Mary Jo Rohrer Photography

"I chose Barack Obama because he's a modern leader of the world. He has defied stereotypes and expectations, simultaneously maintaining humor, grace, and professionalism in the face of adversity." — Ryan Accardo

"I chose Emma Watson. It's inspiring the way she is always striving for more. To be something more, to do something more, to learn something more. After the success of Harry Potter she could've continued to only be a successful actress but decided to go back to school and graduated with a degree from Brown University. After that, she could've returned solely to acting but instead was appointed, in the same year, to UN Women Goodwill Ambassador. She doesn't let herself be defined by the individual things that she does or roles that she holds. She also doesn't sacrifice any of her passions for others. She follows her heart, does what she loves while advocating for others, and realizes that there are always opportunities in life to learn something new." — Juliana Restivo

"Mindy Kaling is the definition of what it means to be a feminist. She is a successful, intelligent, and funny woman. She is comfortable in her own skin despite the media's constant pressure upon female celebrities to be skinny. Her confidence is something that every young woman should aspire to gain at some point in their life." — Rachel Mercado

"I chose Donald Glover/Childish Gambino because he's an artist in the truest way. He writes scripts, produces, and writes his own songs. As a musician, he stays true to himself and I can only hope to follow in his footsteps in my own craft." — Brandon Newby.

"I chose Amy Poehler because she inspires me with her wit, her confidence, and her charisma. She makes you laugh, but she makes you think. From her TV roles (my favorite being Leslie Knope) to her work empowering young women through Amy Poehler Smart Girls, she strives everyday to combine her fantastic sense of humor and with her passion for promoting women's rights and equality. Amy said it best when she said, 'I want to be around people that do things. I don't want to be around people anymore that judge or talk about what people do. I want to be around people that dream and support and do things'" — Katie Karwoski

"I aspire to be like my mom. She has an aura of genuine joy and gratitude, and every day is a gift to her. She makes every day special and important for her two girls and taught us to never stop learning. She has such a simplistic and effortless style; she looks good even when she runs errands and gardens in her yard. She taught us to be presentable and respectful of others no matter what the occasion is or time of day. She taught us to love unconditionally and be passionate about what we do. Most importantly, she taught me how to be creative and innovative. Thanks mom for making me realize what I want to do with my life and supporting me in those passions. Thank you for sharing with me the gift of your creative and brilliant mind." — Anna Christensen

"I chose Stephen Colbert because day in and day out he is able to parody the world of politics and make the content entertaining and informative. He is witty, charismatic, and able to use his position as a public figure to inform his viewers about the absurdities of American politics.Of all the late night hosts, Colbert has proven to be, in my opinion, the best." 

— Christopher Baranyay 

"I chose Beyoncé because she was a woman who completely changed the music industry for women. She went from an all female group to going out on her own. She always chooses what is best for her health and her sanity, her music speaks to the masses and she is genuinely talented. She is beautiful and grateful for everything she has been given and she is a wonderful role model for our generation." — Shannon Oliveri

"Sofía Vergara is authentic on and off the screen. She has perfectly endeared herself to Americans without losing her Latin American background. She's charismatic and it's refreshing & inspiring to see someone like Sofia, who embraces her diversity in both languages and ethnic identity. She has made herself relevant across cultures and languages while always staying true to herself." — Megan Ylagan

My inspiration for Looking Closer comes from Martin Schoeller's image of George Clooney taken in the fall of 2014. The artist captured several celebrities in unique ways to show that ,"They are conceptual at times, [but] they still have something to do with the people that are being portrayed." Although Schoeller had Clooney use a younger image of himself to cover his own, I had my subjects use the eyes of people whom they feel inspired by. I put my own, personal twist on an already immensely creative idea.

"Just a casual Wednesday reminder that you're extremely loved." 

- Audrey Fangmeyer, Veronica Wasno's inspiration

"She doesn't turn anyone away. She'll care for a broken person the same way she cares for a 'whole' person, with the entirety of her heart. She physically has a soft touch and that reflects in her words. You know that she genuinely means everything she says. She also has a sassy side!" 

-Veronica Wasno

"Service to me is about human connection, reaching beyond ourselves and our own lives to connect with others in the world. Service in Haiti, Honduras, and Uganda taught me so much about myself and human connection related to service. Presence, love, and solidarity make up what it means to serve and give of oneself. We immerse ourselves in a new culture and embark on a journey of connection and of giving and receiving. It's an ongoing mission, a mission of the heart.

I haven't come out of one of these experiences without a widened perspective, without feeling great change and possibility."

- Olivia Wynn, Juliana Restivo's inspiration

"Olivia inspires me every day. I've never met anyone with a bigger heart than hers. No matter what she is going through in her life she always does whatever she can to be there for someone else with a text, a smile, or a motivational quote that she thinks you need. Olivia is the most selfless person I've ever met."

- Juliana Restivo