The Faces of Tuvalu

The Faces of Tuvalu
A Nation's Portrait. A Global Legacy.

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Daniel Farber Huang and Dr. Theresa Menders
This is Planet Earth
Letters of Reference
Previous Media Coverage
Professional Credentials

Daniel Farber Huang and Dr. Theresa Menders

DFH TM Bio

Daniel Farber Huang and Dr. Theresa Menders are internationally recognized documentary photographers who elevate the stories of individuals, communities and cultures. The team has photographed thousands of people across the globe from bustling metropolises to some of the most remote places on Earth.

Their work has been exhibited globally and featured by major institutions ranging from Amnesty International, diverse museums, numerous universities and cultural institutions. Their photographic work is included in the permanent collections of several major museums including the International Center of Photography, Museum of the City of New York, New York Historical Society and elsewhere. Their work has been featured by numerous institutions including the Smithsonian, Harvard, University of Pennsylvania, Brown University, Princeton, Columbia, and several other universities.

The team are committed to ethical, community-centered collaboration and respectful of cultural nuance. They were field investigators for the 2016 Female Chiefs of Vanuatu research project and are co-editors of “Tanna Island Kastom Law, 2nd Edition” which records local tribal laws of Tanna, Vanuatu. Huang has traveled to 39 countries and Menders 47countries. Portraits from Bangladesh, Greece, Haiti, India, Mexico, Panama, and Vanuatu for their global project “This is Planet Earth” are below.

Huang and Menders founded “The Power of Faces: Looking at the Global Refugee Crisis,” a multi-year portrait project documenting displaced populations around the world. In addition to taking proper portraits, the team printed and distributed thousands of high-quality photographs on location in real time to provide the participants with a physical, lasting gift to keep and treasure.

In addition to his experience as a photographer and journalist, Huang has expertise in planning and leading complex expeditions, managing large-scale photo productions (similar to The Faces of Tuvalu), digital technologies, publishing, and long-term archival storage protocols. In addition to her expertise in cultural research, international studies, and humanitarian advocacy, Dr. Menders’ focus on public health ensures ethical engagement and respectful collaboration with diverse communities.

Huang earned his Masters in Journalism and Certificate in International Security from Harvard University. his Masters of Business Administration from The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, and his B.A. in Economics from New York University.

Dr. Menders earned her Doctorate in Public Health from University of Illinois-Chicago, her Masters of Public Health from George Washington University, her Masters of Business Administration from The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, her Masters of Latin American Studies and International Economics from the Johns Hopkins School of International Studies (SAIS), and her B.A. in Mathematics from Dartmouth College.

Huang and Menders are co-authors of the books “The Power of Faces: Looking at the Global Refugee Crisis,” “Psychological First Aid: Pocket Field Guide,” and other books. Both Huang and Menders are Fellows of both the Explorers Club and Royal Geographical Society.

This is Planet Earth

Daniel Farber Huang and Dr. Theresa Menders have photographed thousands of people across the globe from bustling metropolises to some of the most remote and isolated places on Earth. Their portraits honor the inherent beauty, dignity, and grace within every individual, revealing a powerful common humanity that transcends geography, language, and culture.

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"This is Planet Earth" portrait sessions around the world.

Click the image to view the portraits

Letters of Reference

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Letters of Reference

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Previous Media Coverage

University of Illinois-Chicago – “The Power of Faces centers displaced people in their full humanity - highlighting their beauty, courage, dignity, and resilience - while also capturing the often harsh realities of life in refugee camps across Greece, Bangladesh, Mexico, and along the Ukraine border.” Apr 24, 2025

Brown University – “This exhibition helps [Brown University’s Watson Institute for International and Public Policy] highlight the real experiences and resilience of refugees. We hope it sparks conversations and inspires compassionate action on the global refugee crisis.” Sept 30, 2024

Professional Photo – “Exhibition co-coordinator [for Brown University] Pete Bilderback called the exhibition ‘an essential antidote to the toxic rhetoric surrounding the plight of displaced people in U.S. politics. It is a potent reminder that refugees are, in fact, human and that no politician or degrading system can rob them of their humanity, regardless of the horrifying conditions to which they are subjected.’” Sept 1, 2024

Wharton Magazine – “From Greece to Bangladesh to Ukraine, Menders and Huang… photograph people in refugee camps, with the goals of both humanizing their subjects and increasing awareness of the refugee crisis. The result is a powerful, inspirational look at the dignity and individuality of displaced people.” July 10, 2024

