海角社区

By Oliver Butcher 

BATON ROUGE, LA 鈥� From the beginning of her undergraduate career at 海角社区, Alira Thomas knew she wanted to go to law school. 

Majoring in sociology with a concentration in criminology, she seemed firmly on track to pursue that ambition when she graduated in 2022. But what Thomas didn鈥檛 anticipate was developing a deep passion for environmental issues鈥攕parked by her experience in the Roger Hadfield Ogden Honors College鈥檚 Louisiana Service and Leadership (LASAL) Scholars program. That passion would come to shape her academic journey in unexpected and lasting ways.

Now in her last year at Duke University School of Law, Thomas has made advocating for the environment a mainstay of her time in Durham. She currently serves on the executive staff of the Duke Environmental Law and Policy Forum, and recently authored a paper on the relocation of the Isle de Jean Charles community, a topic directly tied to her time in LASAL.

鈥淚 did a few other things, but the LASAL program and the Honors College were two of the most influential things that I did in college,鈥� Thomas said.

LASAL, which is now a minor, challenges students to develop solutions to Louisiana鈥檚 most pressing social, environmental, and political challenges. Through coursework, community engagement, and policy-focused mentorship, students like Thomas learn to think critically and act locally.

Thomas credits LASAL鈥檚 interdisciplinary structure for opening her eyes to environmental issues in particular.

鈥淚 had a general care for the earth, but it wasn鈥檛 something that stuck with me until LASAL,鈥� she said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 when I realized how many of these issues are human-caused鈥攁nd how deeply they affect real communities.鈥�

Much of her growth, Thomas said, came from relationships built with fellow students and LASAL鈥檚 longtime co-directors, Granger Babcock and Cindy Seghers.

鈥淭heir experiences as longtime Louisiana residents really helped shape my knowledge and understanding of those issues and different ways that they can be combated,鈥� Thomas said. 鈥淎nd also just like the mentorship piece, they are very supportive, very welcoming anytime that I had a question, anytime I needed advice. I knew that they genuinely cared about the success of their students and wanted to build relationships, which meant a lot to me.鈥�

Mentorship is just one pillar of the LASAL experience. Students also take courses focused on Louisiana鈥檚 unique culture and environment, engage with local leaders, and participate in field experiences at community centers and research sites.

鈥淲e did research, had critical conversations, and pushed ourselves to think beyond the classroom,鈥� Thomas said. 鈥淭hose are the exact skills I rely on in law school every day. LASAL absolutely helped prepare me for where I am now.鈥�

And Thomas does not show any signs of slowing down now. Just recently, she attended the Duke Environmental Law and Policy Forum鈥檚 annual symposium, which focused on the 50 year anniversary of the Coastal Area Management Act.

Her advice for students considering LASAL鈥攐r any new challenge鈥攊s simple.

鈥淕o for it,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 something you won鈥檛 regret.鈥�

When I entered undergrad, I didn鈥檛 have a strong interest in environmental issues, and I did not know about the critical conditions impacting coastal areas. However, the LASAL program and your course left a lasting impression on me. Your support was pivotal in shaping my path, even when I wasn鈥檛 the most stellar student. Thank you for investing in me.

Alira Thomas in an email to LASAL co-director Granger Babcock