RALEIGH, N.C. — A familiar face officially takes the helm at

North Carolina State University

on Monday.

James Oblinger is the university's 13th chancellor. He was named to the post in October and immediately got down to work.

"I do have the advantage of knowing the lay of the land, so to speak," the new chancellor said.

James Oblinger has been with the university since 1986 in different administrative positions. He is well connected on and off campus.

"I've had good working relationships with the Legislature, for example. As a dean, I've worked in development and foundations, work related to a capital campaign that's going to be very important to us," he said.

He now heads up a university with 30,000 students and a budget of more than $800 million.

The university is in the initial phases of a $1 billion fund raising campaign.

Oblinger said raising money, increasing student enrollment and retaining faculty top his list of priorities.

"We're under pressure, as it relates to losing some of our best faculty, to other institutions that quite honestly are just willing and able to pay more salary and provide attractive start up packages to our faculty," he said.

As for his tenure at N.C. State, Oblinger said he is in it for the long haul.

"I enjoy facilitating success -- whether it's students, faculty or staff. And I like representing an institution that does the things that N.C. State has done, that N.C. State is doing and that N.C. State will do in the future," he said.

Oblinger will formally be installed in a ceremony in April.

Former chancellor Marye Anne Fox left N.C. State last year for a similar position in San Diego.