Nautica Jones and Thomas Showers, two senior biology majors, were recently selected for the Louisiana Wildlife Federation Conservation Leadership Corps program.

Only 22 students were chosen from 10 Louisiana universities for the program.

The program’s purpose is to train future conservation leaders. 

Showers is looking forward to working with experts in the field.

“I think this program will be a great opportunity for me to learn more about habitat conservation from experts in the field,” Showers said. “It will also be a great way for me to collaborate with and learn from students across the state.”

Jones is excited to learn more about the preservation of ecosystems.

“During the course of the program, I hope to mature as an environmentalist and advocate and learn to evaluate more complex problems regarding conservation,” Jones said. “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.”

After graduation, Showers plans to work in wildlife rehabilitation, while Jones plans to move to Santa Cruz, California and study the impact of climate change on timber forests.

Kim Tolson, a biology professor and director of the ULM Museum of Natural History, said Jones and Showers are both exceptional students. 

“Thomas and Nautica will be excellent ambassadors for ULM in this leadership development program,” Tolson said. “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.”