Employee Directory

Tireka Cobb, Ph.D. serves as the Project Director for Louisiana GEAR UP. In this role, she is responsible for effectively leading and supervising staff in various efforts to increase the number of low-income students applying for, entering and succeeding in post-secondary education in Louisiana. Dr. Cobb has a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and Sociology, a Master of Business Administration, and a Doctorate of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree in Educational Leadership and Research, specializing in Educational Technology. Dr. Cobb also has 24+ hours in Community Counseling.

Since 2019, Patrick Roque has worked at the Louisiana Office of Student Financial Assistance, first as a Staff Auditor and now as the Accounting and Audit Manager. He attended Southern University and A&M College in Baton Rouge, where he received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Accounting. Shortly after receiving his B.S. in 2004, Patrick began his professional career as a public servant, having worked for the State of Louisiana in many facets for over fifteen years. In 2013, he earned a Master’s in Public Admiration from Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He is currently pursuing a Doctoral Degree in Public Policy at Southern University and A&M College.

Ebony Holmes began her career at LOSFA in 2004 as a Student Financial Aid Specialist in the Default Recoveries section before joining the Division of Public Information and Communications in 2012. In 2015, she also served as one of the State Coordinators for Louisiana College Application and Access Month (LCAAM). Ms. Holmes currently serves as the Director of Public Information and Advising for the College Access, Success, and Communications Division. Her current role involves monitoring and addressing issues related to TOPS processing errors, disseminating information regarding LOSFA programs to the public and other relevant stakeholders, and ensuring outreach and advising efforts reflect best practices for college access. Ms. Holmes also facilitates workshops, presentations, and webinars on behalf of LOSFA for parents, students, and counselors and represents LOSFA at local, regional, and national levels.  She holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Zoology with a minor in Chemistry and a Master of Natural Sciences degree with a minor in Biochemistry, both from Louisiana State University.

Shanna M. Estay brings more than 15 years of experience in higher education, budgeting and data reporting to her role as Policy Planner for LOSFA. Most recently, she served as a State Budget Management Analyst in the Office of Planning and Budget. Prior to that, she worked with the Southern University System and its campuses for 10 years.

Shayne Creppel serves as the Director of Collegiate and Community Outreach for the Division of College Access, Success, and Communications. Prior to joining LOSFA in September of 2021, he worked in Student Affairs at Northwestern State University. During his time at Northwestern State, Shayne served as the Director of Fraternal Leadership and Civic Engagement where he advised the Student Government Association and the NSU fraternity and sorority life community. Previously, he also served as the Assistant Director of Student Life and as an academic advisor.

Shayne earned his Bachelor of Science in Hospitality Management and Tourism and his Master of Arts in Student Personnel Services from Northwestern State University. He is currently pursuing a PhD in Higher Education Administration at Louisiana State University. He brings his experience in communications, promotions, event planning, policy drafting, organizational change, leadership development, and program management to serve students, families, and stakeholders through LOSFA Programs.

Deborah Paul has worked as the Scholarship and Grant Director since 2009. She has more than 30 years of professional experience in the areas of financial aid, college access, and athletics compliance.

The Scholarship Grant Division administers several state scholarship and grants programs which include the Taylor Opportunity Program for Students, TOPS, as well as the GO Grant, Rockefeller State Wildlife Scholarship, TOPS Tech Early Start, Go Youth ChalleNGe Program, Regional Contract Program, BESE Tuition Program for Teachers and the John R. Justice Student Loan Repayment Program. In conjunction with the Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services, we administer the Chafee Education and Training Voucher and Strategies to Empower People programs.

Previous work experience includes stints in the financial aid office at Southern University and Louisiana State University. She also served as the SU Department of Athletics Compliance Coordinator and Senior Woman Administrator. Deborah received a bachelor’s degree in print journalism and a master’s degree in mass media, both from Southern University, Baton Rouge.

A 1985 graduate of the Louisiana School of Math, Science, and the Arts, Ms. Malveaux received her Bachelor of Arts Degree from the University of Southwestern Louisiana (now University of Louisiana at Lafayette) in Mass Communications with minors in English, Business, and Music in May 1989. Because of her love for her community and a desire to find “stable” employment within St. Landry Parish, Ms. Malveaux accepted a state civil service position in 1990 with the Louisiana Department of Social Services that commenced her career in social work. After heeding a call to further her education, she received a Master in Social Work Degree in May 1996 from the Southern University at New Orleans’ graduate program with a focus in administration, planning, and organization.

Years in the child welfare field provided Ms. Malveaux with the social work practice, skills, and knowledge to work with underserved populations and to build relationships with diverse community stakeholders and other service providers. While employed with the St. Landry Parish Office of Community Services, she recognized the lack of available resources needed to strengthen the quality of life in rural communities. Having directly experienced the burden social service agencies share in making appropriate referrals for its clients, Ms. Malveaux retired from 9 years of active state service to establish a non-profit rape crisis center in 1999. With a staff of one (herself) and a volunteer pool of 21 trained volunteer advocates, she created the St. Landry-Evangeline Sexual Assault Center (SLESAC) and began delivering sexual assault intervention services that were previously inaccessible to rural communities.