Jackson, Lisa P.

▪ American public official

in full  Lisa Perez Jackson 

born Feb. 8, 1962, Philadelphia, Pa., U.S.

      American public official who served as commissioner of New Jersey's department of environmental protection (2006–08) and as administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA; 2009– ) in the administration of Pres. Barack Obama (Obama, Barack).

      Jackson grew up in New Orleans, and she studied chemical engineering at Tulane University (B.A., 1983) and at Princeton University (M.A., 1986). In 1987 she took a job with the EPA. In her time with the agency, Jackson oversaw the cleanup of industrial sites under the federal Superfund program, and she managed enforcement programs in New York and New Jersey. In 2002 she joined New Jersey's department of environmental protection as director of that agency's enforcement division. She transitioned to the office of land use management before being promoted to commissioner of the department of environmental protection in 2006. During her term, she increased enforcement efforts, pledged to reduce carbon emissions in the state, and placed a moratorium on the hunting of black bears.

      In October 2008 Jackson was named chief of staff to New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine, and she assumed the duties of that office on December 1. Two weeks later, however, Obama tapped her to head the EPA, and she was confirmed by the Senate in January 2009, becoming the first African American to hold the post.

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