When you meet Marsha Lewis, one of the first things you notice is her energy, which consists of equal parts curiosity, drive, and warmth. A Mississippi Delta native, Lewis has built a career grounded in science, service, and a love of learning, and she’s never been afraid to follow her interests where they lead.
Raised in Leland, Mississippi, Lewis graduated from Leland High School in 1991 before heading to Alcorn State University, where she earned her biology degree with honors. Science captured her heart early thanks to an inspiring high school teacher, and, initially, she planned to become an anesthesiologist. However, when her academic journey introduced her to other disciplines, her path expanded. “Each step showed me something new,” she says. “I loved the challenge, and I knew I wanted to keep learning.”
That mindset carried Lewis through a series of experiences that blended education and industry. After moving to Oklahoma with her husband, she earned a psychology degree from the University of Oklahoma and became a corporate trainer for a Fortune 500 travel company. That work took her across the country, sharpening her communication skills and confidence in front of a crowd, skills that still serve her well today.
By 2001, she and her family returned to the Delta, and Lewis began working with the USDA’s Agricultural Research Service in Stoneville. Her focus was on fire ants, stink bugs, and biological control, but a government hiring freeze shifted her trajectory. Always adaptable, she used that time to pursue her master’s degree in natural sciences at Delta State University, graduating in 2014. That same year, she stepped into a new chapter, joining Mississippi State University’s Aquatic Research and Diagnostic Laboratory.
“I’ll be honest—I didn’t even eat meat at the time,” she laughs. “I was a vegetarian applying to work in catfish research, but I saw an opportunity to learn something new.” Now, nearly 11 years later, Lewis is a key member of the lab team, overseeing water quality testing, bacterial cultures, and disease diagnostics that support Mississippi’s catfish producers. From ammonia levels to viral screenings, she is the steady hand behind critical research and diagnostic work that keeps an industry running.
Lewis’s love of science extends beyond the lab. A natural communicator, Lewis speaks to junior college and high school students about careers in agriculture and veterinary medicine in the heart of the delta. She is eager to inspire the next generation. “I want students to know there’s important work to be done right here,” she says. “When I was their age, no one came to my school to talk about opportunities. I want to change that.”
She’s also committed to her own growth while balancing full-time work and family. She began a PhD in population medicine before temporarily shifting to a master’s program to focus on family needs, although completing her doctorate remains firmly on her 10-year plan. “It’s always been a goal,” she says. “I love research, and I want to keep making a difference for farmers, for students, for my community.”
Looking ahead, Lewis sees many possibilities: more research, more teaching, more opening doors for others. “My dream is to continue doing work that matters, whether that’s solving problems in the lab or helping young people see what’s possible,” she says. “If I can keep learning and keep giving back, I’ll be right where I’m supposed to be.”
