FRANCES LUCAS, PH.D.

Dr. Frances Lucas

Frances Lucas served in higher education leadership positions for 34 years at six institutions and has served as a vice president or president for 28 of those years. Additionally, she has consulted at over 150 institutions and coached over 200 senior administrators, including presidents, vice presidents, and deans.

She got her start as an active, engaged student leader at Mississippi State University (MSU), where she was named Most Outstanding Senior Woman, listed in the MSU Hall of Fame, was honored in Who’s Who Among College and University Students, Mortar Board, and Omicron Delta Kappa.

Dr. Lucas completed her course work for her masters and doctoral degrees in Administration of Higher Education at the University of Alabama. In five years, she rose from hall director to Residence Life Coordinator, overseeing the staff of all 18 residence halls.

She returned to her alma mater, MSU, to serve as Assistant Dean of Students for three years. While there, was named Mississippi’s Most Outstanding Young Career Woman by Business and Professional Women.

At age 29, Dr. Lucas was named the Vice President of Student Affairs (VPSA) at Baldwin Wallace College (BWC) in Ohio, making her the youngest VPSA in the country and the first female vice president in the history of BWC. During her six years there, she was named BWC’s Most Outstanding Female Administrator.

Dr. Lucas moved to Atlanta, Georgia, with her three-month-old son to assume the position of Vice President of Campus Life at Emory University and led that division of 22 departments for eight years. During her second year, she gave birth to her daughter and learned about the challenges and joys of balancing life as an executive and mother. She was the first female vice president in the institution’s history, and she received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Division of Campus Life while working at Emory.

At age 42, she was named the 10th President of Millsaps College and the first female college president in the history of the state of Mississippi. During her decade of leadership, the college experienced record enrollments and record giving rates. Dr. Lucas also served as president of several national and regional organizations during her tenure at Millsaps.

Additionally, she was named Most Outstanding Business Woman in Mississippi and won the highest award given by her sorority, the International Shield Award of Delta Gamma.

Dr. Lucas then became the Vice President and Campus Executive Officer for The University of Southern Mississippi, Gulf Coast (USM, GC). She acquired federal and insurance monies, $38 million, needed to restore buildings massively damaged by Hurricane Katrina.

During her time at USM, Dr. Lucas taught in the masters and doctoral programs of Human Capital Development. While teaching, her passions for motivating employees, increasing productivity, and building healthy happy teams grew, resulting in the establishment of Frances Lucas Consulting, LLC, in 2015.

View a full list of experience and qualifications below.

Professional Experience

July 2014-present President, Frances Lucas Consulting, LLC

July 2014-July 2015 Professor of Practice, Human Capital Development Program, University of Southern Mississippi, Gulf Coast, Long Beach, MS

July 2010-June 2014 Vice President and Campus Executive Officer, University of Southern Mississippi, Gulf Coast, Long Beach, MS

July 2000-June 2010 President, Millsaps College, Jackson, MS

July 1992-July 2000     Senior Vice President for Campus Life, Emory University, Atlanta, GA

July 1986-July 1992      Vice President for Student Affairs, Baldwin Wallace College, Berea, OH

October 1983-July 1986     Assistant Dean for Student Life, Mississippi State University, Starkville, MS

July 1979-October 1983     Residence Life Coordinator, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL

Education

2009 International Leadership Training Institute on Prejudice Reduction, National Coalition Building Institute

1990 Harvard University Institute for Education Leadership

1985 Ph.D., University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, in Administration of Higher Education, with minors in Research, Human Resource Management, Continuing Education, and a Proficiency in Network Analysis

1980 M.A., University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, in Administration of Higher Education

1978 B.A., Mississippi State University in Communications with Public Relations emphasis, graduating with honors

Consulting, Workshops, and Seminars

  • Austin College, TX

  • Ball State University, IN

  • Bowling Green, OH

  • Brandeis University, MA

  • California State University, San Marcos, CA

  • Cleveland State University, OH

  • Coast Episcopal School, Pass Christian, MS

  • Colorado State University, CO

  • Columbia College, IL

  • Coastal Carolina University, SC

  • DePauw University, IN

  • Florida Gulf Coast University, FL

  • Fordham University, NY

  • Georgia Institute of Technology, GA

  • Healthforce of Kentucky, KY

  • Huntington College, AL

  • International Women's Forum, Mississippi Chapter

  • Kennesaw State University, GA

  • Kentucky Wesleyan College, KY

  • Lewis and Clark College, OR

  • Loyola University, LA,

  • Mansfield College, PA

  • Millersville University, PA

  • Mt. San Antonio College, CA

  • Ohio University, OH

  • Oklahoma University, OK

  • Santa Clara University, CA

  • Southeastern Louisiana University, LA

  • Southern Methodist University, TX

  • Texas Christian University, TX

  • Transylvania University, KY

  • Tulane University, LA

  • United Methodist Church Senior Cabinet, Mississippi Conference

  • University of Alabama, AL

  • University of California, Irvine, CA

  • University of Denver, CO

  • University of Indianapolis, IN

  • University of Miami, FL

  • University of Missouri, St. Louis, MO

  • University of North Carolina, Charlotte, NC

  • University of North Carolina, Wilmington, NC

  • University of South Alabama, AL

  • University of South Carolina, SC

  • University of South Florida, FL

  • University of Southern Mississippi, MS

  • University of West Florida, FL

  • Virginia Commonwealth University, VA

  • Washington University in St. Louis, MO

  • Wright State University, OH

Higher Education Association Keynotes

  • Alice Manicure National Symposium, Director and Faculty Member (two years)

