From LASAL to Law School: Alira Thomas’s Path to Environmental Advocacy

From the beginning of her undergraduate career at LSU, 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’t anticipate was developing a deep passion for environmental issues—sparked by her experience in the Roger Hadfield Ogden Honors College’s 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.

“I 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,” Thomas said.

LASAL, which is now a minor, challenges students to develop solutions to Louisiana’s 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’s interdisciplinary structure for opening her eyes to environmental issues in particular.

“I had a general care for the earth, but it wasn’t something that stuck with me until LASAL,” she said. “That’s when I realized how many of these issues are human-caused—and how deeply they affect real communities.”

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

“Their experiences as longtime Louisiana residents really helped shape my knowledge and understanding of those issues and different ways that they can be combated,” Thomas said. “And 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.”

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

“We did research, had critical conversations, and pushed ourselves to think beyond the classroom,” Thomas said. “Those are the exact skills I rely on in law school every day. LASAL absolutely helped prepare me for where I am now.”

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

Her advice for students considering LASAL—or any new challenge—is simple.

“Go for it,” she said. “It’s something you won’t regret.”

When I entered undergrad, I didn’t 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’t the most stellar student. Thank you for investing in me.

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