University of Louisiana Monroe biology majors Nautica Jones of St. Martinville and Thomas Showers of West Monroe were chosen for the Louisiana Wildlife Federation’s Edgar Veillon Conservation Leadership Corps program.
Jones and Showers, both seniors, are among only 22 students selected from 10 universities in Louisiana for this esteemed program.
The CLC is designed to offer expert training for future conservation leaders. For this year’s leaders, students will be developing their knowledge about habitat conservation policy and form skills in leadership and advocacy.
Through presentations, case studies, and collaborative activities, the student leaders will learn from current and former natural resource professionals in the public, nonprofit, and private sectors.
Showers is excited about his acceptance into the program because of the partnership with students and the interactions with conservation professionals.
“I think this program will be a great opportunity for me to learn more about habitat conservation from experts in the field. It will also be a great way for me to collaborate with and learn from students across the state. Getting accepted into this program is an honor, and I cannot wait to start learning more from the people in this field.” Showers said.
Jones shared Showers’ anticipation of joining the CLC program, specifically for the conservation aspect.
“During the course of the program, I hope to mature as an environmentalist and advocate and learn to evaluate more complex problems regarding conservation. Further, I am honored to do so in my home state of Louisiana, as I will be able to work towards the preservation of ecosystems that I have bonded with personally. I hope my involvement in the Conservation Leadership Corps will be the beginning of a long relationship with the state and eventually federal-level conservation initiatives,” Jones said.
Showers plans to work at a wildlife rehabilitation after graduation but has big dreams for the future.
“I would like to work with a conservation organization possibly doing habitat rebuilding or conservation,” Showers said.
Jones said after graduation, she is moving to Santa Cruz, CA, to study timber forests being impacted by climate change and how land managers can support their adaptation.
Kim Tolson, Ph.D., Professor of Biology in the School of Sciences of the College of Arts, Education, and Sciences, and the director of the ULM Museum of Natural History, stated Jones and Showers are both exceptional students.
“Thomas and Nautica will be excellent ambassadors for ULM in this leadership development program. They will be able to showcase the knowledge and skills they have acquired at ULM as biology majors, and then build upon those while participating in the CLC,” Tolson said.