Lisa Rossbacher facts for kids

Lisa A. Rossbacher is an American scientist and writer. She is also an academic administrator. This means she helps run universities.

She was the president of Southern Polytechnic State University. She also led Cal Poly Humboldt. She served as a Vice Chancellor for the University System of Georgia. Plus, she was the Chair of the Cobb Chamber of Commerce in Metro Atlanta.

Rossbacher is a geologist, which is a scientist who studies Earth. She has written several books about geology. She was also a columnist for Geotimes Magazine.

About Lisa Rossbacher

Lisa Rossbacher was born in Fredericksburg, Virginia, in 1953. She was the oldest of three children. She grew up in Dahlgren, Virginia. Her father worked for the U.S. Defense Department there. He did research for the Naval Weapons Lab.

Her Education Journey

Rossbacher went to Dickinson College. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Geology there. She then studied at the State University of New York at Binghamton. She received a Master of Arts degree in Geological Sciences.

She continued her studies at Princeton University. In 1983, she earned both a Master of Arts and a PhD. These degrees were in Geological and Geophysical Science.

Family Life

Lisa Rossbacher is married to Dallas D. Rhodes. He used to be the head of the Geology and Geography Department at Georgia Southern University.

Her Career Path

During her studies, Rossbacher worked for different groups. These included government and non-profit organizations. She did research for NASA as an Astronaut Candidate. She also worked for National Public Radio and the U.S. Geological Survey.

Working at Universities

From 1984 to 1993, she held several jobs at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona. One of her roles was Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs. After that, she became Vice-President for Academic Affairs at Whittier College for two years.

Rossbacher then returned to Dickinson College. She was the Dean of Faculty for three years. In 1998, she moved to Southern Polytechnic State University. She served as their President for 16 years. In 2014, she became President of Cal Poly Humboldt. She held this position for five years until she retired in 2019.

Leading Southern Polytechnic State University

In 1998, Lisa Rossbacher became the second president of SPSU. This university is known for its engineering technology programs. SPSU was first part of Georgia Tech. It became its own university in the early 1980s.

Focus on Green Campuses

As president, Rossbacher worked to make the university more environmentally friendly. She focused on environmental sustainability. In 2007, she joined SPSU with a program called the American College and University Presidents' Climate Commitment. This program helps colleges reduce their impact on the environment.

In 2008, the university started building a new Engineering Technology Center. Rossbacher made sure the building was designed to be green. It met the standards for the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System.

Growth and Development

Rossbacher also helped SPSU grow. Enrollment and student retention both increased by about 20%. She added eight new degree programs. Five new buildings were also built on campus during her time.

Campus Operations During a National Event

During the events of September 11, 2001, the SPSU campus remained open. Classes were not canceled. Rossbacher contacted campus police after the second tower collapsed. No special campus announcements were made. Dr. Rossbacher and the University Police Captain stated there was no threat to SPSU. The campus is located near Dobbins Air Reserve Base.

Her Published Works

As a scientist for NASA, Lisa Rossbacher studied Mars. She focused on the role of water and ice on the planet.

Books She Wrote

• Career Opportunities in Geology and the Earth Sciences
• Recent Revolutions in Geology
• Geomedia: A Guide for Geoscientists who meet the Press (with Rex Buchanan)
• Physical Geology: the Lab Manual (with geology faculty members at Princeton University and Whittier College)
• The Lab Book: Problem Solving in Geology (2nd Edition) Lisa A. Rossbacher et al

Awards and Recognition

Lisa Rossbacher has received several awards for her work.

• Woman of the Year (2007), from the Cobb County Branch of the American Association of University Women.
• Trailblazer Award (2015), from the California State University presidents. This award honors women in academia.

See also

• Georgia Board of Regents
• Southern Polytechnic State University
• University System of Georgia
• Student Advisory Council of Georgia