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Meet Our Staff

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

Dr. Sherry Krayesky-Self has overseen the development and implementation of several student support and success programs. In 2014, she and a small group of students developed the peer education program Academic Mentoring Matters, which operates under the motto, “Peers helping peers achieve their academic and personal goals.” More recently, she oversaw the implementation of UL Lafayette’s Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP), a university-wide initiative focused on undergraduate research, a recognized high-impact practice in higher education. The resulting Advanced Student Research Experience (ASRE) program provides pathways that guide students toward mentored research experiences, with transcript designation available in 95% of degree-granting departments.
Dr. Krayesky-Self is currently working with the Second Year Student Experience at UL Lafayette, an initiative focused on supporting student persistence and retention beyond the first year. Prior to these leadership roles, she accumulated extensive experience teaching biology at the university level.
Her research focuses on discovering previously unknown benthic life-history stages of marine bloom-forming microalgae associated endolithically with the calcium carbonate-lined inner cells of crustose coralline-forming rhodoliths. She is also a skilled microscopist and an effective laboratory manager. Undergraduate student research experiences (SREs) have been an integral component of her work across these endeavors. She has mentored and published with numerous undergraduate students through Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REUs) supported by the National Science Foundation, as well as through undergraduate research grants provided by UL Lafayette.
Across her teaching, research, and program-development activities, Dr. Krayesky-Self has consistently integrated meaningful undergraduate research experiences, providing students with opportunities to develop academic, professional, and research skills.
 
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, personnel 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.   
 
 

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

Asadullah Ahmad

Asadullah is a dedicated MS Informatics student serving as a Graduate Assistant with the Student Center for Research, Creativity, and Scholarship (SCRCS) on the ASRE Pathways Systems team. He holds a Master of Science in Peace & Conflict Studies and a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering, both from the National University of Sciences and Technology in Pakistan.
Before joining UL Lafayette, Asadullah founded and directed a digital marketing enterprise and worked as a Project Engineer, coordinating teams, vendors, and project documentation. In his MS Informatics coursework, he has built end-to-end data pipelines using Python, R, and SQL for predictive modelling and analysis, skills he applies directly to program development and technology implementation at SCRCS.
Asadullah also served UL Lafayette Recreational Sports as a Lifeguard and Soccer Referee, where he was named Lifeguard of the Year for dependability and consistent work ethic.

 

Undergraduate Student Workers

 
 
 
 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.
 
 
 
 Mykala Walker
 
 Mykala is a Biology major with a concentration in Microbiology. She is a sophomore with the goal of graduating with her Masters. She loves shoes and her favorite color is purple. She enjoys painting and conversations about conspiracy theories.