Rossbacher has been visiting with University of Alaska officials, faculty, students and community members over the past three days at the university's three main campuses in Fairbanks, Anchorage and Juneau. Fairbanks is the university's flagship campus. In November, Rossbacher was in the running for the presidency of the University of New Mexico, for which she was not selected.
The finalists were announced Sunday. In addition to Rossbacher, retired Air Force Gen. Patrick K. Gamble, president and CEO of the Alaska Railroad Corp., and John R. Pugh, chancellor of the University of Alaska Southeast in Juneau, are being considered for the presidency.
Rossbacher did not return calls for comment by press time Wednesday.
On Wednesday, Rossbacher and the other candidates met with the university's southeastern campus community in Juneau. They conducted similar day-long meetings Tuesday in Anchorage and Monday in Fairbanks.
The University of Alaska Board of Regents announced it will consult with its statewide advisory committee today. On March 15, the regents plan to meet again to discuss and possibly choose a final candidate.
The search began in the fall with about 32 candidates, according to the university.
Current president Mark Hamilton has led the 16-campus university since August 1998. Known for being an outspoken advocate for the university, he took over at a time of rather low morale because of crumbling facilities and chronic underfunding, according to board chair Cynthia Henry.
Board vice chair Tim Brady said in a statement, "We want to hear from our university stakeholders as well as the public about who they think could best lead this complex institution ... UA offers everything from workforce training certificates to four-year degrees, master's degrees, doctoral degrees and post-doctoral research opportunities.
"The UA system provides a $1 billion influx annually into Alaska's economy and is responsible for educating and training some 30,000 students each year - most of whom are Alaskans. We want a well-qualified president to follow the fine leadership and enthusiasm we've seen under Mark Hamilton the last 12 years."
Rossbacher has been president of SPSU since August 1998, when enrollment stood at 3,678. Enrollment passed 5,000 for the first time in the fall. There are 5,021 student enrolled for the spring semester. The university has undergone tremendous expansion in other areas over the past 12 years, from new degree programs to more than $100 million of new academic, housing and dining facilities either recently completed or in progress.
In 2009, Rossbacher served as chairwoman for the Cobb Chamber of Commerce. She is also active in the Marietta Kiwanis Club. Her husband, Dr. Dallas D. Rhodes, chairs the Georgia Southern University's department of geology and geography.
Rossbacher earned a master's degree and Ph.D. in geophysical sciences at Princeton in 1983.
She launched her academic career in 1982 at Whittier College in California, as an assistant professor of geology. She served as a professor and later associate vice president for academic affairs at California State Polytechnic University in Pomona, Calif., from 1987 to 1993. She returned to Whittier and served as vice president for academic affairs and dean of faculty from 1993 to 1995. From 1995 to 1998, Rossbacher was at Dickinson College in Carlisle, Pa., where she was dean of the college.
Rossbacher earned a bachelor's at Dickinson in geology in 1975 and a master's degree in geological sciences from the State University of New York at Binghampton in 1978.
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So SPSU should fire Rossbacher because she's looking for other work?
My father keeps telling me one should always be looking for work, and I think he's right.
She's been at SPSU 12 years, that hardly makes her fickle. I think your outrage is ...easily provoked.