Four Nicholls State University biology students will take their studies beyond the classroom during the 2026–2027 academic year as members of a statewide program designed to prepare emerging leaders in conservation, environmental science and natural-resource policy, according to this news release from Nicholls. Abigail Chiasson, Adrianna Dubois, Dani Thibodeaux and Danny Woods were selected for the 2026–2027 Edgar Veillon Conservation Leadership Corps, an initiative of the Louisiana Wildlife Federation. They are among 25 undergraduate students representing 11 Louisiana colleges and universities in the program’s eighth annual cohort.
The four students bring academic interests closely connected to Louisiana’s natural environment. Chiasson, Thibodeaux and Woods are studying marine biology at Nicholls State University, while Chiasson is also pursuing a pre-veterinary pathway. Dubois is concentrating her studies in environmental biology. Those disciplines can lead students into work involving wildlife, coastal ecosystems, natural-resource management, research and environmental policy.
Throughout the year, the Conservation Leadership Corps will give participants opportunities to learn alongside scientists, conservation professionals, wildlife specialists and others working in natural-resource fields. The program combines field experiences with training in communication, teamwork, leadership and advocacy, allowing students to examine environmental issues from perspectives that extend beyond laboratory and classroom science.
That combination is particularly relevant in Louisiana, where conservation questions frequently connect scientific research with land management, public policy and community needs. According to the Louisiana Wildlife Federation,participants will explore issues affecting wildlife and natural habitats while learning how decisions about conservation are discussed and developed. The 2026–2027 program includes two fall meetings and two spring sessions, including a retreat at Chicot State Park, activities in Baton Rouge and participation in the organization’s annual convention.
At the convention, students will have an opportunity to observe how conservation proposals move through a formal decision-making process. Rather than studying environmental policy only as an academic subject, participants can see how scientific information, competing priorities and advocacy are incorporated into debates over real conservation issues.
Louisiana Wildlife Federation Executive Director Rebecca Triche described the program as an investment in students who already have an interest in the state’s wildlife and environment. She said connecting participants with people already working in conservation, while giving them opportunities to learn through direct experience, helps prepare them to take on future leadership roles.
Professional exposure can also be an important part of undergraduate science education. Programs such as the Conservation Leadership Corps introduce students to career possibilities, organizations and specialties they may not encounter through coursework alone. Previous participants have credited the experience with helping them build professional relationships, discover career paths and connect with internships and employment opportunities.
For the Nicholls students, the program complements a biology curriculum already shaped by the university’s location in south Louisiana. The Nicholls Department of Biological Sciences offers a Bachelor of Science in Biology with multiple concentration options, including marine biology, environmental biology and several pre-professional pathways. Students can also participate in field experiences in Louisiana wetlands, bayous, estuaries and coastal environments, giving them access to ecosystems that function as natural laboratories for environmental study.
Nicholls also offers graduate study through its Master of Science in Marine and Environmental Biology, which incorporates research, science communication and environmental regulation and policy into advanced biological training. Together, these academic opportunities reflect the increasingly interdisciplinary nature of conservation careers, which may require scientists to communicate research, understand policy and collaborate with government agencies, nonprofits and communities.
The Edgar Veillon Conservation Leadership Corps was established in 2018 and is supported by the Mzuri Wildlife Foundation. By placing students directly in conversations about Louisiana’s habitats and natural resources, the program gives Chiasson, Dubois, Thibodeaux and Woods another way to connect their undergraduate biology studies with the environmental challenges they may eventually address as scientists and professionals.
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