Lisa Rossbacher
Encyclopedia
Lisa A. Rossbacher, Ph.D., is the current president of Southern Polytechnic State University
—the first woman geologist to serve as a university president in North America
. A geologist, writer, professor, former Vice Chancellor of the University System of Georgia
, and community leader, she is also Chair of Metro Atlanta
's Cobb Chamber of Commerce, an author of several books on geology, and a Geotimes Magazine columnist.
during her childhood. Employed by the U.S. Defense Department, her father performed research for the then Naval Weapons Lab while her mother managed domestic duties at home for Lisa and her two younger siblings.
Dr. Rossbacher is married to Dr. Dallas D. Rhodes, the Department Chair of Geology and Geography at Georgia Southern University
.
Dr. Rossbacher began her academic studies at Dickinson College
. She graduated from Dickinson with a Bachelor of Science
in Geology
. She later attended graduate school at the State University of New York
at Binghamton and received a Master of Arts
in Geological Sciences. Dr. Rossbacher completed her academic studies at Princeton University
, receiving both a M.A. and Ph.D. in Geological and Geophysical Science.
as an Astronaut Candidate, and provided services for National Public Radio, and the U.S. Geological Survey. She was serving as Dean of the College at Dickinson College prior to her appointment as president at Southern Polytechnic State University.
Dr. Rossbacher has focused many of her leadership efforts with environmental sustainability by gearing the university's campus towards a greener environment through its operations and structure. In 2007, Dr. Rossbacher partnered the university with the American College and University Presidents' Climate Commitment, sponsored by the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education. This commitment focuses on the leadership and action on climate change by providing support for colleges to evolve into climate neutral institutions and become role models for their communities. In 2008, the University broke ground on a new Engineering Technology Center and the expansion on the Studio Building, built in 1961. Dr. Rossbacher's commitment to sustainability influenced the construction plans, enabling them to be designed to meet the certification requirements established by the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Green Building Rating System.
Dr. Rossbacher is also credited with increasing enrollment and retention by an average of 20% each, adding almost 10 new degrees, and commissioning 5 new buildings on campus.
Erroll B. Davis of the University System of Georgia to serve as interim Executive Vice Chancellor and Chief Academic Officer when the position became vacant. She gladly accepted the temporary offer, under the condition that she return to SPSU as president once they found a permanent Vice Chancellor. She asked the system's Search Committee to not consider her as a candidate for the permanent position, citing her commitment to the growth of Southern Polytechnic State University.
In her role as Vice Chancellor, she served as the second-highest higher education official in the state. She was responsible for the academic needs of over 260,000 students and 10,000 faculty members across the University System of Georgia
. Fifteen of the 35 university system presidents reported to her while in this role.
, she focused her research interests on the role of water and water ice on Mars.
Southern Polytechnic State University
Southern Polytechnic State University is a public, co-educational state university located in Marietta, Georgia, USA just northwest of Atlanta...
—the first woman geologist to serve as a university president in North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
. A geologist, writer, professor, former Vice Chancellor of the University System of Georgia
University System of Georgia
The University System of Georgia is the organizational body that includes 35 public institutions of higher learning in the U.S. state of Georgia. The System is governed by the Georgia Board of Regents. It sets goals and dictates general policy to educational institutions as well as administering...
, and community leader, she is also Chair of Metro Atlanta
Metro Atlanta
The Atlanta metropolitan area or metro Atlanta, officially designated by the US Census Bureau as the Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Marietta Metropolitan Statistical Area, is the most populous metro area in the U.S. state of Georgia and the ninth-largest metropolitan statistical area in the United States...
's Cobb Chamber of Commerce, an author of several books on geology, and a Geotimes Magazine columnist.
Personal life and education
Dr. Rossbacher was born in Fredericksburg, VA, and resided in Dahlgren, VirginiaDahlgren, Virginia
Dahlgren is a census-designated place in King George County, Virginia, United States. The population was 997 at the 2000 census. The community is located within the Northern Neck George Washington Birthplace American Viticultural Area winemaking appellation established by the United States...
during her childhood. Employed by the U.S. Defense Department, her father performed research for the then Naval Weapons Lab while her mother managed domestic duties at home for Lisa and her two younger siblings.
Dr. Rossbacher is married to Dr. Dallas D. Rhodes, the Department Chair of Geology and Geography at Georgia Southern University
Georgia Southern University
Georgia Southern University is a national public university located on a campus in Statesboro, Georgia, USA. Founded in 1906, it is part of the University System of Georgia and is the largest center of higher education in the southern half of Georgia offering 117 academic majors in a comprehensive...
.
Dr. Rossbacher began her academic studies at Dickinson College
Dickinson College
Dickinson College is a private, residential liberal arts college in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. Originally established as a Grammar School in 1773, Dickinson was chartered September 9, 1783, five days after the signing of the Treaty of Paris, making it the first college to be founded in the newly...
. She graduated from Dickinson with a Bachelor of Science
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
in Geology
Geology
Geology is the science comprising the study of solid Earth, the rocks of which it is composed, and the processes by which it evolves. Geology gives insight into the history of the Earth, as it provides the primary evidence for plate tectonics, the evolutionary history of life, and past climates...
