Biography

Jennifer A. Riley-Collins, is a native of Meridian, MS. She is the youngest of the seven children of Joe H. (deceased) and Bobbye N. Riley. Her greatest role in life is that of mother of her three sons, Joseph, Jonathan, and Joshua and grandmother of Travis Michael. She is a 1987 Magna Cum Laude graduate of Alcorn State University. In 1993, she earned her Masters of Criminal Justice Administration from the University of Central Texas in one year while serving on Active Duty as a primary staff officer. In 1997, she returned to Mississippi after receiving a merit based scholarship and in 1999 received her Doctor of Jurisprudence from Mississippi College School of Law, graduating a full semester ahead of her classmates. She has completed 12 hours toward a Master of International Relations. Jennifer is an attorney licensed to practice in both state and federal courts. Her legal career path has brought her to her position as the Executive Director for the American Civil Liberties Union of Mississippi. Jennifer has studied and written about the Mississippi juvenile justice system. She has authored a number of professional publications and training materials to include Mississippi, An Assessment of Access to Counsel and Quality of Representation in Youth Court Proceedings, Published Fall 2007; In the Interest of Joshua Brown: An Interactive Juvenile Defense Training Module, Published Spring 2008; Double Jeopardy, A Tactical Clog in the School House to Jail House Pipeline; Avoiding the SchoolHouse to JailHouse Track, A Self Help Handbook for Children, Parents, and Community Leaders; and Train the Trainer, Juvenile Justice Advocacy Training Manual. In 2008, she was nominated for recognition as one of Mississippi’s Most Outstanding Women Lawyers. She is member of the Project Equity Advisory Board. She is a 2014 finalist for the MS Commission on Status of Women Woman of the Year for the Law Enforcement/Military category. Her military career exceeds 25 years of both active and reserve duty including deployment to Southwest Asia in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Recently selected for promotion to the rank of Colonel as a Military Intelligence Officer, she is currently completing her assignment as the Battalion Commander of Detachment 8, Strategic Intelligence Command at the Naval Air Station in Fort Worth. She has been twice been awarded the Meritorious Service Medal (2 Oak Leaf Cluster), awarded the Joint Service Medal, and thrice awarded the Army Commendation Medal (3 Oak Leaf Cluster). She also has received the Global War on Terrorism Service Ribbon and the Armed Forces Reserve Medal with Bronze Distinction Jennifer is a member of New Horizon Church International Jackson, MS, Leadership Jackson and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. She has been a Racial Diversity Trainer for Leadership Madison.