Lisa P. Jackson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Lisa Jackson
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Jackson in 2023
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| 12th Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency | |
| In office January 23, 2009 – February 19, 2013 |
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| President | Barack Obama |
| Deputy | Bob Perciasepe |
| Preceded by | Stephen Johnson |
| Succeeded by | Gina McCarthy |
| Chief of Staff to the Governor of New Jersey | |
| In office December 1, 2008 – December 15, 2008 |
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| Governor | Jon Corzine |
| Preceded by | Bradley Abelow |
| Succeeded by | Edward McBride |
| Commissioner of Environmental Protection of New Jersey | |
| In office February 28, 2006 – November 30, 2008 |
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| Governor | Jon Corzine |
| Preceded by | Bradley Campbell |
| Succeeded by | Mark Mauriello |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Lisa Perez
February 8, 1962 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Kenneth Jackson |
| Children | 2 |
| Education | Tulane University (BS) Princeton University (MS) |
Lisa Perez Jackson (born February 8, 1962) is an American chemical engineer who has worked to protect our environment. She was the head of the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from 2009 to 2013. She was the first African American person to hold this important job.
Before working for the national EPA, Jackson worked for the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. She was also a top advisor to the Governor of New Jersey. After leaving the EPA, she joined Apple Inc. to lead their environmental efforts.
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Her Early Life and Education
Lisa Jackson was born in Philadelphia on February 8, 1962. She was adopted by Benjamin and Marie Perez when she was two weeks old. She grew up in New Orleans, Louisiana, in a neighborhood called Pontchartrain Park.
In 1979, Lisa graduated at the top of her class from St. Mary's Dominican High School. She was very good at math. She earned a scholarship that helped her learn about college early.
She went to Tulane University with another scholarship. She studied chemical engineering and graduated with top honors in 1983. Later, she earned a master's degree in chemical engineering from Princeton University in 1986.
Lisa is married to Kenneth Jackson and they have two children. Her mother lived in New Orleans when Hurricane Katrina hit in 2005. Lisa drove her mother to safety during the storm.
Starting Her Career in Environmental Protection
When she was a child, Lisa Jackson became interested in environmental issues. This happened after she learned about the Love Canal Disaster. This was a big problem where a neighborhood was built on top of buried toxic waste.
In 1987, Jackson started working for the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in Washington, D.C. She worked on cleaning up dangerous waste sites. These sites are called "Superfund" sites. She helped create rules for cleaning up these places. She also managed projects to clean up hazardous waste in New Jersey.
After 16 years at the EPA, Jackson joined the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) in 2002. She helped manage how land was used and how to enforce environmental rules. She worked on programs for water supply, water quality, and protecting natural areas. She wanted to encourage smart growth in the right places.
Leading Environmental Efforts in New Jersey
In 2006, the Governor of New Jersey, Jon Corzine, chose Lisa Jackson to lead the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. In this role, she managed nearly 3,000 staff members. Their job was to protect New Jersey's land, air, and water. She also oversaw state parks, beaches, and wildlife programs.
As the state's main environmental enforcer, Jackson led efforts to clean up pollution in cities like Camden and Paterson. These cities had many working-class families and people of color. They had suffered from pollution for a long time. She worked with local leaders, police, and the federal EPA. They sent many inspectors to check for pollution in these areas.
Working for the Governor
In late 2008, Governor Corzine asked Lisa Jackson to be his Chief of Staff. This meant she would be his main advisor. But just a few days after starting this job, she was chosen for a much bigger role.
Becoming the Head of the EPA
On December 15, 2008, President-elect Barack Obama nominated Lisa Jackson to be the Administrator of the United States Environmental Protection Agency. The U.S. Senate approved her on January 22, 2009. She started her new job the next day.
Lisa Jackson was the first African American person to lead the EPA. She was also the fourth woman to hold this position. As EPA Administrator, she led about 17,000 employees.
Jackson promised to focus on protecting air and water quality. She also wanted to prevent people from being exposed to toxic chemicals. A big goal was to reduce greenhouse gases that cause climate change. She made it a priority to help groups like children and the elderly. These groups are often more affected by pollution.
Tackling Big Environmental Challenges
Jackson was the first EPA Administrator to work on changing the Toxic Substances Control Act of 1976. This law controls how new chemicals are used. She felt the law needed to be stronger and more modern.
In 2009, Jackson announced that carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases were a threat to public health. This decision gave the EPA the power to set new rules for these gases.
After the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig explosion in 2010, a huge amount of oil spilled into the Gulf of Mexico. Jackson's agency helped manage the cleanup. They checked the air and water quality. They also looked at how the spill affected marine life. The EPA allowed the use of a chemical called Corexit to break up the oil. This decision was debated. Jackson explained it was an "environmental tradeoff." She said that the dispersants were generally less toxic than the oil itself.
In 2011, Jackson proposed stricter limits on smog pollution. This plan was based on scientific advice. However, President Obama decided not to approve the stricter limits at that time. Environmental groups were upset, but Jackson stayed with the EPA. She said she respected the President's decision.
Jackson also spoke about hydraulic fracturing, or "fracking." This is a way to get natural gas from the ground. She said she was not aware of cases where fracking itself had contaminated water. However, other reports have linked fracking to water pollution in some cases.
She also talked about the proposed Keystone Pipeline. This was a large pipeline project to carry oil across the country. Jackson urged caution about the project. She said it was a "pipeline that cuts our country literally in half."
Jackson also spoke out against a proposal in the Senate. This proposal would have stopped the EPA from regulating greenhouse gas emissions. She argued that this would be a "big step backward" for America's energy future. She said that big polluters wanted to use our air and water as dumping grounds.
Leaving the EPA
During her time at the EPA, Jackson faced criticism from some groups. The coal industry and some politicians disagreed with her rules. They argued that EPA rules were too strict and hurt the economy. Senator Jim Inhofe was a strong critic. He did not believe that human activity caused global warming. Jackson responded that "The science behind climate change is settled, and human activity is responsible for global warming."
On December 27, 2012, Lisa Jackson announced she would leave her job as EPA Administrator. She left office on February 15, 2013. She was replaced by Bob Perciasepe for a short time, and then by Gina McCarthy.
Her Work at Apple
In 2013, Lisa Jackson joined Apple Inc.. She became the vice president of Environment, Policy and Social Initiatives. She reports directly to Apple's CEO, Tim Cook. In this role, she helps Apple become more environmentally friendly.
Awards and Recognition
- Member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, elected 2021
