Christina Copland is one of a growing number of PhD graduates putting their degrees to use in untraditional careers. (Photos: Courtesy of Copland.)
A fascination with history has this alumna digging up roots
A PhD in history from USC Dornsife — and a boost from the Trojan Family — led Christina Copland to a career as a genealogist at Ancestry.com.
Curious about your family’s secrets? Give Christina Copland ’18 a call.
As a genealogist at Ancestry.com, Copland, who received her PhD in history from the USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences, helps people find their roots and track down relatives, often all the way back to the 1700s.
It’s a dream career for someone who grew up with an enthusiasm for archeology and history, sparked by reading about Ancient Egypt as a child. “I liked the idea of this puzzle you’re trying to put together of the past. That element is something that I’ve always kept with me and it’s a lot of what I do today,” she says.