Loyola Art alumnus Matthew Dietrich, BFA '16, parlayed a low-level summer volunteer position into a job as lead photographer and Instagram account manager for New Orleans City Council member LaToya Cantrell's historic mayoral campaign. Following Cantrell's lopsided 60-to-40% victory in the November 18 run-off election over her opponent Desiree Charbonnet, campaign representatives credited a stronger social media outreach as one factor that drove her success. Soon after signing on as an unpaid volunteer last August, Dietrich was tasked with overseeing and expanding the campaign's Instagram account. In a matter of weeks he grew the number of Cantrell's followers from fewer than 350 to 1500. At the same time he also proved himself as a photographer, producing images of the candidate on the hustings that impressed campaign officials and led to additional assignments. By election day, the former volunteer was the campaign's lead photographer--and surprised to find himself closer than he could have ever imagined to the inner circle of New Orleans' future mayor. Cantrell will become the first woman to lead the Crescent City in its 300-year history when she takes office in May 2018.