Lisa Jackson

Lisa Jackson
Name	Lisa Jackson
Birth date	8 February 1962
Birth place	* Philadelphia * New Jersey (raised)
Occupation	Environmental regulator, administrator, executive
Alma mater	Tulane University (B.S.), Princeton University (M.S.)
Offices	Administrator of the United States Environmental Protection Agency (2009–2013); Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (2006–2008)

Lisa Jackson

Lisa Jackson is an American environmental official and executive who served as Administrator of the United States Environmental Protection Agency under President Barack Obama and later held senior roles in state government and the private sector. She has worked on air quality, Clean Air Act implementation, chemical safety, and climate-related policy, and has served in leadership at the intersection of public administration and corporate sustainability. Jackson's career spans federal service, state cabinet leadership, and executive positions with multinational corporations and philanthropic organizations.

Early life and education

Jackson was born in Philadelphia and raised in New Jersey, where she attended public schools in Delaware Township, Hunterdon County, New Jersey and nearby communities. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from Tulane University and a Master of Science in Chemical Engineering from the Princeton University Princeton School of Engineering and Applied Science. During her studies she trained in chemical process engineering and environmental modeling, with mentors affiliated with American Chemical Society chapters and academic research groups at Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory and regional environmental laboratories.

Career in environmental policy

Jackson began her professional career in air quality and environmental regulation at the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) and then in federal programs, holding technical and managerial roles related to emissions control and permitting. She worked on implementation of the Clean Air Act provisions, collaborating with staff from the Environmental Protection Agency regional offices, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration scientists, and state-level regulators. Jackson's portfolio included collaboration with regional authorities such as the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey on industrial emissions, and partnerships with nonprofit organizations including Natural Resources Defense Council and Environmental Defense Fund on policy development. Her work often intersected with legal frameworks administered by the United States Department of Justice and with science advisory groups convened by the National Research Council.

Leadership at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

President Barack Obama nominated Jackson to be Administrator of the United States Environmental Protection Agency, and she was confirmed by the United States Senate in 2009. As EPA Administrator she led rulemaking and enforcement actions on greenhouse gas emissions rules, fuel efficiency coordination with the Department of Transportation, and implementation of national standards under the Clean Air Act and the Clean Water Act. Jackson oversaw responses to high-profile incidents involving chemical contamination, coordinating with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and state public health agencies. She engaged with international counterparts including officials from the United Nations Environment Programme and delegates to Conference of the Parties meetings on climate change. Under her leadership the EPA advanced policies on mercury emissions standards, cross-state air pollution transport rules, and chemical safety reviews tied to the Toxic Substances Control Act.

New Jersey government and state-level roles

Before joining the EPA, Jackson served as Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection under Governor Jon Corzine. In that capacity she directed state environmental programs including permitting, enforcement, and coastal resource management, working with agencies such as the New Jersey Pinelands Commission and the New Jersey Meadowlands Commission. She coordinated disaster response and environmental remediation with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers following coastal storms, and implemented state-level initiatives on brownfield redevelopment and water quality standards in partnership with the New Jersey Department of Transportation and municipal governments. Jackson also engaged with regional planning bodies including the Delaware River Basin Commission on watershed management.

Private sector and nonprofit work

After leaving federal service Jackson moved into senior roles in the private sector and philanthropy, serving as a vice president for environmental affairs and policy at Apple Inc., where she directed corporate environmental strategy, renewable energy procurement, and supplier responsibility initiatives. She has worked with multinational corporations, trade associations, and nonprofit foundations to advance sustainability practices and chemical stewardship programs, collaborating with organizations such as World Resources Institute, The Nature Conservancy, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation on resilience and environmental health projects. Jackson has also participated in advisory capacities for academic institutions including Princeton University and Harvard University centers focused on environmental science and public policy.

Awards and recognition

Jackson's public service and leadership have been recognized with awards and honors from professional and advocacy organizations. She has received distinctions from groups including the American Chemical Society, the National Audubon Society, and the Environmental Law Institute for contributions to environmental protection and policy. National media outlets and policy institutes such as The New York Times and the Brookings Institution have profiled her career, and she has been listed among influential leaders in lists compiled by Time (magazine) and other publications.

Category:Administrators of the United States Environmental Protection Agency Category:People from Philadelphia Category:Tulane University alumni Category:Princeton University alumni