Bucks County Community College officials announced that Lisa Burgess will join the College’s vibrant community of scholars to lead the School of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics as the Dean of STEM, effective July 1, 2025. Burgess, a community college graduate herself, has more than 25 years of higher education experience as an educator and administrative leader.
Burgess has extensive experience in STEM pedagogy and program assessment, curriculum development, faculty training and development, student success initiatives, strategic leadership, and grant management. She served in numerous capacities at Broward College as a professor of biological and physical sciences and coordinator for faculty professional development and currently serves as the Assistant Director for the Center for Teaching & Learning at Boston University. Burgess also brings a strong background in collaborating with industry partners and four-year institutions to develop clear academic and career pathways for STEM students.
An accomplished lecturer, Burgess has presented on numerous topics including co-presenting with University of Rhode Island faculty on generative AI in higher education in 2024; syllabus design for using AI in the classroom at Boston University in 2023; academic integrity in online science courses at the Entomological Society of America Annual Conference in 2021; and co-authored “Everyday Biology: #WhatsThePoint” in 2018 to showcase how the lessons taught in the lab can be used in our everyday lives.
Dr. Patrick M. Jones, President & CEO of Bucks County Community College, said, “Burgess possesses the enterprising spirit, business acumen, and dedication to quality STEM education to lead our School of STEM into a new era. She has the experience and skills to identify new opportunities for existing and new programs, secure resources through grants and philanthropy, and build strong partnerships with universities, institutes, research centers, and industry within our regional STEM ecosystem.”
In her role as Dean of the STEM School, Burgess will build on the College’s strong reputation in student transfer to R1 and R2 research universities and its location in a region rich with biotechnology, life sciences, pharmaceutical, and technology research centers and corporations.
The School of STEM is a dynamic community of more than 100 faculty scholars and professional staff members dedicated to high standards, academic achievement, and student success. The School offers Associate of Arts, Associate of Science, and Associate of Applied Science degrees in 14 disciplines including chemistry, biology, environmental science, neuroscience, cybersecurity, computer science, data and information science, engineering, mathematics, and biotechnology, as well as certificates and workforce and youth programs. The School has outstanding facilities, which include the 43,000 sq. ft. Science Center provisioned with 15 labs including specialized spaces for anatomy and physiology, environmental science, microbiology, chemistry, organic chemistry, electrical engineering, computer science, and mechanical engineering. The Science Center also features both a general purpose and cell and tissue culture lab for biotechnology.
“I am excited to join Bucks County Community College’s School of STEM,” said Burgess. “It is my honor to have been selected to lead such a dynamic and innovative team of educators and staff. Bucks is uniquely positioned to help shape the future of STEM education and workforce development in Bucks County.” Burgess added, “As a community college alumni, I know the challenges many students face when building their future. Community college is an integral pathway to change and growth for the community. I look forward to working alongside faculty, staff, and students to foster innovation, expand opportunities, and build powerful and collaborative relationships within local industry, which support our region’s future leaders in STEM.”
Burgess earned the Master of Science degree in biotechnology from John Hopkins University, the Master of Science degree in pharmaceutical sciences from the University of Florida, and the baccalaureate degree in biological sciences from Florida Atlantic University. She is a community college graduate who earned an associate degree in biological sciences from Broward College, part of the Florida College System.
