The 2025 Mississippi Speech-Language-Hearing Conference, held September 17–19 at the Sheraton in Flowood, drew more than 450 attendees for three days of robust learning and professional connection under the banner “Lights, Camera, Communication: Empowering Communication for All.” The conference featured up to six concurrent session tracks, two keynote speakers, and a program praised by participants for its high quality, excellent venue, and seamless organization.
Among the featured speakers were Dr. Anthony Drew, who opened the conference with a comedic blend of humor and insights into the evolving role of speech-language pathology in clinical and educational settings, and ASHA VP for Finance Dr. Lawrence Molt, PhD, CCC-A/SLP, whose keynote addressed current challenges in regulation and advocacy across both fields. The breakout sessions included a number of other distinguished presenters: Sydney Bassard, MSP, CCC-SLP, who led a full-day preconference workshop focused on Incorporating Literacy Curriculum in Speech Therapy from K – 12; Amanda Schaumburg, M.S., CCC-SLP, noted for her work in early intervention, schools, and outpatient settings; Dr. Erin Donlin, Michelle Dawson, Lyndsey Zurawski, Dr. Mark DeRuiter, and Dr. Noël Crosby, each bringing specialty knowledge in areas such as pediatric feeding/swallowing, school-based services, audiology, and clinical supervision.
Conference chairs Dr. Amy LeBert and Dr. Courtney Turner designed the conference into six tracks covering a broad spectrum of topics to empower practitioners across school, clinical, healthcare, and audiology settings. Workshops explored practical strategies in remote service delivery, assessment and intervention for speech sound disorders, handling feeding and swallowing in pediatric populations, ethical issues, and navigating systems like Medicaid and insurance. Panel discussions addressed pressing concerns around inclusion, literacy support, and interdisciplinary collaboration. Attendees repeatedly remarked that the depth, relevance, and diversity of the sessions matched the high expectations set by past conferences.
A highlight of the conference was the celebration of this year’s award recipients, whose achievements reflect excellence across the profession. Graduate Student Awards were presented to Katelyn Black (Mississippi University for Women), Ashton “Cade” Culpepper (University of Southern Mississippi – speech pathology), Malina Mangrum (University of Southern Mississippi – audiology), Faith Patton (The University of Mississippi), Bayleigh Morgan (Jackson State University), and Olivia Lee (University of Mississippi Medical Center – audiology). The Outstanding School Clinician Award was presented to Jenny Pettus, MS, CCC-SLP, while the Clinical Achievement Award went to Ruth Ann King, MS, CCC-SLP, for her leadership in private practice and Medicaid advocacy. The association’s highest honor, the Honors of the Association Award, was bestowed upon Jenna Nassar, MS, CCC-SLP, BCS-S, recognizing her distinguished contributions in pediatric feeding and swallowing disorders and mentorship of future professionals.
By the close of the event, consensus among attendees was strong: this conference stood out as a premier event for the state’s communication sciences professions. The 2025 MSHA Conference illuminated cutting-edge ideas, cast a spotlight on excellence, and delivered
professional development of the highest caliber in a superb venue. Organizers, speakers, and participants alike look forward to building on its success in the years ahead.
Mississippi Speech-Language-Hearing Association 