The Nancy Sanderson Matherne Institute for Global Communications is a program that connects Nicholls to the world by providing a global communications structure that aids its local community, faculty, staff and students. Every year, a select group of MACO students participate in an international campaign, working directly with an international client and traveling to the United Kingdom to pitch their campaign to a panel of communications specialists and the project client.

The institute was created and funded by Dr. Brian Matherne, a Houma physician, and his daughter Kellie Daniels, a lecturer in public relations and corporate communications at Newcastle University in England, to honor his mother Nancy Sanderson Matherne, United Kingdom native, long-time Terrebonne Parish resident and first female member of Terrebonne Parish School Board.