This week I am creating portraits of outstanding students for a special event honoring the Mary Gates scholarship program at the University of Washington. Below is Alexandra, who is studying whales.

I spent another day clinging onto my history of six years of University of Washington education while photographing a very interesting conference today for the Henry M. Jackson School of International Studies held on campus in the Walker Ames room in Kane Hall. The conference, in honor of Dr. Daniel Chirot, was titled The Influence of Religion on International Politics. Below, Professor Paul Froese of Baylor University presents his work, Religion’s Influence on American Politics From a Global Perspective. He had some very very intriguing insight into Rick Santorum and the rest of the Republican presidential candidates, which was especially timely for me since I am in the middle of covering the campaigns as they roll through Washington state.