Dean David M. Rubin of the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications will be stepping down as dean on June 30, 2008, he said in a phone interview Monday afternoon.

Rubin will return as a member of the Newhouse faculty for the 2009-2010 school year after he takes a year off to recharge, as well as to write.

Rubin said he informed both Chancellor Nancy Cantor and Donald Newhouse, the son of the school’s namesake, last week of his decision. The Newhouse faculty was informed Monday morning in a personal e-mail from the dean, and the plan was to be announced to the greater Syracuse University community on Wednesday.

‘It’s a good time for a transition,’ Rubin said. He added that a search committee will set up in the upcoming weeks with the goal of to have a successor in place by next June.

‘The Deanship should attract many exciting candidates,’ Rubin said in the e-mail sent to faculty Monday morning, which was obtained by The Daily Orange.

Rubin has been dean of the Newhouse school for 18 years and said the decision to retire as dean has been coming for a couple of years. He discussed his decision with his wife, Tina, and they agreed it was the right time, both for him and the school.

Rubin’s decision was based on his belief the school needs fresh blood at the top. ‘It’s time for some new vigor, new ideas,’ he said.

The dean wanted to move on before there was a sentiment that he should step down and said he thinks this is the best time to pass the torch, because there is no pressure for him to leave at this time.

‘It will be a good time, because the new building will have been open for a year,’ Rubin said, referring to the soon-to-be opened Newhouse III. Rubin secured the funds for the building and has been overseeing the development, construction and inauguration of the state-of-the-art addition.

Rubin’s final 14 months promise to be filled with serious decisions and preparation for a new administration. Not only will the school’s third building be inaugurated, but the school will also unveil a new curriculum and capital fundraising campaign.

His decision to return to the faculty after leaving his administrative position is similar to that of former SU Chancellor Kenneth ‘Buzz’ Shaw and former Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs Dean John Palmer. Shaw and Palmer are currently on the faculties at the Martin J. Whitman School of Management and Maxwell, respectively.

Rubin was instrumental in developing many elements of the Newhouse education that have become cornerstones for both students and faculty. His ties with faculty run deep, as 41 of the 65 professors at the school were hired during Rubin’s tenure, according to the news release.

‘I also want to assure you that this was my decision (and Tina’s, and Bobby’s and Ace’s) entirely,’ Rubin said in the faculty e-mail, referring to his wife and two shelties. ‘This, I am convinced, is the best course for the Newhouse School and for SU, and that’s all that matters.’

Both Vice Chancellor Eric Spina and Chancellor Nancy Cantor would have been happy for him to stay on, the e-mail said. A request for an interview with Spina was not returned.

In a news release sent to The Daily Orange last evening, Spina is quoted as saying: ‘He will be sorely missed as the ‘dean of deans,’ but his integrity, frankness and focus on quality leave a high mark for us all.’

Newhouse students appeared shocked when they were informed of Rubin’s decision.

‘I’m really surprised, I guess,’ said Jessica Cascio, sophomore public relations major. But once she heard he was not being forced down, she said, ‘Good for him, then, maybe he needs a break.’

Freshman broadcast journalism major Gordie Taylor admitted he didn’t know Rubin very well but still recognized the significance of the dean stepping down.

‘He’s built up such a reputation, it’s pretty sad to see him go,’ Taylor said.

Yet, even as a freshman, Taylor immediately recognized the importance in selecting a replacement. ‘They definitely have some shoes to fill,’ he said of Rubin’s successor.

Shoes that spent 18 years establishing Newhouse’s reputation as one of the premier communications programs in the nation and framed the school as one of the university’s most recognizable schools.

Looking back on his tenure as dean – which will have been three times longer than most serve – Rubin said, ‘That’s a really, really long time.’

The dean hopes to finally spend some time on his passions other than Newhouse.

‘I also hope to get back the same proficiency I had at the piano I had when I became dean in July of 1990 and have now, sadly, lost,’ he said in a SU News release sent to The Daily Orange on Monday night. ‘I intend to make Debussy, Ravel, Brahmas and Mozart close acquaintances again.’

Published on April 16, 2007 at 12:00 pm