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Meet Our Staff

 
Dr. Sherry Krayesky-Self,
Director of the Student Center for Research, Creativity, and Scholarship (SCRCS)

Dr. Sherry has 18 years of experience teaching biology at the University level. Her research focuses on the discovery of unknown benthic life history stages of marine bloom-forming microalgae that are associated endolithically with calcium carbonate-lined inner cells of crustose coralline-forming rhodoliths. She is also a skilled microscopist and an effective lab manager. In 2014 she and a small group of students developed the peer education program "Academic Mentoring Matters" that operates under the moto of “peers helping peers achieve their academic and personal goals." Undergraduate student research experiences (SRE) have been incorporated into all her endeavors. She has worked and published with several undergraduate students overseeing Research Experiences for Undergraduate (REU) granted by the National Science Foundation and Undergraduate Research Grants provided by UL, Lafayette.
 
Todd Henry, Coordinator Specialist
 
Todd started his position as Coordinator Specialist with the Student Center for Research, Creativity, and Scholarship (SCRCS) in October 2021. He earned a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice and worked as a Medicaid Analyst for the Department of Health and Hospitals for the State of Louisiana for 11 years. He started working for UL Lafayette in the Admissions Office. He worked there for 3 years, followed by 9 years working for the Department of Physics as an Administrative Assistant. He is an expert at processing purchasing forms, personal action forms and all other critical University paperwork. He currently receives and tracts University funding that is distributed to faculty through ASRE grants. Todd helps in making SCRCS successful through his prior experience.   
 
 
Jessie White, M.S.
Academic Content Coordinator
 
Jessie is a first-generation college graduate. She earned a master's degree in Criminal Justice with an emphasis in Juvenile Justice from UL Lafayette in 2015. Her areas of concentration and study are inequities within the criminal justice system, criminology, social justice, and diversity. Jessie has held many roles at UL Lafayette, including student, graduate assistant, academic advisor, faculty and staff instructor, and student success associate. Serving in her roles at UL Lafayette, Jessie has been able to aid in students' success, help students navigate through university life, and assist students in achieving their academic and life goals. In the Student Center for Research, Creativity, and Scholarship (SCRCS), Jessie is responsible for the development of academic and research content for the Advance Student Research Experience program.
 
 

Jessica Thibodeaux, MBA
Project Manager, Advance Program’s Pathways

Jessica began at UL Lafayette in the Office of Undergraduate Admissions in 2016. She has since held positions in the Registrar’s Office and now the Student Center for Research, Creativity, and Scholarship (SCRCS). Jessica has both her undergraduate and graduate degrees in Business, both from UL Lafayette. Her previous roles have allowed her to work with various types of students, as well as many different offices on campus. Currently, she is building the pathways for undergraduate research for better tracking and monitoring of student progress.

Email: Jessica.thibodeaux@louisiana.edu
 

Graduate Assistants

 Mollee Helmick

 Mollee is a first-year student in the Mental Health Counseling Masters program. As the events coordinator, she makes sure that all of our workshops, showcases, and summits are planned and executed. When she graduates, she hopes to become a play therapist.

 

 Temitayo Olufunmilakin

 Temitayo is a dedicated PhD student with a strong academic background and leadership experience, seeking to contribute to the Student Center for Research, Creativity, and Scholarship (SCRCS) as a Graduate Assistant. With a Bachelor of Technology in Pure and Applied Physics from a prestigious university in Nigeria, where he graduated as one of the top three students, and a Master of Science in Applied Mathematics from Austin Peay State University, Temitayo has consistently demonstrated academic excellence and a commitment to research.
During his academic journey, Temitayo has been actively involved in leading and organizing various student initiatives. As the President of the National Association of Physics Students during his undergraduate level, he oversaw multiple sub-committees, facilitated laboratory workshops, and organized conferences and seminars, contributing significantly to the academic and social growth of his peers. His leadership earned him a recognition as a distinguished leader.
At Austin Peay State University, Temitayo served as a Graduate Research Assistant, where he led several research projects in Applied Mathematics and Computer Science. His technical skills, combined with his ability to lead and collaborate on complex projects, make him well-suited to support the SCRCS in program development, technology implementation, and cross-departmental collaboration.
Temitayo's commitment to fostering academic growth and his proven leadership abilities position him as a valuable asset to the SCRCS team.

 Zohaib Hassan

 Zohaib is a digital marketing, AI, and robotics enthusiast, currently pursuing a Master’s in Computer Science. He brings a diverse skill set, with experience as a creative digital marketer, search engine optimization specialist, and social media growth strategist across multiple platforms. In addition to his professional pursuits, Zohaib likes music, singing, and photography, having won a national-level photography competition. As a first-generation college student, he is committed to advancing his studies with the goal of earning a PhD in Robotics and AI. Zohaib has also volunteered to teach children who were forced into child labor and couldn’t afford education, reflecting his commitment to social impact. He loves exploring new cultures and making new friends. In his free time, he enjoys discovering new food spots, creating content, and spending time with friends (or creating new ones).

Undergraduate Student Workers

 Jacques Laughlin
 
 Jacques Laughlin is an undergraduate student majoring in psychology. He is a first-generation immigrant from Belgium, as well. He plans to earn a PhD and become a psychiatrist so he can help others and save lives. Outside of school and work, he enjoys playing guitar and reading and writing.
 
 
 
 
 Olivia Hebert
 
 Olivia is an undergraduate student majoring in biology. She has a big interest in writing, data, and a variety of other areas in which she plans to utilize to pursue a career in research. During her free time, she enjoys writing poetry, learning, baking, reading, art, and chatting with friends. She also loves going on walks and exploring new things.