About Our Experts and Trip Leaders

Our Experts

Our National Geographic experts are photographers, writers, anthropologists, archaeologists, explorers, naturalists, and filmmakers who are intrepid leaders in their fields. On each expedition, a National Geographic expert will accompany the group for three to seven days to share an insider's perspective, give you guidance in crafting your On Assignment project, and inspire you with passion and enthusiasm for the places we visit. Meet the National Geographic experts who will join our expeditions.

KENNY BROAD

Environmental anthropologist and National Geographic Emerging Explorer Kenny Broad studies the relationship between climate, society, and natural resources management. He has taken part in and led scientific and film expeditions throughout the Caribbean, exploring underwater caves. Kenny is an assistant professor of anthropology at the University of Miami. He will join our expedition to the Caribbean at the marine center in Paraquita Bay on the July 4 departure.

ESHA CHIOCCHIO

Photographer Esha Chiocchio began her career as a traveler, documenting the cultures of the world from Timbuktu to Vanuatu. Her photography is a mélange of journalism and documentary and fine art. She has photographed for numerous publications including NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC magazine, NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC TRAVELER, and Newsweek, and is a popular instructor for Santa Fe Photography Workshops. Esha served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Mali from 1997-1999. She will join our expedition to Mali in and around Djénné on the July 18 departure.

FORD COCHRAN

Environmental scientist, writer, and web producer Ford Cochran first visited Iceland while on assignment for National Geographic Television, where he descended into ice caves and an active volcano. Ford has written for National Geographic magazine and was the principal contributing writer for the Society's Historical Atlas of the United States. In 1996, he helped launch nationalgeographic.com, and is today an editorial director of the website. Ford will join our expedition to Iceland in Höfn.

PETER DUNHAM

Archaeologist Peter Dunham, a specialist on Belize, has received nine major research grants from National Geographic to study the ancient Maya and their relationship with their environment. A professor at Cleveland State University, Peter has been featured on two National Geographic Television programs about ancient Maya civilization. Peter will join our expedition to Belize at Las Cuevas Research Station in Chiquibul National Park.

TAYLOR EDWARDS

Conservation biologist Taylor Edwards is a scientist at the University of Arizona where he oversees public testing for National Geographic's Genographic Project, an innovative project that traces geneology back 60,000 years using DNA. Taylor combines wildlife ecology and molecular biology in an emerging field called conservation genetics. Aside from his enthusiasm for hiking and scuba diving, Taylor is an aficionado of reptiles and amphibians, so be prepared to gain a new admiration for creepy and crawly things! Taylor will join our expedition to Costa Rica at La Selva Biological Station on the July 24 departure.

PETER FROST

Peter Frost is a writer, photographer, and National Geographic grantee who has spent most of his life exploring Peru. His published works include a guide to the Cusco region and a well-known book on Machu Picchu. Peter has led National Geographic archaeological expeditions into the remote region of Vilcabamba, where he discovered the Inca and pre-Inca site of Qoriwayrachina (NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC magazine, February 2004). Peter lives in Cusco, and will join our expedition to Peru in Ollantaytambo, Cusco, and Machu Picchu.

MICHAEL GIBBONS

Micheal Gibbons is one of Ireland's most respected archaeologists, as well as a writer and a mountaineer. A popular presenter on archaeology throughout Ireland, he has lectured worldwide, including at the National Geographic Society, Oxford, and Cambridge; and has written many publications on archaeology in Ireland. Michael's extensive knowledge of Ireland comes from more than 20 years of exploring its multifaceted landscapes on foot, by boat, and from the air. Michael will join our expedition to Ireland in Galway.

KRIS LEBOUTILLIER

Photographer Kris LeBoutillier has worked for magazines and newspapers throughout Asia and the United States. A contributor for National Geographic Traveler magazine, Kris has been on assignment in Rajasthan, India; Singapore; Vietnam; and Tasmania. His most recent book, Iron Rails of the Orient, was published in 2007 and covers the people and places encountered on his train journey through Asia. Kris will join our expedition to India us in Leh on the June 29 departure and in Rajasthan on the July 20 departure.

GREG MARSHALL

Greg Marshall is a biologist/filmmaker and an executive producer for National Geographic Television. Greg invented the Crittercam, the camera that can be attached to an animal to capture video showing the world through the animal's eyes. Greg's Crittercam has enabled him to study and document life in the oceans and on land from the perspective of more than 40 species of animals such as blue whales, black turtles, manta rays, and — most recently — lions in Kenya. He uses media to connect audiences to wildlife with the aim of inspiring a conservation ethic and call to action. Greg will join our expedition to the Caribbean on the July 25 departure.

KARIN MULLER

Filmmaker, author, photographer, and adventurer Karin Muller has published books, produced documentaries, written articles, and presented lectures for National Geographic. She is currently spending several months living in a Maasai village in Tanzania and has participated in several expeditions to Tanzania to retrace her family heritage. Karin has also returned to East Africa to study wildlife conservation, national park policy, and the use of new technologies to track wild game. Karin will join our expedition to Tanzania in the village in northern Tanzania.

