Hello! My name is Jena McGarey and I am a junior at Chapman University. I earned my Associate’s degree in Communication Studies and Liberal Arts: Arts and Humanities at Los Medanos Community College before transferring to Chapman. I am currently pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Communication Studies with a Themed Inquiry in The Modern Experience. 

Growing up, I always found myself face to face with a 35mm camera as my mom had an interest in photography. The walls of my childhood home contained framed photos of me, my brothers, and family members from years past. Walking through my home was like literally taking a stroll down memory lane.

Despite being surrounded by photography and cameras in my childhood, I did not develop an interest in photography or its history until much later. In community college, I took a history class that heavily relied on visuals such as documentaries and photographs. Upon viewing photographs for the class, I was emotionally moved by the documentation of the events of history. The images gave life to the words in my textbook. I had a newfound appreciation for photography and the impact it can have.