Lisa P. Jackson facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Lisa Jackson
Jackson in 2023
12th Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency
In office January 23, 2009 – February 19, 2013
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
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
Governor	Jon Corzine
Preceded by	Bradley Campbell
Succeeded by	Mark Mauriello
Personal details
Born	Lisa Perez (1962-02-08) February 8, 1962 (age 63) 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. She is well-known for her important work protecting our planet. From 2009 to 2013, she was the head of the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). She was the first African American person to hold this big job.

Before leading the EPA, Jackson worked for the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. She joined in 2002, helping to make sure environmental rules were followed. In 2006, New Jersey Governor Jon Corzine chose her to be the state's environmental protection commissioner. She also briefly worked as his chief of staff in 2008.

In December 2008, President-elect Barack Obama picked Jackson to lead the EPA. The U.S. Senate approved her on January 23, 2009. As EPA Administrator, she worked on making cars more fuel-efficient. She also helped the EPA respond to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Jackson also said that carbon dioxide is a public health threat. This gave the EPA power to set new rules for CO₂ emissions. She also suggested making smog pollution limits stricter. Jackson left the EPA in February 2013.

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 Pontchartrain Park, a neighborhood in New Orleans, Louisiana. This area was mostly home to middle-class African American families.

In 1979, Jackson finished high school as the top student at St. Mary's Dominican High School. She was very good at math and received a scholarship. This scholarship helped her get an early start in college.

She went to Tulane University with a scholarship from Shell Oil Company. A dean at the Tulane School of Engineering inspired her to study engineering. She graduated with honors in chemical engineering in 1983. Later, she earned a master's degree in chemical engineering from Princeton University in 1986.

Lisa Jackson is married to Kenneth Jackson. They have two children. Her mother lived in New Orleans when Hurricane Katrina hit in 2005. Jackson drove her mother out of the city to safety. The family lives in East Windsor Township, New Jersey.

Starting Her Career in Environmental Protection

As a child, Jackson did not feel a special connection to nature. But she became interested in environmental issues after learning about the Love Canal Disaster. This was a big news story about a contaminated area. Before joining the EPA, she worked for a group called Clean Sites. This group helped clean up polluted places.

In 1987, Jackson started working for the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). She was an engineer at their main office in Washington, D.C.. Later, she moved to the EPA's office in New York City. At the EPA, Jackson worked on cleaning up dangerous waste sites. She helped create rules for hazardous waste and managed big cleanup projects in New Jersey. She also became a deputy director in the enforcement division.

After 16 years at the EPA, Jackson joined the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) in 2002. She helped make sure environmental rules were followed. She also managed land use programs. She worked on plans to encourage smart growth in the right places. She also helped create rules for the Highlands Water Protection and Planning Act.

Leading New Jersey's Environmental Efforts

Jon Corzine, the Governor of New Jersey, 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 and improve New Jersey's land, air, and water. She also oversaw state parks, beaches, and wildlife programs. In July 2006, she had to close all state parks and beaches. This happened because of a state government shutdown over the budget.

As the state's main environmental enforcer, Jackson led efforts to check for pollution in cities like Camden and Paterson. These cities had many working-class people and people of color. Pollution had affected their health for a long time. Jackson started this work after talking with community members and businesses. Her department worked with state police and the federal EPA. They sent over 70 inspectors to check more than 1,000 places in these cities. This was the first of many such checks.

Becoming EPA Administrator

Jackson with Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus (center), and Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley (right)

On December 15, 2008, President-elect Barack Obama officially nominated Lisa Jackson to lead the Environmental Protection Agency. The U.S. Senate approved her on January 22, 2009. Jackson was the first African American to serve as EPA Administrator. She was also the fourth woman and second person from New Jersey to hold the job. She oversaw about 17,000 employees at the agency.

As Administrator, Jackson promised to focus on protecting air and water quality. She also worked to prevent people from being exposed to toxic pollution. A big goal was to reduce greenhouse gases. She said the EPA would use the best science and be very open about its work. She also made it a priority to help groups that are more sensitive to environmental threats. These include children, older people, and low-income communities.

She was the first EPA administrator to focus on changing the Toxic Substances Control Act of 1976. This law controls how new and existing chemicals are used. She said the law needed to be stronger and more modern.

In December 2009, Jackson stated that carbon dioxide and five other greenhouse gases were a threat to public health. This decision started a U.S. effort to control greenhouse gas emissions.

Jackson at a 2010 briefing on the Deepwater Horizon oil spill at the Coast Guard Station Venice in Venice, Louisiana

After the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig explosion in 2010, the Obama administration asked the EPA to help with the emergency. Jackson's agency watched for environmental and health problems during the oil spill. This included checking air and water quality. They also looked at how the spill affected sea life. Jackson approved the use of a chemical called Corexit to break up the oil. This decision was debated because some thought Corexit was too toxic. Jackson said using dispersants was a "tradeoff" and that they were "generally less toxic than the oils they break down." She also led a task force to help restore the Gulf of Mexico ecosystem.

In 2011, Jackson proposed stricter limits for air quality standards. This plan aimed to reduce smog pollution. Some economic advisors in Obama's administration did not agree with the stricter limits. President Obama later decided not to approve the stricter plan. Environmental groups were upset by this decision. Jackson said she respected the President's choice and would still work to improve air quality.

NASA Administrator Charles Bolden and Jackson sign an agreement in 2010 to continue collaboration between the two agencies.

Jackson also spoke about hydraulic fracturing, or "fracking." This is a method used to get oil and gas from the ground. She said she was not aware of cases where fracking itself had polluted water. However, some reports have linked fracking to water pollution.

She also talked about the proposed Keystone Pipeline. This pipeline would carry oil across the country. Jackson said it was important to have a big discussion about such a large project. She urged caution because the pipeline would cut "our country literally in half."

Jackson spoke out against a Senate proposal that would take away the EPA's power to control greenhouse gas emissions. She said that now was not the time to go "backward" on energy and environmental policies. She argued that stricter environmental rules would not hurt jobs. Instead, she said they would lead to less pollution and fewer health threats for children.

During her time at the EPA, Jackson faced criticism from the coal industry and some politicians. They disagreed with the EPA's rules on pollution from coal ash and power plants. Senator Jim Inhofe questioned the science behind climate change. Jackson responded that "The science behind climate change is settled, and human activity is responsible for global warming." She added that this conclusion was not about politics.

On December 27, 2012, Jackson announced she would leave her job as EPA Administrator. She left office on February 15, 2013. Bob Perciasepe took over as acting administrator.

Working at Apple

In 2013, Lisa Jackson joined Apple Inc.. She became the vice president of Environment, Policy and Social Initiatives. In this role, she works to make Apple more environmentally friendly. She also helps with the company's social programs.

Awards and Honors

• Member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, elected 2021