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Mississippi College awarded $723,000 Mississippi AI Talent Accelerator Program grant

Mississippi College has been awarded a $723,000 Mississippi AI Talent Accelerator Program (MAI-TAP) grant to launch the Center for AI Policy and Technology Leadership (CAPTL), an initiative between the MC School of Law and the MC School of Business. 

CAPTL's mission is to drive responsible and innovative AI use across sectors—serving college students, professionals, policymakers, and industry leaders across Mississippi.

, a bold new initiative designed to expand AI, machine learning, and digital infrastructure capacity across Mississippi’s colleges and universities. MAI-TAP represents a partnership between AccelerateMS, the Mississippi Development Authority and Amazon Web Services. 

CAPTL will launch innovative academic programs and outreach initiatives offered through the MC School of Law, training professionals on the ethical and legal implications of emerging AI technology. The initiative is dedicated to advancing the responsible and innovative use of artificial intelligence across multiple sectors.

“This grant enables Mississippi College to lead in providing essential AI-focused legal education,” said Dr. Blake Thompson, MC president. “By equipping students and legal professionals with the tools and skills to navigate a rapidly evolving landscape, we’re ensuring Mississippi is at the forefront of advancing ethically grounded artificial intelligence education.

“I am grateful for the Governor’s leadership in this space. Mississippi is becoming a national leader in artificial intelligence and machine learning.”

With the grant funding, the MC School of Law will launch a 12-hour certificate and a 6-hour microcredential to ensure Mississippi’s future and current lawyers have the knowledge needed to thrive in an AI-enabled world.

Mississippi College’s grant will also leverage a private matching gift to establish an endowment providing long-term sustainability for the CAPTL program. The endowment will support the creation of two endowed professorships – one in the MC School of Law and one in the MC School of Business.

CAPTL will be located in downtown Jackson at the MC School of Law, while the business school faculty will be located on MC's main campus in Clinton. By housing CAPTL within the law school, the program gains a unique platform and presence, in proximity to Mississippi’s legal epicenter. 

“This grant affirms Mississippi College’s role as a leader in shaping the future of AI education and policy in our state,” said Dr. Michael J. Highfield, provost and executive vice president at MC. “Through CAPTL, we’re creating a space where legal insight, business strategy, and technological innovation converge to equip leaders to navigate the opportunities and challenges of AI with integrity, wisdom and purpose.”

MAI-TAP will stimulate the development of workforce programs that address the skill development demands of the artificial intelligence sector. 

In addition to MC, participating institutions are Alcorn State University, Belhaven University, Jackson State University, Millsaps College, Mississippi State University, University of Southern Mississippi and Tougaloo College.