THIBODAUX – Four Nicholls State University biology undergraduates have earned spots in the 2026-2027 Edgar Veillon Conservation Leadership Corps, placing them among 25 students chosen statewide to train as Louisiana’s next generation of environmental leaders.
The selected students, Abigail Chiasson, Adrianna Dubois, Dani Thibodeaux and Danny Woods, will spend the next year learning directly from scientists, wildlife experts and policymakers.
Organized by the Louisiana Wildlife Federation, the leadership program is now in its eighth year. It connects college students from across the state with hands-on field experiences and professional networks to prepare them for careers in natural resources, public policy and environmental science.
For the four Nicholls undergraduates, the selection offers a direct pathway to turn their classroom study into real-world conservation work.
Chiasson, Thibodeaux and Woods are all studying marine biology, with Chiasson also following a pre-veterinary track. Dubois is focusing her degree in environmental biology.
Over the course of the program, the students will travel to field sites across Louisiana, tackle real challenges facing the state’s habitats and practice skills in leadership and advocacy. Their training ends at the Louisiana Wildlife Federation’s annual convention, where they will watch state leaders debate and vote on actual conservation policies.
Former program participants say the experience opens doors to internships and job offers long before graduation, giving students a head start in a competitive field.
“LWF is proud to invest in students who are passionate about Louisiana’s wildlife and environment and eager to make a difference,” said Rebecca Triche, executive director of the Louisiana Wildlife Federation. “By connecting students with others who work to advance conservation and providing opportunities to learn through experience, EV-CLC helps prepare the next generation of leaders who will shape the future of conservation in our state.”
The program is funded through support from the Mzuri Wildlife Foundation.
Biology at Nicholls State University
The Department of Biological Sciences at Nicholls State University provides students with hands-on, field-based education in the heart of the Mississippi River Delta. Located near coastal wetlands and marine ecosystems, the department offers specialized undergraduate and graduate concentration areas, including marine biology, environmental biology, pre-medicine, and pre-veterinary medicine, designed to prepare students for scientific careers, research and graduate study.