Dr. Kollin Napier, Director of the Mississippi Artificial Intelligence Network – MAIN, recently served as the keynote speaker for the Southern Association of Colleges with Associate Degrees (SACAD) Annual Membership Luncheon in Nashville, engaging with institutional leaders from across 11 states.
Dr. Napier’s keynote focused on how Mississippi has moved beyond discussion to execution in artificial intelligence (AI). That momentum is being driven through MAIN, Mississippi’s statewide AI initiative aligning government, education, and industry under a shared approach to AI education and workforce development.
He highlighted how MAIN is providing strategic leadership for colleges and universities, expanding AI literacy and training, aligning credentials with workforce demand, and supporting employers as AI becomes embedded across industries. By operating through a unified statewide framework, Mississippi is achieving consistency, scale, and measurable outcomes rather than isolated or duplicative efforts.
The session provided an opportunity to share Mississippi’s approach with institutional leaders from across the region and to demonstrate how focused leadership and alignment can translate emerging technology into workforce readiness and economic impact.
MAIN appreciates SACAD for the opportunity to represent Mississippi and to highlight the continued work being led through MAIN and the state’s public institutions.