Busch-Vishniac received her bachelor's degree in physics and mathematics (magna cum laude) from the University of Rochester in 1976.
She then received her master's degree in 1978 and her PhD in 1981, both in mechanical engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
[5][6] In December 2011, Busch-Vishniac was selected as the ninth President of the University of Saskatchewan, replacing Peter MacKinnon with effect from July 2012.
[10] In June, 2015, Busch-Vishniac filed a lawsuit over her firing seeking $8.5 million in damages, naming Saskatchewan Premier, Brad Wall, former Minister of Advanced Education, Rob Norris, as well as the university and Board of Governors and alleging that both the Premier and former Minister unlawfully influenced the Board's decision in her firing.
[14] Busch-Vishniac received the ASA Silver Medal in Engineering Acoustics in 2001 for her work in developing novel electret microphones and of precision micro-electro-mechanical sensors and positioners.