Frances Lucas
Encyclopedia
Dr. Frances Lucas is the Vice President and Campus Executive Officer of The University of Southern Mississippi Gulf Coast in Long Beach, Mississippi
.
, who himself is the former president of Delta State University
and later The University of Southern Mississippi
and is now president emeritus of The University of Southern Mississippi
.
Lucas grew up in Mississippi where she received her Bachelor's from Mississippi State University
in 1978, her Master's and her PhD
in higher education
from the University of Alabama
.
before moving on at age 29 to become the youngest Vice-President for Student Affairs and the first female Vice-President at Baldwin-Wallace College
. Later, she served as Senior Vice-President for Campus Life at Emory University
before being announced in February 2000 as the 10th president and first female president of Millsaps College.
Dr. Lucas submitted her resignation on April 23, 2009 stating her last day would be "June 30, 2010, which will mark the conclusion of my tenth year."
Long Beach, Mississippi
Long Beach is a city located in Harrison County, Mississippi, USA. It is part of the Gulfport–Biloxi, Mississippi Metropolitan Statistical Area...
.
Personal life
Dr. Lucas is the daughter of Dr. Aubrey K. LucasAubrey K. Lucas
Dr. Aubrey K. Lucas is an American academic, and the former President and current President Emeritus of the University of Southern Mississippi. Lucas received his Bachelors of Science and Master of Arts degree from the University of Southern Mississippiwhile attaining his Ph.D from Florida State...
, who himself is the former president of Delta State University
Delta State University
Delta State University, also known as DSU, is a regional public university located in Cleveland, Mississippi, United States, in the heart of the Mississippi Delta...
and later The University of Southern Mississippi
The University of Southern Mississippi
The University of Southern Mississippi, informally known as Southern Miss, is a large public research university located in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, United States. It is situated north of Gulfport, Mississippi and northeast of New Orleans, Louisiana...
and is now president emeritus of The University of Southern Mississippi
The University of Southern Mississippi
The University of Southern Mississippi, informally known as Southern Miss, is a large public research university located in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, United States. It is situated north of Gulfport, Mississippi and northeast of New Orleans, Louisiana...
.
Lucas grew up in Mississippi where she received her Bachelor's from Mississippi State University
Mississippi State University
The Mississippi State University of Agriculture and Applied Science commonly known as Mississippi State University is a land-grant university located in Oktibbeha County, Mississippi, United States, partially in the town of Starkville and partially in an unincorporated area...
in 1978, her Master's and her PhD
PHD
PHD may refer to:*Ph.D., a doctorate of philosophy*Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*PHD finger, a protein sequence*PHD Mountain Software, an outdoor clothing and equipment company*PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
in higher education
Higher education
Higher, post-secondary, tertiary, or third level education refers to the stage of learning that occurs at universities, academies, colleges, seminaries, and institutes of technology...
from the University of Alabama
University of Alabama
The University of Alabama is a public coeducational university located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States....
.
Education career
Lucas began her career at Mississippi State working in student affairsStudent Affairs
Student affairs staff provide services and support for students at institutions of higher education to enhance student growth and development in the United States and abroad....
before moving on at age 29 to become the youngest Vice-President for Student Affairs and the first female Vice-President at Baldwin-Wallace College
Baldwin-Wallace College
Baldwin–Wallace College is a liberal arts college in Berea, Ohio, founded in 1845. It is home to the Riemenschneider-Bach Institute and the Baldwin–Wallace Conservatory of Music, an internationally renowned music school. The college is affiliated with the United Methodist Church. Students receive a...
. Later, she served as Senior Vice-President for Campus Life at Emory University
Emory University
Emory University is a private research university in metropolitan Atlanta, located in the Druid Hills section of unincorporated DeKalb County, Georgia, United States. The university was founded as Emory College in 1836 in Oxford, Georgia by a small group of Methodists and was named in honor of...
before being announced in February 2000 as the 10th president and first female president of Millsaps College.
Millsaps College
After 22 years of leading Millsaps College, Dr. George Harmon announced his resignation in the Spring of 1999. His last day as president of Millsaps College was June 30, 2000. After an eight month national search for a successor to Dr. Harmon, Dr. Frances Lucas was announced in February 2000 as the new president, making her the first female to hold the post at Millsaps.Dr. Lucas submitted her resignation on April 23, 2009 stating her last day would be "June 30, 2010, which will mark the conclusion of my tenth year."
The University of Southern Mississippi Gulf Coast
On April 30, 2010, Dr. Lucas was named Vice President and Campus Executive Officer for The University of Southern Mississippi's Gulf Coast operations. Her first official day on the job was July 6, 2010.Awards
- 2003 - Mississippi's Business Woman of the Year, Mississippi Business JournalMississippi Business JournalThe Mississippi Business Journal is a statewide weekly business newspaper, located in Jackson, Mississippi.Each issue contains news coverage relating to the Mississippi business world along with regular opinion and freelance columns...
- 2004 - Outstanding Mississippi Woman of the Year, Mississippi State University Women's Commission