Millsaps College will press on with major fund-raising campaigns, building improvements and academic upgrades under the leadership of new President Frances Lucas-Tauchar.

Lucas-Tauchar unveiled some of her goals for the United Methodist Church-affiliated school during a luncheon speech Tuesday before the North Jackson Rotary Club. Going to work July 1, Lucas-Tauchar said she brings experience in "friend-raising" and will continue to do so before knocking on corporate and foundation doors to promote Millsaps

Retiring Millsaps President George Harmon is wrapping up a record $80 million New Century of Light campaign this spring. The campaign has helped finance the new Maurice H. Hall Physical Activities Center and a renovated Boyd Campbell College Life Center on the Jackson campus. Also including a college plaza, the new facilities cost $17.3 million.

"There are more buildings to build," Lucas-Tauchar told the group at Primos Northgate restaurant. After he speech, Lucas-Tauchar said construction of a performing arts center, a major redesign of the college chapel and a new library would top her list of future building projects. Students say her building goals are on target and so is her leadership style.

"We need a new library more than anything," said Millsaps freshman Shannon Buckley, 17, of Jackson. During recent visits, Lucas-Tauchar was "very outgoing and receptive to students and faculty," Buckley said. "I think it will be very interesting to have a female president for a liberal arts college."

Lucas-Tauchar "brings enthusiasm to the college," said junior Jason Stine, 21, of Lake Charles, La.

Lucas-Tauchar's other school priorities include raising more funds to boost student scholarships and to attract and retain prominent professors. "The focus will be on more endowed faculty chairs," she said. "We want to keep the momentum going."

The scholarships will help students and parents meet rising costs. In 1999-2000, Millsaps tuition stood at $14,190. Students also pay $839 in fees. Room and board costs run between $5,616 and $6,595 annually. This year, about 98 percent of the freshmen received some type of financial aid, Lucas-Tauchar said.

The daughter of retired University of Southern Mississippi President Aubrey Lucas, the Jackson native will soon leave her post as senior vice presdient for campus life at Emory University in Atlanta. The first woman to head Millsaps in its 110-year history, Lucas-Tauchar this fall will cheer on the Majors as the school rnews its football rivalry with nearby Mississippi College.