Harvard Gazette – “Daniel Farber Huang has traveled the world for years to chronicle and raise awareness of the plight of refugees in such places as Haiti and China, Central America and Greece. Huang and his wife, Theresa Menders, both documentary photographers, recently traveled to the Ukraine-Poland border to chronicle the situation there.” March 30, 2022

Pennsylvania Gazette Magazine – “They’ve taken and distributed over 2,000 portraits through the project they call The Power of Faces…. For a lot of people, the photos are validating…. For others, the simple act of holding a family photo brings comfort.” July 1, 2019

Dartmouth Magazine – “Their vivid portraits have won praise from human rights groups and refugees.” May 1, 2019

KHOU-11 TV – “A fascinating global project that captures the power of faces of migrants and refugees on the border and beyond.” Angela M. Kocherga, Border Bureau Chief. Feb 8, 2019

Vanity Fair Magazine Italia – “The United Nations has defined the refugee crisis as ‘the greatest humanitarian crisis of our time.’ Sixty-five million people… which the photographers and husband and wife, Daniel Farber Huang and Theresa Menders, tell through images. They give faces to the numbers and take portraits of refugees detained in camps and in reception centers. This is how ‘The Power of Faces’ photo project was born.” Aug 16, 2017

Professional Credentials

ACADEMIC CREDENTIALS

Theresa Menders

University of Illinois-Chicago - Chicago, IL

DrPH degree in Public Health Leadership

George Washington University, Milken Institute - Washington, DC

MPH degree in Global Health candidate.

University of Pennsylvania, The Wharton School - Philadelphia, PA

MBA degree with a dual major in Finance and Management. Director’s List.

The Johns Hopkins University, Nitze School of Advanced International Studies - Washington, DC

MA degree with major in Latin American Studies and International Economics.

Dartmouth College - Hanover, NH

BA degree with major in Mathematics with a concentration in Economics.

Magna cum Laude.

Daniel Farber Huang

Harvard University - Cambridge, MA

Master’s degree (ALM) in Journalism and Certificate in International Security

University of Pennsylvania, The Wharton School - Philadelphia, PA

MBA degree in Finance and Entrepreneurial Management.

New York University, College of Arts and Science - New York, NY

BA degree in Economics.

MUSEUMS

Works are included in the permanent collections of the following museums and historical institutions

The International Center of Photography
The New York Historical Society
Museum of the City of New York
New York City Fire Museum
Museum of Chinese in the Americas
School of Visual Arts Archives – Here is New York Collection
New York Public Library – September 11 Photo Project – Bearing Witness
The Library of Congress – The September 11 Digital Archive

EXHIBITS and PRESENTATIONS

The Power of Faces: Looking at the Global Refugee Crisis Exhibit

University of Illinois-Chicago - Exhibit and symposium, 2025
Trinity Repertory Theater - Exhibit, 2025
Brown University, Watson Center for International and Public Affairs, 2024
WRFI Radio – Human Rights and Social Justice Program, 2024
Wharton Alumni Club – Photographer Talk, 2022
Harvard University Symposium – Photographer Talk, 2022
Beacon, Philadelphia Chapter – Photographer Talk, 2022
WRFI Radio – Human Rights and Social Justice Program, 2024
State University of New York, Cortland – Photographer Talk, 2020
Museum of Art Fort Collins – Photographer Talk, 2020
Justice for All – Exhibit, 2020
Rowan University, Center for Art and Social Engagement – Exhibit, 2019
WRFI Radio – Human Rights and Social Justice Program, 2019
MIT Alumni Association – Photographer Talk, 2019
HomeWorks Trenton – Photographer Talk, 2019
United Nations Association, Princeton-Trenton Chapter – Photographer Talk, 2019
TEDxNJIT – TEDx Talk, 2019
State University of New York, Cortland – Exhibit and Talk, 2019
Arts Council of Princeton + Princeton Public Library – Exhibit and Talk, 2019
TEDxFarmingdale – TEDx Talk, 2019
The Silva Gallery at The Pennington School – Exhibit and Photographer Talks, 2019
Union Theological Seminary at Columbia University – Exhibit and Panel Discussion, 2019
The George School – Photographer Talk, Newtown, PA, 2019
The College of New Jersey – Photographer Talk, Trenton, NJ, 2019
Stevens Institute of Technology – National Week of Student Action Exhibit and Talk, 2019
TEDxYouth@UrsulineAcademy – Audience Activation, Wilmington, DE, 2019
SXSW South by Southwest – Ignite Talk, Austin, TX, 2019
Amnesty International – Annual General Meeting, Chicago, IL, 2019
The College of New Jersey – Center for Community Engaged Learning & Research, 2018
Amnesty International – Northeast Conference, Boston, MA, 2018
Amnesty International – Mid-Atlantic Conference, Philadelphia, PA, 2018
Middle East Institute – Annual Conference, Washington, DC, 2018
Princeton University – Photographer Talk, Princeton, NJ, 2018
Rutgers University – Displaced Lives Conference, New Brunswick, NJ, 2018
Johnson & Johnson – Photographer Talk, Skillman, NJ, 2018
TEDxWilmington – TEDx Talk, Wilmington, DE. [Click here for link], 2017
TEDxRutgers – Exhibit and TEDx Talk, [Click here for link], 2017

