Teri Downs Tillman of Natchez, is among the newest associates of the Board for Certification of Genealogists.

After years of study and work in the field of family history and the successful completion of the BCG requirements, Tillman may now use the service mark of Certified Genealogist. With this designation, Tillman has shown competence in the general skill areas of research, evidence analysis, kinship determination, and reporting.

Each BCG associate specializes in certain geographic and ethnic areas or in a certain phase of genealogical work.

Tillman is a professional genealogist. She received a BA from Vanderbilt University, and a MA in German from Washington University.

Tillman has attended courses at the Institute of Genealogy and Historical Research and through the National Genealogical Society and MyFamily.com. She was the first recipient of the Walter Lee Sheppard prize, given to select top-performing students in the Advanced Methodology track at IHGR.

Tillman is working on a comprehensive history of the once vibrant Jewish community in Natchez, which now contains only six members. Her research interests include Southwest Mississippi, Alsace, the Palatinate, and nineteenth century Jewish genealogy.

As part of the application process to BCG, Tillman had to submit a case study drawn from her research resolving a challenging identity problem and to compile a narrative genealogy of three generations of a family.

“By achieving certification, researchers like Ms. Tillman demonstrate that they care about the quality of genealogical work that they pass on to posterity,” Board President Connie Lenzen, CG, said. “And for consumers, certification gives assurance that they will be receiving competent, professional help.” Associates must apply for renewal of their certification every five years and must continue to demonstrate quality standards in genealogical research.

Headquartered in Washington, D.C., the Board for Certification of Genealogists is an internationally recognized certification body, not a membership society.

To learn more about BCG and certification, see the society’s Web site at www.bcgcertification.org.

A listing of those who are currently certified is also on the web site.

For a personal interview, Tillman may be contacted at 601-442-7051.