By Jonah Grinkewitz 

Nichole Leach’s Old Dominion University journey didn’t follow a straight line — and that is what makes it so powerful. 

When she graduates with a master’s degree in biological sciences this May, she will be doing it for more than just herself. 

“It’s for my family too,” she said. “I think that makes it feel more real and more rewarding.” 

Nichole knew she wanted a career that allowed her to help people. She just needed to find the right avenue. 

After working as an emergency medical technician for the Chesapeake Fire Department for several years, she shifted her focus to ecology and environmental biology. 

The change was inspired by her time growing up on the coast of Virginia, where she and her family often went fishing, boating and camping. 

"Helping the communities and natural systems along the coast and areas with flooding or coastal erosion — these fit well with my interests and also allow me to stay local,” Nichole said. 

After completing her associate degree at Tidewater Community College, she was accepted into Old Dominion University in 2014 through the University’s Guaranteed Admission Agreement the University has with the Virginia Community College System. 

While working part-time at the fire department, she met her husband, a firefighter, and they were married in 2015. She paused her education in 2017 to care for their son but never gave up on her career goals. 

When Nichole returned to the University as a part-time student, she found opportunities for research and connection. She joined the Filipino American Student Association, the Marine Biology Student Association and was accepted into a 12-week internship in the Philippines to study tropical fish health. 

After graduating with her bachelor’s in biological sciences in 2020, Nichole faced a challenging job market due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Building on her campus connections, she worked as a part-time research assistant for Professor and Eminent Scholar Kent Carpenter, Ph.D., while also working as a library assistant with the Virginia Beach Public Library. 

Dr. Carpenter encouraged her to apply for the University’s master’s program in biological sciences, and she was accepted in 2022.  

As a graduate student, she began her research on coral reef populations with Associate Professor Dan Barshis, Ph.D. — specifically how some species adapt to extreme heat in the Red Sea. 

“Nichole has been a great student and member of the lab,” said Dr. Barshis. “She brings a valuable perspective and set of experiences to the group, particularly her perspective on how science can advise public policy and conservation.” 

Her research goal is to identify heat-adapted corals and help tailor conservation efforts to preserve sites and species critical for coral reef survival in warming oceans. 

“There are some very persistent corals out there,” Nichole said. “We just have to find them and help them continue to thrive." 

Her research and academic excellence led her to be selected as a 2025 Commonwealth of Virginia Engineering & Science Policy Fellow and a 2026 Katherine S. McCarter Graduate Student Policy Award winner from the Ecological Society of America. 

As a fellow, she worked with the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources on their climate adaptation and resilience plan, reviewing policies and strategies for a report to guide the agency’s efforts. 

Representing the Ecological Society, she traveled to Washington, D.C., to meet with legislators to discuss the importance of the National Science Foundation and funding basic science research. 

Although most of her research experience is focused on tropical waters, she hopes to apply her skills to resilience projects in Hampton Roads once she graduates. 

“It’s just a matter of using my experience as a blueprint to apply it to local initiatives and natural systems,” Nichole said. “Right now, I’m just ready to get my foot in the door, wherever it takes me, and go from there.” 

Her Old Dominion University story is a reminder that persistence can lead to purpose — and impact.