As a documentary filmmaker and photographer, Andrea Villarreal Rodriguez's work is shaped by her deep connection to the mountains and rivers of her hometown of Monterrey, Mexico, where industrial development has left its mark. This relationship inspired her exploration of how urban communities and their environments intertwine. At age 20, Villarreal Rodriguez was named a National Geographic Explorer and founded the Storytelling Lab, offering a platform for youth, especially girls and women, to create and share compelling narratives of climate justice. The Lab amplifies their voices, highlighting how the climate crisis disproportionately affects the Global South and showcasing the leadership of women in driving change. Her most recent work celebrates the landscapes and memories of the Santa Catarina River, demonstrating that, with the strength of communities, it is possible to protect what we love. Villarreal Rodriguez holds a Bachelor of Arts in communications from Tecnológico de Monterrey.
Jair Félix is the Global Academic Services Manager at National Geographic Learning. He has a B.A. in TEFL from Universidad Autónoma de Sinaloa in Mexico and a Post-Graduate Degree on Teachers’ Development from The College of St. Mark & St. John, Plymouth, UK. Jair has been involved in language teaching and teacher training for over 30 years and has conducted workshops on various topics such as lesson planning, discourse analysis for language teachers, action research, educational technologies, and 21st century skills, among others. Jair also holds a Diploma in Teaching English for Specific Purposes (DipTESP) and the E-Tutoring Certificate from the British Council. He is a frequent presenter at ELT conferences throughout Latin America.
Taylor Williams is an educator and program strategist based in the Washington, DC area. Their work centers on designing and facilitating learning experiences that empower all learners to recognize and grow within their greatness. At the National Geographic Society they work most directly on bringing immersive educational programming to life for young people ages 13-25. Previously, they served as a Fulbright Grantee in South Korea where they taught high school English and worked with the Korean-American Educational Commission to design and implement educator training for incoming Fulbright Grantees.