  • Amelia Island National Higher Education Women’s Leadership Conference (three years)

  • American Association of University Women

  • American Council on Education: Women’s Workshop to Advance to President

  • American Council on Education National Convention: Women’s Network Association

  • Associated Colleges of the South, Student Affairs Conference

  • Association of College Unions International Conference (two years)

  • College Personnel Administrators of Kentucky

  • Delta Gamma National Chapter Advisors Seminar: "What Will We Do with the Millennials?," 2011, Columbus, OHFirst Year Experience National Convention

  • Georgia Residence Hall Association

  • Kappa Delta National Convention: "Hazing: Don’t Do It," 2011, Tucson, AZLouisiana Statewide Student Affairs Drive-In Conference

  • Mid-America Greek Conference

  • Mississippi Association of College Student Affairs Conference

  • Mississippi Foundation of Independent Colleges

  • Mississippi Association of Colleges State Meeting

  • National Academic Advisory Association Region 4

  • National Association of Campus Activities

  • National Association of Schools and Colleges of the United Methodist Church

  • National Association of Student Personnel Administrators: "Become a President . . . or Not," 2003, St. Louis, MONASPA Region IV Conference (Great Lakes)

  • NASPA Region III Conference (South)

  • NASPA Region III Mid-Manager’s Institute Faculty Member (three years)

  • National Women’s Leadership Institute: "Courage in the Work Place," 2010, 2009, and 2008, Amelia Island, FLNational Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA) National ConventionNational Institute for Aspiring Senior Student Affairs Officers

  • National Women’s Leadership Institute: "Courage in the Work Place," 2010, 2009, and 2008, Amelia Island, FL

  • National Panhellenic Conference Annual Meeting: "Ten Commandments for Working with Today’s Students," 2010, Grapevine, TX, National Symposium for the Recruitment and Retention of Students

  • National Women’s Leadership Institute: "Courage in the Work Place," 2010, 2009, and 2008, Amelia Island, FLPhi Mu National Advisors Annual Meeting: "Communicating with Today’s Students," 2011, Peachtree City, GASouthern Association of Career Educators

  • Phi Delta Theta National Emerging Leader Institute: "Gentlemen: What Presidents Want," 2006, Miami, OH (first female keynote for the organization)

  • Southern Association of College Student Administrators Conference

  • Southern Graduate Student and Faculty Forum

  • Southeastern College Housing Officers Convention

  • Southern Methodist University Women’s Week: "Leading Ladies," 2010, Dallas, TXTri Delta Sorority National Conference: "You Are Your Sister’s Keeper," 2011, Dallas, TX

  • University Athletic Association National Student Leadership Conference

  • Women’s Network in Higher Education State Convention of MississippiHonors

2014   Mississippi's Woman of the Year in Education by the Commission on the Status of Women
2014   Outstanding Community Leader for South Mississippi and named to Roland Weeks Hall of Fame
           by the Gulf Coast Chamber of Commerce
2014   Graduate of Leadership Gulf Coast Program
2013   Woman of the Year Award for the Mississippi Gulf Coast by Business and Professional Women
2010   Francis Asbury Award for Leading in Education by the United Methodist Church Mississippi Conference
2008   Outstanding Leadership Award by the American Council on Education, Mississippi Women’s Network
2008   International Shield Award for Outstanding Professional Accomplishments by Delta Gamma Fraternity
2007   Leonard Goldman Citation for Outstanding Service to Students by Associated Colleges of the South
2007   Pillars of the Profession Award by the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators
2005   Most Outstanding College President by American Football Association
2004   Outstanding Mississippi Woman Award by the Mississippi State University Women’s Commission
2003   Vision Award by the India Association of Mississippi
2002   Mississippi Business Woman of the Year by the Mississippi Business Journal
2000   Lifetime Achievement Award by Emory University Campus Life
1998    Bob Leach Award for Outstanding Contribution to Furthering Diversity by the Southern Association of
            Student College Administrators
1995    John Jones Award for Outstanding Performance by a Dean by the National Association of Student Personnel
            Administrators Region III
1991    Most Outstanding Woman Administrator by Baldwin Wallace College
1984    Mississippi’s Outstanding Young Career Woman by Business and Professional Women
1978    Most Outstanding Senior Woman by Mississippi State University
1978    Who’s Who Among American College Students
1976    Mortar Board
1975    Omicron Delta Kappa