Published Feb. 14, 2022
Thomas Showers, left, and Nautica Jones, both biology majors at the University of
Louisiana Monroe, were selected to serve on the Louisiana Wildlife Federation Edgar
Veillon Conservation Leadership Corps.
Siddarth Gaulee/ULM Photo Services
“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.”
Kim Tolson, Ph.D.
ULM Professor of Biology
By Ashlyn Dupree
ULM Office of Marketing and Communications
University of Louisiana Monroe biology majors Nautica Jones of St. Martinville and
Thomas Showers of West Monroe were chosen for the Louisiana Wildlife Federation 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.
Thomas Showers of West Monroe.
“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.
Nautica Jones of St. Martinville.
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.
