BRI Graduate Research Assistant Named TWA “Volunteer of the Year”
By: Cindi Meche, eMBA
When Emilie Brochon heard her name announced as the recipient of the Texas Wildlife Association’s Volunteer of the Year award, she was genuinely surprised.
The Borderlands Research Institute (BRI) graduate research assistant never set out looking for recognition. Instead, she has focused on getting people excited about wildlife conservation and connecting with nature.
Brochon said, “At the end of the day, it’s about how I can help by impacting other people.”
Brochon grew up in the Midwest near the Mississippi River in Illinois, where she found a love for the great outdoors. After nine years of serving in the Marine Corps, her desire to study biology brought her to the University of Texas at San Antonio. She got involved with the Texas Wildlife Association (TWA) and discovered she could make a career in conservation. After meeting Dr. Louis Harveson at a TWA convention, he guided her to pursue graduate studies at SRSU’s Borderlands Research Institute.
A large part of her volunteer work has centered on outreach and education, particularly programs that introduce people to nature, hunting, and the importance of conservation. She enjoys helping others gain new experiences outdoors and creating opportunities for people to develop a deeper appreciation for wildlife and natural resources.
Brochon said the most meaningful volunteer program at TWA that she has been involved with is the Adult Learn to Hunt program. She says it is where conservation journeys often get started, and she appreciates her mentors Matt Hughes and Kristin Parma, who got her started.
Brochon expressed how her graduate studies have helped her answer questions about the benefits of hunting, and how property and herd management can be important to wildlife health. She feels her coursework has also provided insight on how to think about a situation and make decisions, understanding landowner intent.
Brochon hopes to continue combining conservation, education, and community engagement in her professional career, perhaps finding herself working for an organization like Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. While her specific career path is still developing, she sees volunteerism as an important part of both her personal and professional life.
For students interested in getting involved, she leans on a popular quote she first heard from Texas Wildlife Association’s CEO, Justin Dreibelbis, who inspired her with, “The world is run by people who show up.” Volunteering, she said, is a great way to meet people, build a network, and gain experience. She believes service is important for college students because it helps them understand their community’s needs and perspectives, as well as letting them meet people where they are.
Looking back on her own volunteer journey, Brochon hopes that she has been able to excite people about her own passion: wildlife conservation. She has personally been motivated by how much others have invested in her and hopes she has been able to help people relate and connect to the outdoors, creating a lasting positive change for others.
Receiving the Texas Wildlife Association’s Volunteer of the Year Award is a significant honor, but for Brochon, the reward comes from the work itself and the people she has met along the way.
“It’s about breaking down barriers,” she said, “and helping create opportunities for others.”
