Hailed as the “Female Indiana Jones”
~ New York Times
Dr. Mireya Mayor
Dr. Mireya Mayor is a world-renowned primatologist, explorer, award-winning TV host, and a recognized science communicator. As National Geographic’s first female wildlife correspondent, she has hosted dozens of documentaries, including her own Nat Geo Wild! series Wild Nights with Mireya Mayor and Expedition Africa for the History Channel. She currently stars in Travel Channel’s hit series Expedition Bigfoot. But Mireya’s path to becoming a respected scientist is anything but conventional.
A former NFL cheerleader, daughter of Cuban immigrants, and mother of six, Mireya followed her unlikely dreams to become a National Science Foundation Fellow, Fulbright Scholar, and Emmy Award-nominated wildlife correspondent for the National Geographic Channel. Her daring expeditions and scientific contributions have earned her the nickname “the female Indiana Jones,” but unlike Harrison Ford’s character, the fashion-loving anthropologist always packs a black dress — “should an unforeseen occasion arise.”
Mireya is known for exploring the most remote regions of the earth in search of elusive, rare, and little-known animals. Her explorations have led to several scientific discoveries, most notably her co-discovery in Madagascar of the world’s smallest primate, a new species to science.
In addition to her regular TV appearances, Dr. Mayor is the Executive Director of Strategic Projects at Florida International University (FIU) and frequently lectures around the country for the National Geographic Speakers Bureau.
Career Highlights
Primatologist & Explorer
Dr. Mayor is known for exploring the most remote regions of the earth in search of elusive, rare and little known animals. Her explorations have led to several scientific discoveries, most notably her co-discovery in Madagascar of the world’s smallest primate, a brand new species to science. Mayor has been hailed as the “female Indiana Jones,” and is an inspiration to young women interested in science and exploration.
Award-winning TV Host
Mayor has been a TV host and presenter for nearly two decades. She can be seen on dozens of National Geographic documentaries, including Explorer, Ultimate Explorer and her Nat Geo WILD series, Wild Nights With Mireya Mayor. She also starred in Mark Burnett’s Expedition Africa on History Channel, hosted Nat Geo Mundo’s “La Cuba De Hoy” and currently stars on Travel Channel’s hit series, Expedition Bigfoot.
Speaker and Educator
As Director of Exploration and Science Communications at FIU, Mireya is developing an innovative program to help scientists effectively communicate complex topics in straightforward and exciting ways to multiple audiences including government officials, news media and the general public. Her efforts to inspire and catalyze change have been recognized with the prestigious National Geographic “Emerging Explorer”, Fulbright “Global Changemaker” and Stony Brook’s 40 under 40 awards.
As Seen On
- The Today Show
- Good Morning America
- MSNBC
- Nightline
- Insider Edition
- CNN
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Speaker. Interview. Educator. TV Host. Book Signings. Research.