Melissa Hannis

Melissa Hannis is a Researcher at Mississippi State University's Center for Cyber Innovation, specializing in cybersecurity protection systems and cyber resilience strategies. She holds a Master's degree in Computer Engineering from Mississippi State University and currently serves as a Research Engineer II, having been promoted from her initial full-time role following her graduate studies. Hannis' career began through undergraduate research opportunities at MSU, which rebuilt her academic confidence after overcoming early educational challenges.

Her educational journey included home-schooling due to learning-style challenges, followed by Hinds Community College (Phi Theta Kappa Scholar), and Mississippi State University for her bachelor's and master's degrees. She plans to pursue a Ph.D. and aims to become a professor, reflecting her commitment to advancing cybersecurity education and research.

Hannis' research focuses on developing advanced cybersecurity systems and she actively engages in outreach efforts to enhance cyber resilience awareness across government, industry, and educational sectors in the Southeast. Her work integrates coding expertise with real-world defense mechanisms, emphasizing both technical innovation and practical application.