as Treasurer for SCGS. This year she's working with the Board President on the conferences as well as managing membership registration and renewals. She is also chairperson of the new Member2Member committee for 2025.

 

If members or others have questions, contact Debbie at deborah@scgsgenealogy.com

She is a member of the SCCAPG, APG, NGS, DAR, DUVCW, National Society U.S. Daughters of 1812, Colonial Dames 17th Century, UGA, and NYG&B. Research interests: 17th and 18th Century Americas and the Caribbean, Ulster Scots Irish, Colonial Dutch ancestry, and anywhere there is a family story to discover!​​

Second Vice President

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Linda’s interest in genealogy was sparked as a college student. She had the opportunity to visit Europe and was gifted the directions to her maternal great-grandmother’s birthplace in Ireland. Curious, she followed those directions on a borrowed bicycle and was rewarded by the discovery of an elderly man with the same surname, different spelling, living in a cute cottage!

Linda has continued to follow those genealogical paths, honing her research skills as an academic librarian at the University of Georgia Special Collections and the Connecticut State Library Archives, History and Genealogy department. After retiring as library dean from Glendale Community College (CA), she finally was able to document that Irish connection.

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Linda joined SCGS in 2020 and has been an active volunteer as a librarian assisting researchers and maintaining the library’s online catalog and lobby monitor. She serves on the Library OPS Committee. Linda would like to join other board members in expanding the reach of SCGS, making it more visible in the community, encouraging new members and volunteers, and enhancing its financial stability.

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Linda is a member of the National Genealogical Society and several regional societies. She has a B.A. from the University of Kansas, an MLS from Emory University, and an Ed.D from Pepperdine University.

Recording Secretary

 

A San Fernando Valley native, Kathy  traced her ancestors all the way back to the mid-1600’s. She received a Certificate in Genealogical Studies-American Records from the National Institute of Genealogy, is in the German certificate program, is a ProGen grad and completed the DAR genealogy courses. She has attended the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy every year since 2013, working on German studies and methodology.

 

Kathy is a member of NGS, SCGS, APG,  and the Southern California chapter of APG, the DAR, and the DUVCW. Kathy has BA and MA degrees in Political Science. She is a college professor of Political Science and Women in Politics. She also presents DAR application workshops at the SCGS Library on the third Saturday of most months.

Treasurer

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Los Angeles native Diane joined SCGS in 2009 and most recently served as the organization's President and Jamboree Co-Chair.

 

She is a graduate of California State University, Northridge, and has a degree in Business Administration/ Accounting Information Systems. Diane was a programmer and manager for the IT department of ARCO for 22 years. She also worked in the IT department at the Didi Hirsch Community Mental Health Center. Diane earned an MBA with an emphasis on information systems from USC, and a second BS in psychology and an MS in Marriage and Family Therapy from Cal State Northridge. Previously, Diane was SCGS's Volunteer Coordinator and a member of the IT Department.