Dr. Kollin Napier is the Director of the Mississippi Artificial Intelligence Network (MAIN), the nation’s first statewide artificial intelligence (AI) initiative, where he leads Mississippi’s coordinated strategy for AI literacy, workforce development, and applied AI adoption across higher education, K–12 education, state and local government, and business and industry.

Based at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College, he works closely with the Governor’s Office, state agencies, legislators, school districts, colleges and universities, and industry partners to position Mississippi for long-term economic competitiveness in an AI-driven economy.

Dr. Napier chairs the Mississippi AI Workforce Readiness Council, serves on the state’s Artificial Intelligence Regulation (AIR) Task Force, and has provided expert testimony and briefings at the state and federal levels, including before the United States Congress, on responsible AI use, workforce impacts, and policy considerations.

Under his leadership, MAIN has delivered tens of thousands of hours of no-cost AI training statewide, established AI labs and infrastructure across Mississippi institutions, built strategic partnerships with organizations such as NVIDIA, AWS, and Intel, and secured millions of dollars in funding to advance AI-focused workforce initiatives.

A nationally recognized leader in applied AI and workforce transformation, Dr. Napier has been honored with the 2025 AACC Rising Star Manager Award and the Association of Information Technology Professionals’ 2024 Mississippian of the Year recognition. He is shaping a practical, ethical, and inclusive model for statewide AI adoption that directly strengthens Mississippi’s workforce and economy.