Originally published on November 18, 2021.
SUU cemented in Jessie Gunther McFall a passion for history, and that passion and subsequent degree landed her a “dream job” working for Ancestry, the largest for-profit genealogy company in the world.
Jessie works in the content department as a data production manager where she oversees three teams, two in Lehi, Utah, and one based in India. She says she always wanted to work for Ancestry and be involved in the history of people and the world.
“I adore my job and love helping and managing people and building new processes for my department,” she says. “It is highly rewarding and I love feeling like the work I do is helping others learn more about themselves and their families and histories.”
She got her foot in Ancestry’s door by working in the call center, and she is proud that in five short years she has been promoted several times and now has influence on company functions.
A native of Cottonwood Heights, Utah, Jessie chose SUU, in part, because of her sister Danielle who graduated in 2008 with a degree in agriculture science and industry. Jessie visited her sister several times and loved the campus. She also wanted a more intimate educational experience and knew that SUU and Cedar City could provide that experience.
As a student, Jessie met several people who changed her life for the better, and helped in defining her own goals and aspirations. Jessie also points to German Professor Jim Harrison as one who inspired her and deepened her love for Germany.
“I ended up visiting Germany after I graduated and I kept in touch with him before I went,” she says of Prof. Harrison. “He gave me a list of all the best places to see and things to do.”
Jessie and husband Drake live in Lehi, Utah, with their one-year-old daughter, and the family enjoys hunting, hiking, camping and fishing. They love to travel, are self-proclaimed foodies, and Jessie owns her own cake decorating and baked goods business.
