Leonardo Carrizo

Born in Argentina and raised in Ohio, Leonardo developed a passion for travel and exploration at an early age. While studying for his M.A at The Ohio State University in Spanish Literature and Culture, Leonardo traveled to Spain and Mexico to visually document the people and their culture. Amazed by how photography can be an interdisciplinary tool for storytelling and education, he decided to complete an M.A in Photojournalism and Documentary from Ohio University. While working on his masters, he worked alongside field biologists in Ecuador documenting the social and environmental conditions that put Andean communities at higher risk for Chagas disease. His documentary work became an education tool bring awareness and prevention of the disease. Leonardo continues work as an independent photojournalist for national and international publications.

Leonardo also has over 13 years of teaching experience in higher education at Ohio State, where he teaches several media courses for the School of Communication. He mentors students interested in photography and is a member of STEAM Factory (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) at OSU. His most recent collaboration with the Department of Geography took him to the Galapagos Islands for the ninth time. As a lifelong educator, he teaches several photography workshops during the year. He is passionate about wildlife behavior and the crossroads between human interaction, the environment and wildlife. Teaching and interacting with learners in the field is his favorite classroom, be it on a ship, desert, or mountain. For over six years, Leonardo has also led multiple National Geographic Student Expeditions all over the world including Baja California, Ecuador & Galápagos, Peru, Spain, Iceland, Ireland, Portugal, and Canada.