Every year, female STEM professionals are invited to share their experiences and interest in science, technology, engineering, and math with the participants of the madiSTEM Conference.

The 2026 Morning speaker is Dr. Mary Helen Witt, a medical oncologist and hematologist who is currently on staff at Sentara RMH Cancer Center.  She is a valley girl, returning to work at the hospital where she was born. She earned her undergraduate degree in Biology at University of Virginia and her medical degree at VCU School of Medicine.   She then moved to Ohio to complete her internal medicine residency at Wright Patterson Air Force Base.  After residency, she was a staff internist at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base in North Carolina.  She then returned to VCU for a fellowship in hematology and oncology before coming back home to settle down, practicing in Harrisonburg for almost 21 years. In her current position, she sees adult patients with a variety of cancers and blood disorders.

Dr. Witt likes warm weather, dogs, gardening, hanging clothes out to dry in the sun, playing tennis, and is currently addicted to pickleball. She has a daughter who will be graduating from medical school in the spring and a son who is a pharmacy technician. Fun fact: Dr. Witt played mixed doubles at the USA Pickleball Nationals tournament in San Diego in 2025.

The 2026 Afternoon speaker is Shelley Edler, who is a Senior Forensic Scientist and Group Supervisor in the Forensic Biology section of the Virginia Department of Forensic Science. She has been with the Department in their Central Laboratory for 29 years. As a Forensic Scientist, she examines crime scene evidence for the presence of body fluids like blood and saliva, performs DNA analysis on those items and then compares the DNA between the evidence and known individuals to determine who can and cannot be eliminated as a donor of the DNA on the evidence. She then issues reports as to her findings and conclusions and ultimately testifies in court as an expert witness. Since the 9th grade, Shelley has been interested in science and was hoping to somehow use it to help others. She earned her undergraduate degree in Biology from Radford University and a Master’s degree in Forensic Science from Virginia Commonwealth University.

She resides in Richmond, VA with her husband, their hound dog Foster, and their lop-eared grand-bunny Mr. Nibbles (AKA: Bun). She has an amazing daughter who is currently a sophomore at JMU studying political science. Fun fact: Shelley biked across Tuscany for two weeks with some gal pals, proving that girls DO rule, and her grand-bunny loves to play soccer with an actual soccer ball! 

The 2025 Morning speaker was Dr. Hailey Quercia, a veterinarian who specializes in poultry medicine and is currently the Director and Poultry Diagnostician of the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Harrisonburg Regional Animal Health Laboratory.  

The 2025 Afternoon speaker was Mandy Robinson, the Vice President of Global Marketing, Research and Development, and Global Quality & Regulatory Affairs at Hollister Incorporated. 

The 2024 Morning speaker was Dr. Sophia Leung. Dr. Sophia Leung, (M.D.), an Orthopedic surgeon who specializes in Hand and Upper Extremity surgery, the Orthopedic Site Director for Sentara Medical Group, and the Orthopedic Surgery Section Chief at Sentara RMH. 

The 2024 Afternoon speaker was Dr. Carole Nash, JMU Professor of Geography in the department of Integrated Science and Technology (ISAT, the founder of the nonprofit Mountain Valley Archaeology, a member of the Virginia Museum of Natural History in Waynesboro’s board of trustees, and the director of the Environmental Archaeological Laboratory at JMU.

The 2023 Morning speakers were Leslie Dutt, Associate Director, Technical Operations and Engineering, Merck and Erin Johnson, Director of Engineering, Large Molecule Science and Technology, Merck.

The 2023 Afternoon speaker was Dr. Ray Ann Havasy, founder and Executive Director of The Center for Science Teaching and Learning (CSTL), and STEM specialist for the government of the Grand Caymans.   

The 2022 Morning speaker was Dr. Anca Constantin, JMU Department of Physics and Astronomy (Ph.D. in Astrophysics).

The 2022 Afternoon speaker was Dr. Michelle Hesse, JMU Department of Health Professions (Registered Dietician and Ph.D. in Nutrition) 

Our planned speakers for the 2020 conference were Dr. Ray Ann Havasy, founder and director of the Center for Science Teaching and Learning in Rockville Center, NY, and Dr. Anca Constantin, an Associate Professor in JMU’s Physics and Astronomy Department.  Unfortunately, the 2020 conference was cancelled approximately 1 week before the conference due to COVID-19.

The 2019 Morning speaker was Dr. Jerri Alexiou, a board certified dermatologist practicing in Harrisonburg since 2001.

The 2019 Afternoon speaker was Dr. Linda Thomas, director of the School of Integrated Science at JMU (Ph.D. in Architecture and Building Construction, B.S. & M.A. in Civil Engineer, Law Degree)

The 2018 Morning speaker was Dr. Angela Jarrett, a Peter O'Donnell, Jr. postdoctoral fellow in the Institute for Computational Engineering and Sciences at the University of Texas at Austin.

The 2018 Afternoon speaker was Ms. Marne Martin (Bachelor's degree in Foreign Service from Georgetown University, Masters degree in International Management from ESCP Europe in Paris France, and MBA from Krannert School of Management at Purdue University).

The 2017 Morning speaker was Dr. Cynthia Bauerle, JMU College of Science and Mathematics (Ph.D. Molecular Biology).

The 2017 Afternoon Speaker was Ms. Beth Mellott, Booz Allen Hamilton (B.S. Computer Science, M.A. Education).

The 2016 Morning speaker was Dr. Theresa Rutledge, Preston Memorial Hospital (Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine)

The 2016 Afternoon speaker was Dr. Morgan Steffen, JMU Department of Biology (Ph.D. Microbiology)

The 2015 Morning Speaker was Dr. Shalyn Crawford,  Four Star Equine Veterinary Services (Doctor of Veterinary Medicine).

The 2015 Afternoon Speaker was Dr. Kimberly F. Sellers, Georgetown University (Ph.D. Statistics).

The 2014 Morning Speaker was Dr. Melyni Worth, Foxden Equine (Ph.D. Equine Nutrition and Exercise Physiology).

The 2014 Afternoon Speaker was Dr. Caroline Lubert, JMU Department of Mathematics and Statistics (Ph.D. Engineering).

The 2013 Opening Speaker was Dr. Elise Barrella, JMU Department of Engineering (Ph.D Civil Engineering).

The 2013 Keynote Speaker was Dr. Crystal Brogan, National Radio Astronomy Observatory (Ph.D. Physics and Astronomy).

The 2012 Opening Speaker was Dr. Debra Warne, JMU Department of Mathematics and Statistics (Ph.D. Mathematics).

The 2012 Keynote Speaker was Dr. Alissa S. Crans, Loyola Marymount University (Ph.D. Mathematics).

The 2011 Opening Speaker was Dr. Carla Martin,  JMU Department of Mathematics and Statistics (Ph.D. Applied Mathematics).

The 2011 Keynote Speaker was Dr. Rebecca Goldin, George Mason University (Ph.D. Mathematics).

The 2010 Keynote Speaker was Dr. Kyle Myers, U.S. Food and Drug Administration (Ph.D. Optical Sciences).

The 2009 Keynote Speaker was Dr. Kathryn Thornton, former NASA astronaut (Ph.D. Physics).

The 2008 Keynote Speaker was Dr. Monica Neagoy (Ph.D. Mathematics Education).