Dr. Roettger was born in Massachusetts and grew up in Iowa. She earned both her Bachelor of Science in Allied Health and Medical Technology and Master of Science degree in Pathology from the University of Iowa, then a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Biomedical Sciences (focusing on Neurophysiology) from Wright State University.

Prior to RVU, Dr. Roettger spent three years at the University of Wisconsin-Madison conducting research on the role of the glutamate re-uptake transporter in stroke and three years at Oregon Health Sciences University conducting research on molecular biology and development of excitatory amino acid re-uptake transporters. For 21 years, she advised and taught undergraduate biology majors at Missouri Southern State University. In addition to teaching students, she supervised student research, taught a semester in London, and co-supervised numerous student trips to Central America, Europe, and the American Southwest (wow!). Now teaching at the graduate level, Dr. Roettger is excited for the challenge "of preparing students to actually become medical professionals and to see the students succeed in their chosen profession."

Dr. Roettger adores medieval English history. She is a reenactor of historical events. Her character, named Caelainn Ingen Chainnig, is an artisan and baker in the Society for Creative Anachronism. In her spare time, Dr. Roettger enjoys spending time with her furbaby Toffee, a 15-year-old longhair domestic cat, and her family: mother, two older sisters, two younger brothers, eight nieces and nephews, and numerous great-nieces and nephews. An interesting fact about Dr. Roettger is that, in 2011, she survived an F5 tornado in Joplin, Missouri. While her home was spared, helping with the recovery process strengthened her "faith in the goodness of people."