Mississippi Institute for National Security & Resilience
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.
About MINSR
The Mississippi Institute for National Security and Resilience (MINSR) represents the University of Mississippi's strategic commitment to advancing knowledge and operational capabilities at the critical intersection of national. More specifically, the Institute serves as a force multiplier for research excellence, economic development, and workforce preparedness, ensuring that the challenges of today and tomorrow are met with evidence-based strategies and mission-ready professionals.
Our Purpose
To enhance security and resilience through research, innovation, and collaboration — ensuring solutions that are both academically rigorous and operationally effective.
- Develop and implement innovative, applied solutions to emerging national security challenges.
- Facilitate collaborative research among academia, government, industry, and non-profits.
- Provide advanced training and professional development for students, analysts, operators, and decision-makers.
- Translate research into operational impact, strengthening both preventive and responsive capabilities.
- 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 — as well as external to the university — to leverage expertise in:
- Data and Analytics - data science, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and emerging analytical methods
- Social Sciences - criminal justice, homeland security, intelligence studies, public health, psychology, and communication
- Health Sciences - public health, epidemiology
- Law and Mental Health - national security law, cybersecurity law, mental health and resilience, wellness, crisis intervention, and behavioral health
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.
Meet MINSR’s Director
An internationally recognized scholar with over 275 publications, his h-index is 78 (i-index of 198), and he has over 20,000 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