Tom Szalay has lived in Ogden since 1994, arriving here to become the chief photographer for the Standard Examiner. He has worked as a Staff photojournalist for the San Diego Union-Tribune and freelanced for the other California newspapers including the Los Angeles Times and the Santa Rosa Press Democrat. Tom’s assignments have exposed him to a wide variety of humans and social problems and his images of Romanian orphans have been published worldwide. He is currently a retired photography teacher and is working on new documentary projects. Tom taught at West High School in Salt Lake City for 22 years where he worked with a very diverse student population. In his time as a teacher he was able to teach teenage students the value of communication and self-expression. Additionally, in his role as a teacher he was able to develop a trusting relationship with parents which lead to him understanding more of what happens in his student’s homes especially those who identified as refugees. Currently, Tom supports Senior Action in a Gay Environment (SAGE) that is affiliated with the Ogden United Church of Christ by managing their social media presence. He is excited to work with the Ogden Diversity Commission and learn how he can contribute with his skills to make Ogden a city where all are welcomed and respected.