ITTA BENA, Miss. — will host its 28th Annual Constance G. Bland Women in Science and Technology Conference on Friday, April 10, 2026, bringing together students, educators, and professionals for a day designed to inspire the next generation of women in STEM.
This year’s theme, “Rooted in Strength, Rising in STEM,” reflects the conference’s mission of empowering middle- and high-school young women by exposing them to exciting and attainable career pathways in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Opening remarks will begin at 9 a.m. in the William W. Sutton Administration Building Auditorium.
Hosted by MVSU’s STEM Department, the annual conference continues to serve as a signature event that encourages young women to see themselves in fields where their voices, talents, and leadership are needed.
“Our young women are already rooted in strength, strength built from perseverance, courage, and untapped brilliance,” said Dr. Latonya Garner-Jackson, chair of MVSU’s Department of Mathematics, Computer and Information Sciences. “The WIST Conference is more than an event; it is a movement to ignite that power within them. We are here to remind every young lady that she belongs in STEM, that her dreams are valid, and that there is no limit to how high she can rise.”
Among the featured guests will be Dr. Haleigh B. Eubanks Baird, a 2010 graduate, who will serve as the keynote luncheon speaker and one of the conference presenters.
A native of Cleveland, Mississippi, Eubanks Baird is currently a Chief General Surgery Resident and has built an impressive academic and professional career grounded in research, leadership, and service. She began her collegiate journey at MVSU in 2006, where she majored in biology and played four years of fastpitch softball. During her time at Valley, she participated in numerous research experiences and graduated in 2010, having won three SWAC softball championships.
She later earned a master’s degree in biology from Jackson State University as a Louis Stokes Mississippi Alliance for Minority Participation Scholar before receiving a full scholarship to the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, where she completed a doctorate in interdisciplinary biomedical sciences with a focus on liver fibrosis. She then attended Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine, where she led initiatives supporting underrepresented minorities in medicine and helped launch the institution’s first Cultural Competency Series.
In 2021, Eubanks Baird matched into general surgery at the University of Mississippi Medical Center, Mississippi’s only Level I trauma center. She is expected to graduate in June 2026. She plans to continue her career as a community general surgeon, with a passion for mentoring underrepresented students and serving patients in the Mississippi Delta and other underserved communities.
“Dr. Haleigh Eubanks Baird represents the very essence of what WIST stands for, said Dr. Garner-Jackson. I had the pleasure of teaching her during her time at , and even then, she stood out as a focused, driven, and determined young woman. As a former member of WIST, she has come full circle, and her journey is a powerful example to our students of what it means to remain rooted in strength while rising with purpose in STEM. We are incredibly proud to welcome her back as our keynote luncheon speaker.”
Student leaders are also helping to shape the conference's impact. Sammia Allen, president of WIST and an MVSU student, said the event is about showing young girls what is possible.
“As the WIST president, this conference means everything to me because it shows young girls what’s possible,” Allen said. “We are rooted in strength through our journeys, and together we are rising in STEM by supporting one another, breaking barriers, and creating spaces where women can thrive.”
The conference will also feature a lineup of accomplished women across several STEM disciplines, including engineering, medicine, environmental health, computer science, and technology. Presenters include Chi Amaechi, process engineer at Nissan in Canton; Ahsia Clayton, orthopedic surgery resident at the University of Mississippi Medical Center; Deidra Clark Funchess, current model process engineer at Nissan; Dr. Ntombekhaya Jennifer Laifa, assistant professor of environmental health at MVSU; Sakondra S. Moore, STEM leader and technology professional; Dr. Sabrina Perry, assistant professor of computer science at Austin Peay State University; Dr. Hattie Spencer, associate professor of environmental health at MVSU; Dr. Shanesse J. Spratt, emergency medicine and sports medicine physician; and Erin Jacobs Stagner, chiropractor in Greenwood.
Through its continued investment in STEM programming and mentorship, remains committed to creating spaces where young women can see their potential reflected in those who have gone before them.
The WIST Conference stands as both a celebration and a challenge — a celebration of the women already making strides in STEM and a challenge to every young woman in attendance to believe that she, too, belongs in those spaces.