Lisa Beckett is Professor of Physical Education. Beckett joined the College in 1987 as Assistant Professor of Physical Education, Head Coach of Women’s Tennis, and Assistant Coach of Women’s Volleyball. While at the helm of Women’s Tennis (1987 to 1998) Beckett’s teams won seven SCIAC championships and seven NCAA championships (one team, two singles and four doubles). In 1992, Beckett’s team earned the Triple Crown of tennis when they won the NCAA team championship, singles championship and doubles championship, the first ever for Division III. In 2002, the entire 1992 squad, Head Coach Beckett, and Assistant Coach Curt Tong, were inducted into the Pomona-Pitzer Athletics Hall of Fame.
Beckett stepped down from coaching in 1998 to spend more time with her family, but remained with the College in the capacity of teaching and Physical Education Department administration.
As a Professor of Physical Education, Beckett teaches a variety of sport and fitness activities. Beckett’s passion lies in helping people realize that regular physical activity is essential to good physical and mental health, lifts the human spirit, creates important social connections, and brings joy to our lives. Beckett’s fitness classes, while designed to improve fitness knowledge and performance levels, also include lessons in nutrition, healthy lifestyle choices, and stress management. Beckett’s sport classes are designed to help the students develop a love for the sport activity, and a solid foundation of skills, which can then be built upon throughout a lifetime.
In her 31 years at Pomona, in addition to teaching and coaching, Beckett has served as Coordinator of Physical Education, Coordinator of Faculty/Staff Fitness and Wellness, Interim Department Chair/Director of Athletics, Associate Director of Athletics, Senior Woman Administrator, Coordinator of Compliance, Title IX Planning Committee Chair, and Interim Title IX Coordinator for the Dean of Students Office.
In the spring of 2017, Beckett was awarded a three-year appointment to the Exercise is Medicine® campus advisory group. Exercise is Medicine® is a special initiative, coordinated by the American College of Sports Medicine. The Exercise is Medicine® on Campus is a program calling upon universities and colleges to engage in the promotion of physical activity as a vital sign of health. EIM-OC encourages faculty, staff and students to work together toward improving the health and well-being of the campus community
Beckett earned a B.A. degree in Physical Education at Sonoma State University and an M.S. degree in Physical Education at Washington State University. Beckett played four years of tennis and volleyball, three years of softball, and a year of track at Sonoma State University. She was a tennis and volleyball team captain and was named the Sonoma State University Athlete of the Year in 1979.
Beckett's coaching background includes three years as assistant tennis coach at Washington State University, and three years at Sonoma State (two as the head coach). Beckett has also served as an instructor/coach for the University of San Diego Junior Tennis Program and field supervisor for the grassroots San Francisco Chapter of the National Junior Tennis League. She holds Fitness Training Certification from the Cooper Institute and a professional teaching certificate from the U.S. Professional Tennis Association.
Beckett enjoys her own fitness and recreational pursuits, including strength training, assorted cardio, tennis, table tennis, pickleball and hiking. She also enjoys spending time with her husband Dennis, and their three children, Holly, Denni Jo and Henry.
