The University of Southern Mississippi recently announced that longtime marine scientist Kelly Lucas has been named the associate vice president for research in coastal operations.
Lucas has served in that capacity on an interim basis since March of this year. In her role, Lucas will oversee all coast-based research units and will coordinate all coast-based research functions for the university.
A south Mississippi native, Lucas earned her undergraduate degree in microbiology from Mississippi State University; her Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Alabama at Birmingham and her doctorate in coastal sciences from USM.
She worked for USM’s Gulf Coast Geospatial Center as a scientist and deputy director from 2008-2013 before becoming the chief scientific officer at the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources in 2013. In 2016, she returned to USM as director of the Thad Cochran Marine Aquaculture Center. She will continue to serve in that capacity until a new director is named.
Gordon Cannon, vice president of research at USM, expressed confidence that Lucas will do an exemplary job of leading and expanding the university’s coastal research efforts.
“As we continue to advance our research programs on the Mississippi Gulf Coast and beyond, I am certain that Dr. Lucas’ knowledge of and commitment to our university, along with her background in marine science, will continue to facilitate our success,” Cannon said. “We are fortunate to have someone with Kelly’s legislative involvement. She worked closely with the state legislature as the chief scientist of the Department of Marine Resources, and she also has federal legislative experience as a university fellow in former U.S. Sen. Thad Cochran’s office.”
USM’s coastal community, coastal presence, proximity to the Gulf of Mexico and unique program offerings distinguish the university from other institutions of higher learning in the region. Last month, USM announced a comprehensive plan that will reshape the future of its coastal operations.
Three foundational pillars have been implemented to position the university’s academic and research programs along the Gulf Coast for even greater distinction and impact:
• Understanding the Ocean and Coasts, which encompasses ocean and coastal ecosystems from the coastline to the ocean’s surface to its deepest depths.
• Improving Coastal Resilience, which encompasses sustainable community development in the face of hazardous weather events, shifting climate conditions and associated social, economic, health and ecological impacts.
• Supporting the Blue Economy, which encompasses the economic conditions and opportunities unique to businesses, industries and government services that derive economic benefit from ocean and coastal resources.
“The realignment of USM coastal operations presents the opportunity for us to leverage our location and expertise in dynamic coastal and marine environments to provide research and programming opportunities that are distinctive for the communities we serve and worldwide,” Lucas said.
When asked if USM had only scratched the surface of research opportunities in coastal areas, Lucas offered: “We are engaged in amazing innovative research across the Gulf Coast, and we have opportunities to expand. The ocean economy is estimated to more than double this decade, and USM has key investments in all three coastal counties that have positioned us to be at the forefront of research supporting sustainable ocean economic growth.”