DAVID SCOTT SILVERBERG

Geographer David Scott Silverberg was the founding field director of Boston University's Center for Coastal Studies and has lectured on oceanography, conservation biology, and tectonics for 20 years. He has received research grants from the National Geographic Society and is a fellow of the Royal Geographic Society, specializing in natural and biocultural history. David has taught undergraduate and graduate field-study courses in conservation biology in Ecuador and will join our expedition to Ecuador and the Galápagos in the Galápagos Islands.

TINO SORIANO

Born and raised in Barcelona, Tino Soriano divides his work between photojournalism and travel photography. A frequent contributor to National Geographic Traveler magazine, he has also photographed National Geographic Traveler guidebooks: Madrid, Sicily, Portugal, and Naples & Southern Italy. Tino has received a First Prize from the World Press Photo Foundation and, in 2006, played the lead role in a documentary for the National Geographic Channel in Spain, Andalusia: The Awakening of the Senses. Tino will join our expedition to Spain in Granada.

ALISON WRIGHT

Documentary photographer Alison Wright has spent her career capturing the universal spirit of humanity through her photographs. Her work documents the traditions and changes of endangered cultures and people in remote areas around the world. Alison's photographs have been published in many National Geographic publications, and she has received top awards for both her writing and photography. Alison will join our expedition to China in Beijing on the June 23 departure and in Longsheng on the July 14 departure.

Our Trip Leaders

Heading up each expedition is a team of talented, dynamic trip leaders. They have extensive experience in the field — and they love working with high school students. With no more than nine students to every trip leader, we'll have the freedom to break into exploration teams to pursue our On Assignment projects. Here are a few of the outstanding trip leaders who may accompany you on a National Geographic Student Expedition.

MONICA YOUNG

Brown University, BA, East Asian studies. A master's student in public health, Monica is a founding member of Women in the World, an organization that promotes discussion on work/life balance among women at Brown. The daughter of Chinese and Korean immigrants, Monica studied Chinese language, Chinese culture and society, and traditional Chinese medicine at Peking University in Beijing. She is fluent in Mandarin.

KIT KRUGMAN

Yale University, BA, literature and art. Kit first fell in love with the Spanish language and culture when she traveled to Spain during high school. She spent her junior year of college in Madrid studying Spanish literature, art, and film. At Yale, Kit leads incoming freshmen on backpacking trips in New England. Next fall, she will teach art at the Costa Rica Country Day School in Guanacaste, Costa Rica. Kit is fluent in Spanish.

JOHN LINSLEY

St. Lawrence University, BA, government, history, and African studies. A Fulbright Hays scholar, John studied at the MS Training Center for Development Cooperation in Tanzania and worked as a safari guide in Amboseli National Park. John has taught high school history for the past two years and is pursuing graduate studies in international relations with a focus on sub-Saharan Africa. He is a certified Wilderness EMT and an American Red Cross instructor. John is fluent in Kiswahili.

MEHA PRIYADARSHINI

Wesleyan University, BA, East Asian studies. Meha moved to the United States from India when she was ten years old. During college, she returned to India to conduct a survey on maternal mortality in tribal areas for an NGO in Rajasthan. After graduating, Meha worked at the Women's Foreign Policy Group in Washington, D.C. She is currently pursuing a PhD in history at Columbia University. Meha is fluent in Hindi and Mandarin.

DILLON SMITH

Georgetown University, BSFS, culture and politics. While at Georgetown, Dillon studied abroad at the Baobab Center, Université de Cheikh Anta Diop in Dakar, Senegal, and at the Université de Paris IV—Sorbonne in Paris, and completed a certificate program in African studies. Dillon has been awarded a Fulbright grant to work in Mali this year, studying the cultural and economic effects of tourism in Timbuktu and the Dogon country. Dillon speaks Wolof and French.

MARK POMMER

Butler University, BA, English; Columbia University, EdM, school psychology. Mark's love for travel began in high school when he spent a summer playing soccer throughout Europe. In college, he worked for an after-school youth program, leading high school students on week-long backpacking trips in the Appalachian Mountains. Mark has also spent several months working in public schools in Costa Rica. In his free time, he can be found skiing, snowboarding, backpacking, or fly fishing. Mark is fluent in Spanish.

JONATHAN PERRY

Tufts University, BA, Spanish and anthropology. Born in Caracas, Venezuela, and raised in a bilingual and bicultural family, Jonathan has a passion for discovering new cultures. He currently works with the Council on International Student Exchange program in Washington, D.C., managing exchange programs between universities in Spain, Portugal, and Latin America. Jonathan is fluent in Spanish and is conversational in Brazilian Portuguese.

ALEX VERRON

St. Lawrence University, BA, fine arts and Asian studies. Alex received the Jean Scribner Cashin Endowment for Fine Art Students after his six-month photo documentary on textile production in India was a featured exhibition in the Brush Art Gallery. His most recent work has been published by several international outdoor magazines.

ELIZABETH LEONARD

Dartmouth College, BA, government, minor in Spanish and art history. Liz first visited Costa Rica on a month-long community service trip in high school and has since returned many times. During college, she spent a semester volunteering and teaching English at a day-care center outside of San José, and more recently has led community-service programs for high school students. Liz is attending law school this fall at the University of Pennsylvania to pursue public interest law. Liz is fluent in Spanish.