Mary Eileen Paradis

Mary Eileen Paradis has over 30 years of experience in law enforcement, public safety and emergency management. She currently serves as Chief of Police and Executive Director of Public Safety for the University of Mississippi Medical Center Police Department (UMMC PD), where she oversees law enforcement operations and ensures compliance with local, state and federal laws. Previously, Paradis was the Assistant Vice President of Safety & Security at Marymount University; there, she led campus safety and emergency management. From 2014-2020, she served at The George Washington University Police Department (GWPD) as Interim Chief and Assistant Chief of Police – she presided over patrol, administration and investigations across multiple campuses. Her career also includes leadership roles in security and loss prevention at institutions such as the Corcoran Gallery of Art, Willard InterContinental and Global Wireless Solutions. She spent over 11 years as a sworn member of the Chicago Police Department’s Intelligence Section. Paradis holds a bachelor’s in Police & Security Studies and a graduate degree in Cybersecurity Strategy & Information Management from The George Washington University, where she was recognized as a Distinguished Scholar. She lives in Jackson, Mississippi.