Lisa Rossbacher

Dr. Lisa A. Rossbacher, is the president emerita of Southern Polytechnic State University and the outgoing President of Humboldt State University.[2] She served as president of Southern Polytechnic State University from August 1998 to June 30, 2014. A geologist,[3] writer, professor, former Vice Chancellor of the University System of Georgia,[4] and community leader, she is also a past Chair of Metro Atlanta's Cobb Chamber of Commerce, an author of several books on geology, and a Geotimes Magazine columnist.[5][6]

Dr. Lisa A. Rossbacher
President of
Humboldt State University
Assumed office
July 2014
Preceded byDr. Rollin C. Richmond
Personal details
BornFredericksburg, VA
Spouse(s)Dallas D. Rhodes[1]
ResidenceArcata, California
Alma materDickinson College, Princeton University, SUNY
ProfessionScientist, writer, Academic Administrator

Personal life and education

Rossbacher was born in Fredericksburg, VA, and resided in Dahlgren, Virginia 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.[7]

Rossbacher is married to Dallas D. Rhodes,[8] the former Department Chair of Geology and Geography at Georgia Southern University.[1][9]

Rossbacher began her academic studies at Dickinson College. She graduated from Dickinson with a Bachelor of Science in Geology. She attended graduate school at the State University of New York at Binghamton and received a Master of Arts in Geological Sciences. Rossbacher completed her academic studies at Princeton University, receiving both a M.A. and PhD in Geological and Geophysical Science.

Early career

Throughout her academic studies, and prior to her appointment at Southern Polytechnic State University, Rossbacher had worked for various government and non-profit institutions. She performed research for NASA[10] as an Astronaut Candidate, and provided services for National Public Radio,. and the U.S. Geological Survey.[3] She was serving as Dean of the College at Dickinson College prior to her appointment as president at Southern Polytechnic State University.

President of Southern Polytechnic State University

In 1998, the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia appointed Rossbacher as the second president of Southern Polytechnic State University. As president of SPSU, Rossbacher was the chief officer and spokesperson of the second largest engineering technology university in the nation.[11] 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.

Rossbacher focused many of her leadership efforts on environmental sustainability by gearing the university's campus towards a greener environment through its operations and structure. In 2007, 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.[12] 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. 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.[13]

Rossbacher is also credited with increasing enrollment and retention by an average of 20% each,[14] adding almost 10 new degrees,[14] and commissioning five new buildings on campus.[14]

9/11 Controversy

The Southern Polytechnic State University campus never closed, and classes were never cancelled, during the September 11 attacks. Dr. Rossbacher failed to contact campus police until "around eleven-ish," after the second tower collapsed, and no campus bulletins were issued. Dr. Rossbacher and University Police Captain George Scott later argued that there was no threat to the Southern Polytechnic State University campus, despite the fact that the campus is located next to Dobbins Air Reserve Base.[15]

Works

As a scientist for NASA, she focused her research interests on the role of water and water ice on Mars[3]

Books
  • 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)

Awards and honors
  • Woman of the Year (2007), Cobb County Branch of the American Association of University Women[16]

See also

References
  1. "New Humboldt State President Announced: Meet Lisa Rossbacher of Georgia". Retrieved August 11, 2014.
  2. "Board of Regents salutes SPSU president, conveys emerita status". Archived from the original on October 10, 2014. Retrieved September 7, 2015.
  3. "About President Rossbacher". Archived from the original on April 18, 2018. Retrieved September 7, 2015.
  4. "SPSU's Rossbacher to Serve As USG Interim Chief Academic Officer". Retrieved September 7, 2015.
  5. "Pick Up Your Pencils, Please". Archived from the original on December 5, 2008. Retrieved December 19, 2008.CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  6. "The New Georgia Encyclopedia". Retrieved December 1, 2008.
  7. "Leadership As Solid As A Rock" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on July 17, 2011. Retrieved December 19, 2008.
  8. "CSU Trustees Appoint Lisa A. Rossbacher as President of Humboldt State University". Retrieved January 6, 2015.
  9. "Georgia Southern University, Department of Geology and Geography". Retrieved September 7, 2015.
  10. "Biographies of Astronaut and Cosmonaut Candidates". Retrieved December 19, 2008.
  11. "SPSU Ranked #1 Again". Retrieved December 23, 2008.
  12. "Presidents Climate Commitment". Retrieved September 7, 2015.
  13. "Marietta university expands, Governor helps break ground". Archived from the original on March 5, 2016. Retrieved September 7, 2015.
  14. "SPSU president to chair Cobb Chamber". Retrieved September 7, 2015.
  15. "SPSU and The Aftermath". The Sting Volume 54, Number 4. September 24, 2001. Retrieved September 11, 2019.
  16. "EDUCATION NOTEBOOK: Polytech's president is woman of year". Atlanta Journal-Constitution, The. June 21, 2007. Retrieved December 1, 2008.
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