{"id":10303,"date":"2026-08-24T10:28:02","date_gmt":"2026-08-24T15:28:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nicholls.edu\/news\/?p=10303"},"modified":"2026-08-24T10:29:25","modified_gmt":"2026-08-24T15:29:25","slug":"nicholls-graduate-helps-direct-state-funding-for-inclusive-college-programs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nicholls.edu\/news\/2026\/08\/24\/nicholls-graduate-helps-direct-state-funding-for-inclusive-college-programs\/","title":{"rendered":"Nicholls Graduate Helps Direct State Funding for Inclusive College Programs"},"content":{"rendered":"

THIBODAUX, La. \u2013 When Gerald “Mitch” Dillon graduated from Nicholls State University in 2022, he moved into his own studio apartment and landed two jobs. Now, he is helping ensure other young adults with intellectual disabilities get the same opportunity.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Mitch at the PIEAC meeting<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Dillon, a graduate of the university\u2019s <\/span>Bridge to Independence<\/span><\/a> program, serves as a representative of the <\/span>Louisiana Developmental Disabilities Council<\/span><\/a> on the state\u2019s <\/span>Postsecondary Inclusive Education Advisory Council<\/span><\/a>. At a recent meeting, he motioned to approve a multi-million-dollar fund that allocates $150,000 to Nicholls and eight other Comprehensive Transition Programs across Louisiana.<\/span><\/p>\n

“Inclusive postsecondary education opens doors to learning, independence, employment and belonging,” said <\/span>Kim Hunter Reed<\/span><\/a>, state commissioner of higher education.<\/span><\/p>\n

The funding structure stems from legislation, beginning with <\/span>Act 682<\/span><\/a> in 2022, authored by Sen. Gerald Boudreaux, which established the council. Subsequent legislation dedicated 3% of annual online sports wagering tax revenue to the cause.<\/span><\/p>\n

Of roughly $3 million in sports betting revenue, the council approved $1.65 million to fund $150,000 grants for nine established campus programs. It also set aside $75,000 each for two emerging programs.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Mitch with Sen. Boudreaux and a current Bridge to Independence student<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

For Nicholls, the $150,000 will be spread over two to three years to expand resources and support staff within the Bridge to Independence program.<\/span><\/p>\n

Dr. Mary Breaud, an associate professor of education at Nicholls and the program\u2019s faculty advisor, was appointed by Gov. John Bell Edwards to serve on the advisory council. She said the money will directly benefit students on campus.<\/span><\/p>\n

Part of the funds will continue paying skills specialist Rebecca Templeton, helping Nicholls maintain a certified teacher for the program. The university also plans to hire a graduate assistant to oversee <\/span>Equip<\/span><\/a>, a digital scheduling and data collection tool that students can use in college and keep after graduation.<\/span><\/p>\n

Additionally, Nicholls plans to expand practical life-skills coursework, including home maintenance, budgeting and work in the campus greenhouse. Plans include hiring job coaches to support student internships.<\/span><\/p>\n

“We want to strengthen their employability and skills so they can transition into paid, sustainable careers after completing the program,” Breaud said.<\/span><\/p>\n

For Dillon, sitting at the decision-making table reflects the primary goal of the Bridge to Independence initiative. He lives in Covington, five minutes from his parents, and commutes to jobs at Acquistapace\u2019s grocery store and Stone Creek Health Club.<\/span><\/p>\n

“He loves his independence,” Breaud said. “Seeing a graduate come full circle, from sitting in our classrooms to making motions on a statewide board that funds those very same classrooms, shows exactly why this work matters.”<\/span><\/p>\n

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: <\/b>Monday, Aug. 24, 2026<\/span><\/p>\n

MEDIA CONTACT: <\/b>Payton Suire<\/span><\/p>\n

Media Relations & Publications Coordinator,\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

985.448.4141<\/span> or payton.suire@nicholls.edu<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

THIBODAUX, La. \u2013 When Gerald “Mitch” Dillon graduated from Nicholls State University in 2022, he moved into his own studio apartment and landed two jobs. Now, he is helping ensure other young adults with intellectual disabilities get the same opportunity. Dillon, a graduate of the university\u2019s Bridge to Independence program, serves as a representative of […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":140,"featured_media":10305,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"default","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"set","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[46,166,28,8,11,12],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-10303","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-alumni","category-bridge-to-independence","category-college-of-education-and-behavioral-sciences","category-feature","category-news","category-nicholls"],"yoast_head":"\nNicholls Graduate Helps Direct State Funding for Inclusive College Programs - Nicholls News<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nicholls.edu\/news\/2026\/08\/24\/nicholls-graduate-helps-direct-state-funding-for-inclusive-college-programs\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Nicholls Graduate Helps Direct State Funding for Inclusive College Programs - Nicholls News\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"THIBODAUX, La. \u2013 When Gerald “Mitch” Dillon graduated from Nicholls State University in 2022, he moved into his own studio apartment and landed two jobs. 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