MCIS

MVSU’s Garner named among DBJ’s “Top Minority Business Leaders”

communications — Mon, 09 Mar 2020 16:13:41 +0000

MVSU’s Garner named among DBJ’s “Top Minority Business Leaders”

Mon, 03/09/2020 - 12:00

communications Mon, 03/09/2020 - 11:13

ITTA BENA, Miss.—A 91�첥 faculty member was recently recognized as one of the “best and brightest” the region has to offer.

Dr. Latonya Garner, chair of 91�첥’s Mathematics, Computer and Information Sciences (MCIS) Department, was recently honored by The Delta Business Journal as one of the Top Minority Business Leaders.

According to the Cleveland, Miss. based publication, Garner was chosen for exemplifying the qualities of leadership, experience and community involvement that define the spirit of excellence that embodies the Mississippi Delta.

"It is an honor just to be nominated for the Delta Business Journal's Top Minority Business Leader. I am earnestly grateful for the recognition,” said Garner.

“I have faced several challenges in my life, but each one of them has only strengthened me to make me the person I am today—a thorough professional who knows what she wants; someone who sets her eyes on a goal and does not lose sight of it." she added.

According to Garner, her passion for helping and serving is fueled by her desire to impact others.

"Inspiring others isn't easy. If you do love something dearly, you won't care how successful you are at inspiring others, and you will continue to persevere no matter how many times you fail. It is my aim that I inspire my students to find their unique purpose and make a difference as they live a life full of passion," she said.

Garner loves to see students succeed. She views herself as more than a department chair; she works to serve as a role model, teacher, counselor, and much more.

"I came from the same background as many of my students, so I push them to be the best they can be in any situation," she explained. “In my department, we work to make it a family atmosphere."

Garner exclaimed that she is incredibly proud of the MCIS students that have successfully secured internships with companies and organizations like Apple, the Department of Defense, Bank of America, Stennis Space Center, Uncle Ben's, FedEx, American Express, USDA, etc.

Professionally, Dr. Garner's vision is the betterment of MVSU, the MCIS department, and the Mississippi Delta. Under her leadership, the MCIS department has amassed over $3.5 million in grant funding. These funds have aided in establishing STEM summer enrichment programs, Teachers' clinics, Bridge to College program, Cybersecurity Camp, Coding Camp, Girls Excelling in Math and Sciences (GEMS) Academy, NASA STEM Community Day, as well as others.

She is also the coordinator of the annual Constance G. Bland Women in Science and Technology (WIST) conference that targets over 300 middle and high school females in the Mississippi Delta and encourages them to pursue degrees and careers in STEM.

A native of Jacksonville, Ark., Dr. Garner began her career as a Certified Secondary Mathematics Teacher for Pulaski County Special School District in Little Rock. In 2007, she began her tenure at MVSU. She was appointed chair of the MCIS department in 2014.

Garner earned a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics Education from the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, a Master of Science in Applied Mathematics from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, and a Master of Science and Ph.D. in Mathematics from the University of Mississippi.

Personally, Dr. Garner is the daughter of Zeola Dixon and the late Thomas James Garner and has one son, Lance Link.

"He is a die-hard Delta Devil and plans to attend 91�첥 to play football," she said of her son.

MVSU receives $200k to conduct STEM research

communications — Sun, 20 Jan 2019 16:39:22 +0000

MVSU receives $200k to conduct STEM research

Fri, 01/18/2019 - 12:00

communications Sun, 01/20/2019 - 10:39

ITTA BENA, Miss. — Two 91�첥 departments were recently awarded an additional $200,000 from the United States Department of Education in an effort to help strengthen the institution’s research capacity.

MVSU’s Mathematics, Computer and Information Sciences (MCIS) and Natural Sciences and Environmental Health departments were awarded the funds as part of the Minority Science and Engineering Improvement Program (MSEIP) using Capacity Competitiveness Enhancement Model (CCEM).

According to MVSU MCIS Department Chair Dr. Latonya Garner, the funding will assist professors in fortifying their research capabilities by visiting and partnering with some of the major research laboratories in the country.