. She later attended graduate school at the State University of New York
State University of New York
The State University of New York, abbreviated SUNY , is a system of public institutions of higher education in New York, United States. It is the largest comprehensive system of universities, colleges, and community colleges in the United States, with a total enrollment of 465,000 students, plus...
at Binghamton and received a Master of Arts
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
in Geological Sciences. Dr. Rossbacher completed her academic studies at Princeton University
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
, receiving both a M.A. and Ph.D. in Geological and Geophysical Science.
Early career
Throughout her academic studies, and prior to her appointment at Southern Polytechnic State University, Dr. Rossbacher had worked for various government and non-profit institutions. She performed research for NASANASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
as an Astronaut Candidate, and provided services for National Public Radio, and the U.S. Geological Survey. She was serving as Dean of the College at Dickinson College prior to her appointment as president at Southern Polytechnic State University.
Presidency
In 1998, the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia appointed Dr. Rossbacher as the second president of Southern Polytechnic State University. As president of SPSU, Dr. Rossbacher acts as the chief officer and spokesperson of the second largest engineering technology university in the nation. Southern Polytechnic State University was founded in 1948 as a two-year division of Georgia Tech, and was organized as an independent university in the early 1980s.Dr. Rossbacher has focused many of her leadership efforts with environmental sustainability by gearing the university's campus towards a greener environment through its operations and structure. In 2007, Dr. Rossbacher partnered the university with the American College and University Presidents' Climate Commitment, sponsored by the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education. This commitment focuses on the leadership and action on climate change by providing support for colleges to evolve into climate neutral institutions and become role models for their communities. In 2008, the University broke ground on a new Engineering Technology Center and the expansion on the Studio Building, built in 1961. Dr. Rossbacher's commitment to sustainability influenced the construction plans, enabling them to be designed to meet the certification requirements established by the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Green Building Rating System.
Dr. Rossbacher is also credited with increasing enrollment and retention by an average of 20% each, adding almost 10 new degrees, and commissioning 5 new buildings on campus.
Vice Chancellor of the University System of Georgia
During the summer of 2007, Dr. Rossbacher was invited by ChancellorChancellor
Chancellor is the title of various official positions in the governments of many nations. The original chancellors were the Cancellarii of Roman courts of justice—ushers who sat at the cancelli or lattice work screens of a basilica or law court, which separated the judge and counsel from the...
Erroll B. Davis of the University System of Georgia to serve as interim Executive Vice Chancellor and Chief Academic Officer when the position became vacant. She gladly accepted the temporary offer, under the condition that she return to SPSU as president once they found a permanent Vice Chancellor. She asked the system's Search Committee to not consider her as a candidate for the permanent position, citing her commitment to the growth of Southern Polytechnic State University.
In her role as Vice Chancellor, she served as the second-highest higher education official in the state. She was responsible for the academic needs of over 260,000 students and 10,000 faculty members across the University System of Georgia
University System of Georgia
The University System of Georgia is the organizational body that includes 35 public institutions of higher learning in the U.S. state of Georgia. The System is governed by the Georgia Board of Regents. It sets goals and dictates general policy to educational institutions as well as administering...
. Fifteen of the 35 university system presidents reported to her while in this role.
Works
Dr. Rossbacher is an award-winning author who has written and contributed to several books and columns. As a scientist for NASANASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
, she focused her research interests on the role of water and water ice on Mars.
Books by Dr. Lisa A. Rossbacher
- 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)
Professional memberships (past and present)
- Cobb Chamber of Commerce (Chair, 2009)
- Fellow, American Association for the Advancement of ScienceAmerican Association for the Advancement of ScienceThe American Association for the Advancement of Science is an international non-profit organization with the stated goals of promoting cooperation among scientists, defending scientific freedom, encouraging scientific responsibility, and supporting scientific education and science outreach for the...
- Chair, Atlanta Regional Consortium for Higher Education (ARCHE) (2006–2008)
- Board Member, Georgia Chamber of Commerce
- Member, Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society
- Chair, Cobb YMCA Board of Directors (2006–2007)
- Regional Leadership Institute—Atlanta Regional Commission (2006)
- Diversity Leadership Academy of Atlanta (Inaugural Class, 2001)
Awards and honors
- Woman of the Year (2007), American Association of University Women (Cobb County Branch)
- Outstanding Science Trade Book for Children Award, Children’s Book Council and National Science Teachers Association
- Liberty Bell Award, Cobb County Bar Association (2007)
- Glass Ceiling Award, Cobb Executive Women (2006)
- Tribute to Women of Achievement Award, YWCA of Northwest Georgia (2004)
See also
- Georgia Board of RegentsGeorgia Board of RegentsThe Georgia Board of Regents oversees the University System of Georgia as part of the state government of Georgia in the United States. The University System of Georgia is composed of all state public institutions of higher education.-History:...
- Southern Polytechnic State UniversitySouthern Polytechnic State UniversitySouthern Polytechnic State University is a public, co-educational state university located in Marietta, Georgia, USA just northwest of Atlanta...
- University System of GeorgiaUniversity System of GeorgiaThe University System of Georgia is the organizational body that includes 35 public institutions of higher learning in the U.S. state of Georgia. The System is governed by the Georgia Board of Regents. It sets goals and dictates general policy to educational institutions as well as administering...
- Student Advisory Council of GeorgiaStudent Advisory Council of GeorgiaThe Student Advisory Council to the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia is composed of the Student Government Presidents of the 35 public colleges and universities in the University System of Georgia , organized to advise the Board of Regents, through the Chancellor, on issues that...