Kevin Lizarazo (@klizarazo), a journalism and political science double major at Stony Brook University, is covering the Region 1 Conference as a photographer for R1C12 News.

Had anyone asked him during his first semester at Stony Brook as a freshman in the fall of 2009 if he could see himself in a place like Havana, Cuba, he probably would have had a good laugh.

Having studied computer science all throughout high school and during his first year at the University, he originally had visions of inventing the next greatest technological gadget.

Then, during his third semester, he decided to join the Stony Brook Independent. His first assignment for the campus news organization: photograph former President Bill Clinton’s speech on campus.

Now, he's an aspiring photojournalist, determined to do what it takes to improve his craft behind the camera and the notepad and share it with the world. He is the current managing editor of the Independent.

When not managing his wonderful staff and interns, he enjoys following up on the latest international headlines and reading blogs from foreign correspondents and freelancers.

“There is always something historic happening somewhere in the world,” Lizarazo said. “I can’t imagine not wanting to be there to document it.”