Also, STEM student researchers will have an opportunity to work closely with the faculty researchers to incorporate their theoretical classroom knowledge into practical hands-on research experience.

“This is an excellent opportunity for our STEM faculty to increase the number of funded research proposals and scholarly publications. The additional funding will definitely make a positive impact on our STEM students and 91�첥,” said Garner.

This initiative was coordinated by Garner and Dr. Earlene Anderson, project director and director of academic support for STEM programs at MVSU.

“I would like to thank Dr. Anderson and the faculty researchers from the university who are eager to help our students and the institution when it comes to research capacity and competitiveness of STEM programs,” said Garner.

According to Anderson, receiving the award is a testament to the research capabilities of MVSU faculty members.

“The MSEIP research grant is a very competitive award and it is an outstanding accomplishment for our STEM faculty members,” she said. “This shows that we have faculty who are engaged in cutting edge research and partnering with at some of the major research laboratories in the world such as the Brookhaven National Laboratory.”

MVSU faculty researchers who are supported by this project include Dr. Xiaoqin Wu and Mr. Christopher Lanclos from the MCIS Department; and Drs. Matthewos Eshete and Hattie Spencer from the Department of Natural Sciences and Environmental Health.

MVSU, Virginia Tech and SCCSD still bringing STEM to the Delta

communications — Mon, 06 Aug 2018 20:18:27 +0000

MVSU, Virginia Tech and SCCSD still bringing STEM to the Delta

Mon, 08/06/2018 - 12:00

communications Mon, 08/06/2018 - 15:18

ITTA BENA, Miss.— 91�첥 has been continuing its work with Virginia Tech and the Sunflower County Consolidated School District (SCCSD) to increase and strengthen the impact of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) in the Mississippi Delta.

Since 2015, the trio has been advancing STEM education through the program “Actualizing STEM Potential in the Mississippi Delta,” made possible through a $1.6 million grant from the National Science Foundation.

As part of the program, faculty from MVSU and SCCSD have been teaming up to teach high school students in Sunflower County leadership and teamwork skills while encouraging them to explore STEM careers.

Recently, representatives from each organization met for their annual workshop to discuss ideas and activities centered on ways to continue advancing STEM in the Delta. The group also discussed sustainability plans, which included launching a STEM excellence center at MVSU as early as this fall.

Organized by Dr. Brenda Brand, a native of Shaw, Miss., “Actualizing STEM Potential in the Mississippi Delta” is based on a STEM initiative implemented at Virginia Tech 19 years ago.

Brand said she was leaving her hometown headed back to Virginia in 2009 when she began to ponder what’s available to motivate and inspire kids in the Delta.

“I realized that I’d been doing this in Virginia for so many years and had great outcomes, so I should do something similar in the Delta,” she said.

After writing several unsuccessful proposals, Brand was finally funded by the National Science Foundation.

“It’s a replica of Virginia Tech’s program with some difference based on the area,” Brand explained. We thought it was really important to include a University that was within reach for the community.”

For Brand, MVSU was the perfect choice.

“There’s Valley in my blood in terms of all the different people in my family who are Valley alum,” she said. “Also, the University’s proximity was perfect, and I have a deep desire to support HBCUs.”

Brand, who works as an associate professor in Virginia Tech’s School of Education, said she’s all about collaborating with the K-12 system.

“If you’re going to inspire kids to pursue higher education pathways, then that collaboration just makes a lot of sense,” she said. “Also, a project of this caliber requires varying levels of expertise. We’re finding that faculty here at MVSU are playing a significant role in developing the skills of the students within the disciplines that they teach.”

The program provides high school students with the opportunity to plan, design, build, and program robots. This past March, the students had the opportunity to put their skills to work as team “Delta Overload” during the FIRST Robotics Competition Bayou Regional, hosted in Kenner, La.

“The students at Gentry have really improved their robotics skills each year of the build season as well as the competition,” said MVSU Computer Science Instructor Marcus Golden. I am looking forward to this upcoming season, where I believe we will finally break through and be among the top in the competition.”

The program also includes a mentorship component that gives MVSU STEM students the opportunity to intern at the high schools and facilitate activities related to their respective fields.

