Justin Kossman, a natural resource conservation management senior at McNeese State University, received real- world experience this summer through an internship with the Louisiana Ecological Forestry (LEAF) Center at Hodges Gardens in Florien that will make him first choice for employers after graduation.
An Illinois native, Kossman medically retired from the U.S. Army at Fort Polk in 2021 due to combat injuries after serving almost 21 years in the military. He currently lives in Hornbeck and was looking for a new career path for his life. He discovered that at McNeese.
“I decided to pursue a degree in natural resource conservation management at McNeese because I have always had a passion for the outdoors and managing habitat. With my military retirement, I didn’t have to prioritize the financial aspects as much as I prioritized my interests,” he said. At the LEAF Center, Kossman has had a broad range of hands-on opportunities.