William James College - Psychological First Aid, 2025
Edward Hopper House Museum - Member Exhibit, 2025
World Extreme Medicine Conference - Psychological First Aid, 2024
The Explorers Club, New England Chapter - Expedition Security, 2024
Wharton Alumni Social Impact Club - Healthcare Equity in Panama, 2024
TEDxFolsom - Protecting Banned Books in the Arctic Permafrost [Click here for link], 2024
Smithsonian National Museum of American History - Art in the Aftermath, 2021
The Explorers Club, Philadelphia Chapter - Expedition Security, 2021
Middle East Institute – "New Beginnings" Honorable Mention, Washington, DC., 2017
PVDFest Arts Festival – Outdoor visual art installation, Providence, RI, 2017
The Explorers Club - Female Chiefs of Maewo Expedition, Instagram Takeover, 2017
Museum of the City of New York - Timescapes video installation, 2015
Museum of Modern Art – Life of the City, Photographs, 2002
Museum of the City of New York – Virtual Union Square, Photographs, 2002
New York City Fire Museum – 9/11 Memorial Room, Photographs, 2002
Museum of Chinese in America – Recovering Chinatown: the 9/11 Collection, 2002
Trinity Wall Street – Out of the Dust Exhibit, Photographs, New York, NY, 2002 – 2005
The September 11 Photo Project – Photographs, 2001 – 2003
Here is New York –Photographs, national and international exhibits, 2001 – 2002

PHOTO PROJECTS

This is Planet Earth, Ongoing
Healthcare Equity – Panama, 2023
Ukrainian Refugee Crisis – Poland/Ukraine border, 2022
Urban India – India, 2017
Female Chiefs of Maewo Expedition – Republic of Vanuatu, 2016
Invasion Neighborhoods – Colombia, 2016
Abandoned and Forgotten – United States, 2014 – 2015
Haiti Reconstruction – Haiti, 2014
Hurricane Sandy Recovery – New York, New York, 2012
Chinese Orphanage – Changsha, China , 2011
Occupy Wall Street – New York, New York, 2011
Medical Technology – Princeton, New Jersey, 2004 – 2010
NICU – Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, 2004
Missing and Loved: Messages from 9/11 – New York, New York, 2001 – 2002
Rebuilding the City after 9/11 – New York, New York, 2001 – 2005

AFFILIATIONS

The Explorers Club – Dedicated to the advancement of field research and the ideal that it is vital to preserve the instinct to explore.
- National Fellow – Daniel Farber Huang, 2013 - present
- National Fellow – Dr. Theresa Menders, 2018 - present
Royal Geographical Society - UK professional body advancing geographical science by supporting geographical research, education, fieldwork and expeditions.
- National Fellow – Dr. Theresa Menders, 2024 - present
- National Fellow – Daniel Farber Huang, 2024 - present

Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) - National association that supports court-appointed advocates for abused or neglected children.
- Court Appointed Special Advocate – Dr. Theresa Menders, 2001 - 2015
Emergency Care Research Institute (ECRI) - One of the largest non-profits in the world dedicated to patient safety and healthcare equity.
- Board of Trustees – Daniel Farber Huang, 2021 - present

BOOKS

The Power of Faces: Looking at the Global Refugee Crisis, 2024
Psychological First Aid: Pocket Field Guide, 2024
GET LOST: Personal Privacy Strategies for Extremely Busy People, 2022
NOWHERE TO HIDE: Open Source Intelligence Gathering, 2021
Practical Cyber Security for Extremely Busy People. 2021
Niko Le Ten: Tanna Island, Vanuatu Kastom Law - Co-editors to the 2nd Edition, 2016.