Gabriela Tejeda
Gabriela Tejeda is a National Geographic Explorer and conservation storyteller based in the Florida Keys, and currently works on The Nature Conservancy’s global Storytelling team. A Boston College biology and English graduate, she moved to the Florida Keys in 2020 to work in environmental conservation— through which she quickly developed a knack for connecting storytelling, science and change-making. Her National Geographic Society-funded project “The Underwater World of Mangroves” uses underwater photography to reveal hidden marine ecosystems, helping audiences connect with her backyard through her specialized visual storytelling approach.
Tejeda’s career demonstrates exceptional versatility across conservation science, media, and visual storytelling. Her study abroad year in Australia included working at conservation organization Zoos Victoria, igniting her passion for experientially connecting audiences with wildlife conservation.
In 2020, she received the Heppell Scholarship to join REEF Environmental Education Foundation in the Florida Keys as a marine conservation intern, creating educational content for over 70,000 members. Afterwards, she began guiding eco tours into Everglades National Park. In 2021, Tejeda was among 100 individuals accepted into a conservation storytelling externship with National Geographic Society and The Nature Conservancy, where she received Outstanding Completion for her StoryMap—Fire & Water: An Ecological Love Story—featuring stunning fire visuals and compelling narrative to immerse audiences in the South Florida landscape.
Her professional evolution includes roles as Media Specialist at environmental nonprofit Florida Bay Forever, where she created visual content compelling audiences to become stewards of South Florida’s threatened ecosystems. As a 2x Jackson Wild Fellow (2022 Summit Fellow, 2023 LatinX Film Lab Fellow), she has honed her multimedia production and conservation communication skills.
Tejeda currently works on The Nature Conservancy’s global Storytelling team, managing editorial campaigns and producing visual content for diverse audiences.
Tejeda’s work has achieved remarkable reach and recognition within the conservation community. She was selected as one of 15 recipients globally for the 2023 National Geographic Society Young Explorer Award, and last year won a grant for her underwater photography project “The Underwater World of Mangroves.” In 2023, she was also awarded a National Park Arts Foundation Artist Residency on Loggerhead Key in Dry Tortugas National Park.
Her photography and writing have been featured in national publications including Scuba Diving Magazine and Grist. With 17,000 followers across her social media platforms, her content has reached nearly 4 million accounts, amplifying conservation messages and bringing wildlife conservation to mainstream audiences.
As a sought-after speaker, Tejeda has presented at major conferences including the WILD12 World Wilderness Congress, Wavemakers Conservation Symposium, Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation’s Corridor Connect (500 attendees), and will keynote the 2025 GEN2050 Youth Biodiversity Summit for 400 students. Her recent media features include South Florida PBS’s “Changing Seas” and multiple podcast appearances.
Driven by a mission to make nature feel accessible to all, Tejeda continues to push boundaries in conservation storytelling, using powerful visuals to create immersive experiences that foster belonging and environmental stewardship.