by Mike Matzinger
Nicole Ross is graduating from Texas A&M with a degree in Rangeland, Wildlife, and Fisheries Management, and a track record that’s hard to ignore: Eagle Scout, Corps of Cadets Battalion Commander, drone pilot, USDA NextGen Fellow, and endurance athlete.
In South Dakota, she helped restore aquatic habitats by planting thousands of trees, studying stream health, and leading her own research. On campus, she’s led more than 200 cadets, building a leadership style rooted in presence, listening, and showing up.
Next, she’s accelerating into a master’s program while pursuing a commission in the U.S. Coast Guard, with the goal of flying search-and-rescue missions.
Long term, Nicole plans to return to conservation work, focusing on fisheries and waterways.
Her father is an Eagle Scout, and when her brother followed him into Scouting, Ross was right behind them.
She said earning her Eagle Scout rank was her first experience “being in the driver’s seat.”
Gig ’em, Nicole.
https://agrilifetoday.tamu.edu/2026/04/27/her-office-will-have-no-walls-and-she-planned-it-that-way/