The Alumni Magazine for Worcester Polytechnic Institute. (WPI)
Issue link: http://wpialumnimag.epubxp.com/i/277771
46 Spring 2014 ON FOUNDERS DAY 2013, more than 100 alumni, students, faculty, and staff gathered on campus to rename the Campus Center in honor of one of WPI's most dedicated alumni leaders: Steve Rubin '74. "Ever since this place was built, it has been the Steve Rubin Center," said Warner Fletcher, chairman of the Board of Trustees. Interim president Phil Ryan '65 noted the re- naming was especially appropriate because the Rubin Campus Center is where people on cam- pus talk, debate, and connect. "Steve is all about building relationships and connecting people," Ryan said. Indeed, Rubin's commitment to WPI is motivated by its people. "I love the people at WPI," says Rubin, an entrepreneur with several successful ventures to his credit. "When I started my frst company, I hired a bunch of WPI graduates. I realized that I had the opportunity to hire people who were smarter than me. I learned that having people with creative ideas and helping them with management and marketing really creates success." One of the frst graduates of the WPI Plan, Rubin is the founder and past CEO of Intellution, an industrial software company. He currently serves as president and CEO of Recognisis, a software company which helps institutions track and manage how donors are recognized. Drawing on his business experience, Rubin frst became involved with WPI through the WPI Venture Forum, serving on its executive board. In 1996 he was elected to the WPI Board of Trustees. He served on the Advance- ment, Academic Planning, Marketing, and Executive Compensation committees, as well as on the search committee that elected Den- nis Berkey as WPI's 15th president. In 1999, in recognition of what turned out to be just the start of a remarkable record of service, Rubin received the WPI Alumni Association's Herbert F. Taylor Award for distinguished ser- vice to WPI. Rubin chaired the Board of Trustees from 2010 to 2013, during a time of signifcant ex- pansion and recognition for the university. He led the quiet phase of if…The Campaign to Ad- vance WPI, the university's $200 million fund- raising endeavor, helping the campaign reach more than $110 million by its public launch in May 2012. During his tenure as chair, Rubin also became a presence on campus. "I spent about three days a week on campus, and I enjoyed walking around to see people and listen to them." Most often Rubin could be found in the Campus Center, meeting with a student team or a faculty member at one of the tables outside the bookstore. He has deep and broad connections with students and faculty upon which to draw. He was also an avid sup- porter of the Trustee Mentor Program, estab- Rubin Campus Center Honors Alumni Leader Steve Rubin '74 exemplifes alumni engagement if... campaign Steve Rubin '74 (center) with his Phi Gamma Delta fraternity brothers WPI_spring14_Advancement.indd 46 3/9/14 2:16 PM