Chief Research Officers
John C. Higginbotham, Ph.D., M.P.H., F.A.C.E.
University of Mississippi
Vice Chancellor for Research and Sponsored Programs
Chair of the Mississippi Research Consortium
Dr. John C. Higginbotham serves as the Vice Chancellor for Research and Economic Development at The University of Mississippi, bringing over 25 years of expertise in research, grant writing, and university leadership to his role as the university’s chief research officer.
He is deeply committed to fostering a vibrant research ecosystem by supporting faculty, staff, and students in pursuing innovative scholarly activities and creative projects across diverse disciplines, including social sciences, physical sciences, arts, and humanities. With a passion for interdisciplinary collaboration, Dr. Higginbotham actively promotes partnerships with communities, businesses, and industry to drive technological advancement, knowledge creation, and economic growth, aligning with the university’s strategic mission to enhance its reputation as a leader in innovation and discovery.
His leadership ensures that research opportunities are accessible and impactful, creating exciting possibilities for Ole Miss researchers to address society’s most pressing challenges while strengthening ties with external stakeholders.
Almesha Campbell, Ph.D
Jackson State University
Vice President of Research and Economic Development
Vice Chair of the Mississippi Research Consortium
Almesha L. Campbell, Ph.D., RTTP leads the strategic research and economic development agenda at Jackson State University (JSU), advancing a vision that centers on innovation, research excellence, and global impact. She provides executive oversight for JSU’s research enterprise, spanning sponsored programs, grants and contracts, compliance, technology transfer and commercialization, federal relations, and international programs. Her leadership supports research across multiple colleges, institutes, and centers.
With more than a decade of experience in technology transfer, Dr. Campbell has transformed JSU’s research enterprise by building a robust infrastructure and fostering a culture of innovation. She co-developed the JSU Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship—home to an XR Academy, eSports Lab, makerspace, and learning hubs—and created the JSU Innovation Fellows Program to empower students in innovation and entrepreneurship.
Dr. Campbell has secured approximately $12 million in competitive federal funding as Principal Investigator or Co-PI on high-impact projects, including the NSF Mid-South I-Corps Hub, NIH REACH Hub, NSF Engines Development Award, and the NSF Accelerating Research Translation program. She also leads transformative partnerships with organizations such as Princeton University, Google, and ExxonMobil, expanding opportunities for JSU students and faculty.
In 2023, Dr. Campbell made history as the first HBCU representative to chair the AUTM Board of Directors. She also serves on the advisory board of the Center for Advancing Research Impact in Society (ARIS) and is affiliated with national organizations including the Licensing Executives Society and the Society of Research Administrators International. She is also an honorary member of the National Academy of Inventors.
Dr. Campbell holds a Ph.D. in public policy and administration and a master’s in mass communications from JSU, as well as a bachelor’s degree from the University of Central Florida.
Kelly Lucas, Ph.D.
University of Southern Mississippi
Vice President of Research
Dr. Lucas is responsible for shaping the institution's research and economic development vision and mission. With a focus on fostering innovation and collaboration, Lucas expands research opportunities across disciplines and cultivates partnerships with industry, government agencies, academic institutions, and non-profit organizations. She provides oversight for research activities across four academic colleges and manages 10 research centers, two innovation clusters, and various research support units spread across multiple campuses and research sites at Southern Miss.
In her leadership roles, Lucas serves as the Executive Director of the USM Research Foundation and is a trustee for the Walter Anderson Museum of Art. She also sits on the boards of The Gulf of Mexico University Research Collaborative, the Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research/Institutional Development Award (EPSCoR/IDEA) Foundation and is a member of the Governor’s Gulf Coast Advisory Committee for Eco-restoration.
Lucas previously served as the Associate Vice President for Research Coastal Operations and in directorial roles at the Thad Cochran Marine Aquaculture Center and the Gulf Coast Geospatial Center. Before rejoining USM, she was the first Chief Scientific Officer for the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources. Prior to pursuing her doctorate, Lucas worked in sales and marketing.
A native of the Mississippi Gulf Coast, Lucas holds a doctoral degree in coastal science from USM, a Master of Business Administration from the University of Alabama-Birmingham, and a Bachelor of Science degree in microbiology from Mississippi State University. She has also served as the USM Science Fellow in the Office of Senator Thad Cochran, advising on ocean and atmosphere legislation and policy. Lucas has authored numerous scientific publications throughout her career and played a key role in establishing industry partnerships and securing grant funding.
Julie Jordan, Ph.D.
Mississippi State University
Vice President for Research and Economic Development
Dr. Jordan has served as Vice President for Research and Economic Development at Mississippi State University since 2019. As the chief research officer for Mississippi’s leading research university, she oversees MSU $340M research portfolio. As VPR, she serves as president of the MSU Research and Technology Corporation, and oversees the Thad Cochran Research, Technology and Economic Development Park.
Since becoming Vice President, Dr. Jordan has worked to maintain MSU’s growth and momentum in research. The portfolio has grown from $244M in FY18 to more than $340M in FY22. The Office of Research and Economic Development works to foster an innovative culture of multi-disciplinary teams of researchers with the right mix of administrative support to grow external funding that has an impact on the state and nation. Her teams work closely with state and local economic development leaders to advance the university’s role in creating research and innovation-driven economic growth in Mississippi.
Prior to her VP role, Dr. Jordan served as Associate Vice President for International Programs and Executive Director of the MSU International Institute from 2017-2019.
Jordan served seven years as director of MSU’s Research and Curriculum Unit. While at the RCU, she helped launch Computer Science for Mississippi (CS4MS), paving the way for MSU and the state of Mississippi to become a leader in computer science education at the K-12 level.
Dr. Jordan is a two-time graduate of MSU, earning a bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering and a master’s degree in education technology. She also earned a Ph.D. in international development from the University of Southern Mississippi. A resident of Columbus, MS, she is married with three sons and five grandchildren.
