Dr. Aubrey Lucas

Aubrey K. Lucas is President Emeritus and Professor of Higher Education at The University of Southern Mississippi, where he served as President three different times for a total of 23 years. He had previously served as President of Delta State University for four years. From 2008-2009 he served as Interim Commissioner of Higher Education for the State of Mississippi.

He earned his B.S. and M.A. degrees from USM and received his Ph.D. degree from Florida State University. Mississippi College awarded him an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree.

Prior to becoming a university president, he served as an instructor at Hinds Community College; Director of Admissions, Registrar, Professor of Higher Education, and Dean of the Graduate School at USM.

He has served as a consultant to other colleges and universities; president of state, regional, and national organizations; chair of the American Association of State Colleges and Universities; and chair of the Board of Visitors of Air University. He has been inducted into many honor societies and fraternities. He is a tree farmer and is retired from the Board of Directors of Mississippi Power Company.

Dr. Lucas is active in civic and charitable organizations as well as the United Methodist Church. He has served as the Lay Leader for the Mississippi Conference and has served on the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry, the General Board of Global Ministries of the United Methodist Church, and on the Board of Directors of Africa University in Zimbabwe. He has served as Chair of the Center for Ministry at Millsaps College.

Dr. Lucas served as Chair of the Lauren Rogers Museum of Art Board of Trustees, Chair of the Hattiesburg Salvation Army Advisory Board, Chair of the Mississippi Arts Commission; Chair of the Mississippi Institute of Arts and Letters; Chair of the Board of Directors of the Hattiesburg Area Community Foundation, Chair of the Mississippi Economic Council, and has served on the Mississippi Humanities Council. He is a member of the Hattiesburg Convention Center Commission.
Dr. Lucas is a native of State Line, Mississippi, and he and his wife, Ella, have four adult children, eight grandchildren, and one great-grandchild.