In 2018, the University of Mississippi launched M Partner, a community partnership and engagement program that seeks to match university capabilities with the goals and needs of local communities. Whether those needs relate to health care and education, economic development and policy, marketing and tourism, resiliency, or core government systems, the goal of M Partner is to develop a mutually beneficial relationship. The initiative aims to create substantial and sustainable results that will be viable in the community for decades to come and enhance the educational experiences of students and research and engagement programs of the university.

In 2020, M Partner partnered with two new communities in Pontotoc County, MS: the City of Pontotoc and the Town of Ecru. This phase of M Partner, despite the pandemic, engaged even more students and catalyzed even more projects than the pilot phase!