In addition, SCCSD students get the opportunity to visit MVSU’s campus several times per year, which helps them become acquainted with a University setting, exposes them to MVSU, and provides MVSU faculty with the opportunity to explore innovative instructional practices.

And while the program is designed to push STEM careers, Brand said she hopes that it broadens students to the endless possibilities available to them.

“My determination is all around providing opportunities and influencing a positive direction for the students in STEM fields or any other positive direction for their lives,” she said.

Fitzgerald Delivers Address at MVSU’s Honors Convocation

communications — Wed, 22 Mar 2017 14:37:39 +0000

Fitzgerald Delivers Address at MVSU’s Honors Convocation

Wed, 03/22/2017 - 12:00

communications Wed, 03/22/2017 - 09:37

Oleta Garett Fitzgerald stood before the 91�첥 family Thursday morning and told the honorees of the 2017 Honors Convocation that, “we need your help.”

Fitzgerald was the speaker for the annual event, which celebrated 689 students for their outstanding academic achievements for the 2016-17 school year.

The convocation was held in the H.G. Carpenter Auditorium. The program recognized president’s scholars, distinguished scholars, honor scholars and scholars. In addition numerous students received honors during the outstanding scholar awards and special awards segment of the program.

Fitzgerald was direct in her address to the students and expressed to them the significance of education in their lives.

“A child who does not have access to a good education, particularly, in the 21^st century is sentenced to economic and social death,” said Fitzgerald.

In addition, she also spoke to the importance of if students are not educated and not skilled in an economy, that is moving in a different direction.

“If robots are going to be doing our jobs then we better know how to build a robot or repair a robot.

Dr. William B. Bynum, Jr. University President shared some of the outstanding achievements from the students, faculty and staff.

“We have seen our students, faculty and staff achieve great things and each time we have had the opportunity the Valley has showed up and showed out,” said Bynum.

Fitzgerald is the director of the Children's Defense Fund's Southern Regional Office (CDF-SRO), and she also serves as the regional administrator for the Southern Rural Black Women's Initiative for Economic & Social Justice (SRBWI). Fitzgerald holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Sociology from Tougaloo College in Jackson.

SRBWI operates in 77 counties across the Black Belts of Alabama, Southwest Georgia, and the Mississippi Delta. CDF-SRO also serves as the lead for the W.K. Kellogg funded Supporting Partnerships to Assure Ready Kids (SPARK) Initiative.

Annual WIST Conference (20th Anniversary)

calendaradmin — Tue, 07 Mar 2017 20:44:36 +0000

Annual WIST Conference (20th Anniversary)

Date

Friday, March 31, 2017 - 08:00 - Friday, March 31, 2017 - 12:00

calendaradmin Tue, 03/07/2017 - 14:44

Location

William Sutton Administration Building (Auditorium 103 & 108)

Dr. L. Garner & Dr. E. Anderson
MCIS
662.254.3638

Department

MCIS

News

Annual WIST Conference (20th Anniversary)

calendaradmin — Tue, 07 Mar 2017 18:49:09 +0000

Annual WIST Conference (20th Anniversary)

Date

Friday, March 31, 2017 - 12:00 - Friday, March 31, 2017 - 14:00

calendaradmin Tue, 03/07/2017 - 12:49

Location

Robert W. Harrison HPER Complex (Gym)

Dr. L. Garner & Dr. E. Anderson
MCIS
662.254.3422

Department

MCIS

News

First Robotics Competition Worldwide Kickoff

calendaradmin — Fri, 09 Dec 2016 16:18:35 +0000

First Robotics Competition Worldwide Kickoff

Date

Saturday, January 7, 2017 - 08:30 - Saturday, January 7, 2017 - 16:00

calendaradmin Fri, 12/09/2016 - 10:18

Location

Science & Technology Center

MVSU SPrEad has scheduled the First Robotics Competition Worldwide Kickoff "Actualizing STEM Potential in the Mississippi Delta", please contact Dr. Daniel Trent at 662.254.3414 for further details.

Department

MCIS

News