Mary Kathryn Carpenter is a graduate student at The University of Alabama where she studies journalism and works as a research assistant for the Office of Undergraduate Research. She is from Natchez, Miss. She is the recipient of the UA Visual Journalist of the Year award for 2015-2016. Carpenter’s stories and images have been featured in Glamour Magazine, Alpine Living Magazine: New Zealand, Natchez the Magazine, The Natchez Democrat and The Tuscaloosa News. Carpenter served as photo editor for Alpine Living Magazine and editor-in-chief of Vida Magazine, both award-winning, student-produced travel magazine.