Lisa Rossbacher

Lisa A. Rossbacher
President
Southern Polytechnic State University
Term	August 1998 – Current
Predecessor	Dr. Stephen R. Cheshier
Successor	Incumbent
Born	Fredericksburg, VA
Alma mater	Dickinson College Princeton University SUNY
Residence	Marietta, GA
Profession	Scientist, Writer
Spouse	Dr. Dallas D. Rhodes
Website	SPSU.EDU

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.

Personal life and education

Dr. 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.

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.

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 NASA as an Astronaut Candidate, and provided services for National Public Radio,^{[citation needed]} and the U.S. Geological Survey.^{[citation needed]} 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.

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 Chancellor 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.

Works

Dr. Rossbacher is an award-winning author who has written and contributed to several books and columns. As a scientist for NASA, 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 Science
• 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 Regents
• Southern Polytechnic State University
• University System of Georgia
• Student Advisory Council of Georgia

External links

• Geological Society of America
• SPACE FACTS
• Turknett.com
• The New Georgia Encyclopedia
• Southern Polytechnic State University
• Geotimes Magazine
• Atlanta Journal-Constitution
• University System of Georgia