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Campus mourns passing of Professor Les Rubenfeld

With great sadness and deep regret, Dr. Shirley Ann Jackson wishes to inform the campus community of the sudden passing on July 18 of Lester Rubenfeld, Professor of Mathematics and Founding Director of the Center for Initiatives in Pre-College Education.

A Rensselaer faculty member for 43 years, Dr. Rubenfeld pursued research in the area of bifurcation theory and asymptotic expansions as applied to programs in elasticity theory, electromagnetic theory, and fluid dynamics. But Dr. Rubenfeld will always be fondly remembered as a tireless advocate focused on advancing pre-college science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education at Rensselaer, and within the surrounding communities. His motivation was to "empower young people to solve a breadth of real-world problems through the application of technology."

In remembering Dr. Rubenfeld, one colleague noted that "the world has lost a unique individual who cared very deeply about improving STEM education. Lester sincerely dedicated the latter part of his career to reforming instructional materials, classroom pedagogy, and professional development associated with K-12 education. He was a true champion for finding improved ways to engage students and faculty in the learning process, freely sharing his knowledge to help stimulate others to give their all to benefit students and educate society. His warm sense of humor, mentoring spirit, and passion to foster learning will be sorely missed."

Emphasizing the theme of many recent reports critical of the science and mathematics education in high school and grade school, Dr. Rubenfeld and others worked closely with several local school districts, and the New York State Education Department, to develop up-to-date programs and K-12 interactive, multimedia materials for use in the pre-college mathematics classrooms. Dr. Rubenfeld was also involved in the Empire State STEM Learning Network, an initiative focused on advancing the interdisciplinary teaching and learning of STEM education across New York state.

Those who knew Dr. Rubenfeld often heard him say, "Education reform and systemic change in the nation's classrooms can only come about when there are well-educated teachers who possess the most up-to-date skills and apply them to engaging, interactive classrooms."

For example, in 2008, several Rensselaer faculty members from various departments, along with Dr. Rubenfeld, created a STEM-based summer workshop on campus for several Cleveland, Ohio, high school teachers and administrators visiting from MC2STEM High School Hub and the Design Lab Early College High School - new STEM high schools that focus on innovative teaching and learning opportunities for students in the Cleveland Metropolitan School District. During the workshop, Rensselaer faculty members provided several innovative project-based learning sessions that gave participants experience in integrating transdisciplinary STEM-based tools, technologies, and practices into their high schools' curriculum. Since then, the ongoing collaboration has exposed participants to ways they can incorporate technology into classroom experiences using the principles of Rensselaer's Studio pedagogy.

To further support STEM education, Dr. Rubenfeld was also a Principal Investigator from the National Science Foundation to the New York State Department of Education, which seeks to reform STEM education in the six largest urban school districts in New York State.

As part of these activities, the Rensselaer Center for Initiatives in Pre-College Education (CIPCE) was formed. Launched nearly 13 years ago, CIPCE has been working with area K-12 teachers and students, as well as local, statewide, and national organizations, to promote the use of robotics in the classroom.

Ever the educator, Dr. Rubenfeld often said that "LEGO Robotics, and other interactive technologies, is the stuff that engulfs 21st century youngsters." Always speaking with a infectious enthusiasm, he stressed the importance of the technology in the lives of K-12 students. Dr. Rubenfeld worked tirelessly to ensure that CIPCE and Rensselaer maintained its leadership role in providing an ideal mechanism for Rensselaer, through its undergraduates, to impact the lives of hundreds of young people.

This year, more than 400 students, including groups from the Schenectady, Ballston Spa, and Amsterdam school districts, the Town of Clifton Park, and middle school children from around the Capital Region, are participating in the various summer academy programs developed by CIPCE, under Dr. Rubenfeld's leadership.

In addition to the summer offerings, Dr. Rubenfeld and his dedicated staff that he "couldn't imagine working without" also coordinated the annual FIRST LEGO(R) League (FLL) Challenge held at Rensselaer. Each December, hundreds of local students put eight weeks of research, design, and programming to the test, giving them the chance to participate at the FLL World Festival in Atlanta.

Over the years, it is obvious that Dr. Rubenfeld distinguished himself as a true champion for STEM education, a great friend, colleague, and mentor. As noted by the words of close friends and colleagues, Dr. Rubenfeld "was one of kind in his passion for advancing STEM education for youth of all ages and his devotion to family. To work with Les was to experience his unique blend of candor, curiosity, energy, expertise, and humor."

Speaking about his devotion to educating children and his family, one colleague noted that, "Les cared about children. His commitment to mathematics education and the STEM work we shared was only as important as the value it offered the children that it touched. At all times, he shared meetings with stories of his own grandchildren - pictures of each adorned on a pendant."

A former colleague also recalled Dr. Rubenfeld's friendship and mentorship. "He advised me, made me laugh, helped me understand education and its context, and connected his work with the entire world every day. His passion for learning and teaching melded seamlessly with his love of life. He was such an important person in my life, and in so many others' around him.... We will miss him, his energy, his humor, his incredible insight, incisive wit, and his great character."

Dr. Rubenfeld received a bachelor's degree in applied mathematics from the Brooklyn Polytechnic Institute, and his master's and Ph.D. degrees in applied mathematics from the Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences at New York University. Family members recall that Dr. Rubenfeld had expressed that formative years that he spent at Courant, surrounded by some of the century's greatest mathematical minds, helped to settle his approach towards learning and education. He is the author of twenty one research papers on applied mathematics and two graduate applied mathematics textbooks, and has conducted numerous workshops and institutes on mathematics inquiry.

During his tenure at Rensselaer, Dr. Rubenfeld was awarded the Rensselaer Distinguished Teaching Fellowship and the Jerome Fischbach Faculty Travel Award. Most recently, he was serving as faculty liaison for the RPI-Hillel student organization.

In 1992, Dr. Rubenfeld received the Community Service Award from the Hudson-Mohawk Association of Colleges and Universities for his work with Capital Region schools. He also served as a board member for the Troy Boys and Girls Club for several years, prior to his passing.

The magnitude of Dr. Rubenfeld's impact is immeasurable. He touched the lives of countless students and colleagues, and was a true and generous individual who will be greatly missed by members of the Rensselaer campus and surrounding communities.

Please join Dr. Jackson in including the Rubenfeld family in your thoughts and prayers in their time of grieving. In lieu of flowers, anyone wishing to do so may make any contribution to RPI Hillel, 800 Eighth Street, NW, Washington, D.C. 20001-3724.

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