She studied Media/Culture and American History at Brown University, where she became interested in documentary, and in the ways that history and reality are shaped and revised over time. Carolyn made a living for many years working for media companies in New York. Turning thirty soon after the World Trade Centers fell, she decided it was time to step outside of her media bubble in search of more tangible connections, and to make an effort to better understand what was happening around and beyond herself. She began to study photography, first as a part-time student at ICP, then as a graduate student at Ohio University. After completing several newspaper and magazine internships, she moved to Ukraine, where she created several award winning photo stories while studying Russian.