Lisa Rossbacher
Dr. Lisa A. Rossbacher, is the president emerita of Southern Polytechnic State University and the outgoing President of Humboldt State University. She served as president of Southern Polytechnic State University from August 1998 to June 30, 2014. A geologist, writer, professor, former Vice Chancellor of the University System of Georgia, 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. 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. Rossbacher is married to Dallas D. Rhodes, the former Department Chair of Geology and Geography at Georgia Southern University. 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 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. 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. 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. 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. Rossbacher is also credited with increasing enrollment and retention by  an average of 20% each, adding almost 10 new degrees, and commissioning five new buildings on campus. 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. Works. As a scientist for  NASA, she focused her research interests on the role of water and water ice on Mars