From studying environmental science at Elon to shaping pesticide policy at the EPA, Gisele Nighswander ’17 is helping safeguard the health of both people and the planet.
Gisele Nighswander ’17 is a biologist at the United States Environmental Protection Agency, where she works in the Office of Pesticide Programs. Her role is both dynamic and vital, supporting the health of animals and people alike.
At Elon University, she majored in environmental and ecological science and minored in statistics, laying the foundation for her career in public service.
“I found Elon while I was touring colleges in the South, and if I’m honest, what initially captivated me was the beautiful campus,” says Nighswander. “It was quaint, but not too small, and I immediately felt comfortable there. I also learned that they offered the environmental science program I was interested in, as well as plenty of extracurricular activities, so it was a pretty easy choice.”
Once on campus, Nighswander immersed herself in student life and began shaping her sense of self, playing on the women’s rugby club team and working as a referee for Elon’s Campus Recreation intramurals program all four years.
Beyond extracurricular involvement, Elon also nurtured her academic and professional growth.
“I received a scholarship through the Elon College Fellows program, which gave me financial aid as well as a program that really helped me succeed at Elon,” she said. “The program itself was fairly rigorous, and I credit the academic standards and research requirements for starting me on the path that got me into graduate school and ultimately, my career at the EPA.”
Through the Elon College Fellows program, she spent her junior and senior years conducting undergraduate research on wetland ecology, an experience that sparked her passion for environmental research.
She continued her education at the University of Florida, earning her master’s degree while discovering a new passion for CrossFit and the strong sense of community it fostered. After graduating in 2019, she moved back to Washington, D.C., to live with her parents and begin her job search. When COVID-19 upended those plans, she adapted, taking on side gigs and consulting work while also teaching CrossFit once gyms reopened.
“I met some members at CrossFit who worked at the EPA. I had told them that I really wanted to work there, and they sent me a few positions that were hiring,” she says. “The positions were in the Office of Pesticide Programs, which I wasn’t sure I was qualified for since I had very little knowledge about pesticides,” she explained. “When I interviewed, I leveraged my experience with statistics, entomology, and data analytics, and was lucky enough to get hired and start working there by the end of 2020.”
Today, her work at the EPA remains fast-paced, with priorities shifting quickly and requiring constant adaptability. “I work in pesticide regulation, and more specifically, I manage both public and proprietary pesticide usage data and analyze said data as part of assessing the benefits and risks of a given pesticide active ingredient,” Nighswander said.
Her time at Elon continues to influence her professional approach.
“My experience conducting research at Elon helped me a lot. It helped refine my skills in developing and testing hypotheses, technical writing and public speaking.”
She is especially energized by projects that blend science and technology.
“My favorite project currently is using a mapping software called ArcGIS to develop Pesticide Use Limitation Areas (PULAs) to protect endangered species from pesticide exposure.”
Her career as a public servant has been complex, but she explains that it also makes her work rewarding.
“What gets me to work every day is knowing that I am working to help protect human health and the environment. I have always wanted to have a successful career where I can still balance my love for the environment. At the same time, I also must make members of the industry, the general public, and environmental groups happy, which is very challenging,” she explained.
The past year has brought additional demands amid broad changes across the federal workforce. Even so, she feels grateful to remain in her role and grounded in the purpose behind her work to safeguard the environment.
Looking back, Nighswander offers simple but powerful advice to her younger self: “Know that you have all the tools you need to be successful. You don’t have to be the smartest kid in the class or the loudest voice. Just trust your instincts, love yourself, and you’ll find your way.”
She approaches the future with the same openness. “I have no idea where I will be in my future, and I kind of love that,” she said. “There was a period last year where every week, I was worried if I would still have a job. A year later, I am still here, serving the public, and I am grateful for that. I trust myself enough to know when it is time to move on and make a change, and I am sure that time will come, but for now, I am enjoying the work that I do. The uncertainty, while scary at times, can be the most beautiful part of life.”
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