Dylan S.

My name is Dylan and I am a professional genealogist, cultural anthropologist, and digital storyteller on social media. I bring over 20 years of dedicated genealogy experience, including more than 10 years of professional practice, backed by a degree in Anthropology and Italian from the University of Illinois at Chicago. I am also a Fulbright Scholar, having completed a Fulbright Award (2019-2020) in Hungary specializing in linguistic anthropology. My work focuses on traditional family tree research, cultural heritage discovery, and advanced genetic genealogy. I help individuals uncover their heritage, reconstruct lineages deep into the past, and translate archival documents into meaningful human stories. I also serve as a DNA investigator. I utilize genetic data to break down brick walls, resolve cases of unknown parentage, and help individuals locate and reconnect with their biological families. I have reunited a number of people with their parents and missing family. My primary research expertise is rooted in the American Midwest and South, complemented by international experience across Italy, Germany, and England. As a multilingual researcher with native-level English, near-native fluency in Italian, and high functional fluency in Spanish, Hungarian, and German, I hold a distinct advantage when deciphering localized European records. I am also highly skilled at reading dense, historic documents written in Latin. I possess extensive knowledge and navigation skills across all major family history websites, databases, and digital repositories. In addition to serving private clients, I hold major experience in the legal sector, providing forensic genealogy services for real estate companies to build family trees, track down missing heirs, and solve complex property title puzzles. Beyond archival research, my work also combines academic anthropology and traveling with social media content creation to preserve living history. I regularly document historical sites and conduct video interviews, such as with centenarians and WWII veterans, capturing rare oral histories before they disappear. As an accomplished social media content creator with a large following and millions of views across platforms, I handle the entire creative pipeline myself - from scriptwriting and video editing to professional voice acting. I have a significant background in education as well, having spent years teaching and tutoring history, anthropology, Italian, and English as a Second Language (ESL). I am also an experienced voice actor capable of taking on scripted or improvised roles. Altogether, I have a strong passion for history and preservation.