Shannon Watson has been passionate about genealogy for more than 30 years, a journey that began when she joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints at age 15. Her interest in DNA research grew after using AncestryDNA to help identify her father’s biological father — turning a single name into a confirmed family connection. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Spanish, Psychology, and Secondary Education, and she thrives on solving complex research puzzles.

As a Search Angel with DNAngels, Shannon brings both expertise and empathy to every case. She believes there’s something miraculous about telling someone where they came from, revealing their name at birth, or showing them photos of biological relatives — and then witnessing the joy and amazement as they recognize themselves in another’s face for the first time. For Shannon, it’s a way of putting good into the world, one discovery at a time.

Fluent in Spanish and conversational in Portuguese, she is also learning Korean after falling in love with K-dramas. Shannon has traveled to every continent except Antarctica, visiting more than two dozen countries, and she never passes up a good puzzle — whether it’s a DNA case, a tricky travel itinerary, or a gripping mystery series like her favorite, Sherlock.