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Mississippi Institute for National Security & Resilience

WHAT WE DO

We foster community-engaged partnerships that strengthen both local, state, national, and global security resilience, while also embracing emerging fields of expertise at the critical intersection of technology, policy, and human performance. By advancing impactful, interdisciplinary research and applied innovation, MINSR directly addresses pressing challenges in national security and resilience, ensuring that solutions are both academically rigorous and operationally relevant.

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    This site is currently under construction. Check back soon to see what the Mississippi Institute for National Security and Resilience is all about.

    Our Purpose

    To enhance security and resilience through research, innovation, and collaboration — ensuring solutions that are both academically rigorous and operationally effective.

    1. Develop and implement innovative, applied solutions to emerging national security challenges.
    2. Facilitate collaborative research among academia, government, industry, and non-profits.
    3. Provide advanced training and professional development for students, analysts, operators, and decision-makers.
    4. Translate research into operational impact, strengthening both preventive and responsive capabilities.
    5. Advise leaders on strategic risks and opportunities in digital preparedness, physical readiness, and mission-critical operations.

    In today’s interconnected world, information, readiness, and security are inseparable. MINSR bridges these areas to help shape effective decision-making and mission success.
    The Institute serves as a multi-faceted resource offering:

    • Cutting-edge research
    • Specialized training programs
    • Applied operational solutions
    • Strategic policy guidance for government, business, NGOs, and academia

    Through this integrated approach, MINSR positions the University of Mississippi and the State of Mississippi as national leaders in addressing security and resilience challenges.

    MINSR functions as a stand-alone interdisciplinary institute reporting directly to the Vice Chancellor for Research and Economic Development.
    While independent, it partners closely with academic units and research centers across the university — including the Center for Intelligence and Security Studies (CISS) and Language Flagship Programs — to leverage expertise in:

    • Science and Engineering
    • Social Sciences and Humanities
    • Law and Health Fields

    This structure provides MINSR the flexibility to pursue mission-driven research and partnerships across sectors, advancing innovation at the intersection of security, resilience, and technology.

    Wes Jennings

    Meet MINSR’s Director

    An internationally recognized scholar with over 275 publications, his h-index is 74 (i-index of 198), and he has over 19,500 citations to his published work.  He has been recognized as the #1 criminologist in the world in previous publications based on his peer-reviewed publication productivity.  He has extensive experience in federally funded research projects, and his major research interests are national security and resilience, policing, evidence-based practices, quantitative methods, and experimental and quasi-experimental designs. 

    Wes Jennings

    Associate Dean of Research, Finance and Business Administration and Professor of Criminal Justice and Legal Studies