Contact:
Biography:
Katie Cleek is the Community Engagement & Marketing Coordinator for Mote Marine Laboratory in the Upper Florida Keys. She first joined Mote in May 2023 and has since taken on a variety of roles supporting community engagement and outreach and now manages the @protectourreefs social media accounts.
After graduating from the University of Georgia in 2018, Katie moved to the Keys to work as a PADI Scuba Instructor, teaching diving and leading snorkel tours in John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park. Her passion for the ocean soon guided her into the marine conservation non-profit world.
An active member of the Upper Keys community, she spent years as a scuba instructor at a local dive shop and state park, currently serves as Board Chair for the Florida Keys chapter of the Surfrider Foundation and co-runs a local microgreens farm with her partner.
When she’s not working, Katie can often be found practicing yoga, paddleboarding through mangroves, or spending time with her dog, chickens, and horse. Deeply connected to both the community and Florida’s Coral Reef, she’s dedicated to inspiring others to protect our oceans and getting the community excited about Mote’s reef restoration efforts.
Education:
B.S. in Health Promotion and Behavior, University of Georgia