As a freshman at Nicholls State University, Kilgen studied under Professor Samuel Burton "Burt" Wilson III who left an impact on her academic future.
At the time of his death in 2004, she stated that Wilson "left her better prepared for graduate school than many students from larger universities.
[6] As Department Head, Kilgen created the University's first master's degree program in marine and environmental biology.
[10] In 1997, Kilgen was approached by Oysterman Ernie Voisin of Motivatit Seafoods in Houma to help him research high-pressure water processing and its potential for killing food-borne bacteria.
[13] In 2011, Kilgen helped the university acquire a 25-foot research boat to survey oyster beds in the Barataria-Terrebonne estuaries.
The boat, named after the late Samuel Burton "Burt" Wilson III, was procured using $350,000 in donated funds.