Kathleen MB Norris, MSc has been involved with Genealogy & Family History since she was a young child, due to her parents’ curiosity and willingness to share family stories. As an avid history student and with a desire to understand the human condition Kathleen has an unquenchable desire to place individuals in their historical context, and to understand their personal reactions from a psycho-social perspective. Evaluating individuals in this way has brought both understanding and peace with the past, including generational trauma.

Kathleen graduated from Brigham Young University (Provo) in 2001 with a BS in Human Development. After years of raising children and doing personal research with some contract work, she returned to school and received an Associate’s Degree from BYU-Idaho in Family History & Genealogy, December 2018. Following this, Kathleen obtained her Genealogy, Heraldry & Paleography, MSc from the University of Strathclyde (Glasgow, Scotland) in June 2021. Her dissertation, “Overcoming Adversity: How Far Does the Study of Family History/Genealogy Develop Resiliency?” was a labor of love and added to her understanding of the impact that genealogy has on researchers, suggesting that genealogists and family historians should be considered “resilience builders.”

She is the mother of four children and in 2026 is a newly minted grandmother. Her time is primarily spent researching but when she can break away she enjoys traveling, hiking, snorkeling, reading, and learning. She and her husband also love “souvenir eating” and enjoying their travels by experiencing local food and culture.

Kathleen is currently employed with FamilySearch as a Research Consultant. It is an honor to be able to have a career in the field of genealogy and to be able to share her perspective while learning from others.