Dr. Brent Ruben is Professor II of Communication, and Executive Director of the Rutgers Center for Organizational Development and Leadership (http://www.odl.rutgers.edu/). He is also Coordinator of the University Predoctoral Leadership Development Institute (PLDI) (http://www.odl.rutgers.edu/pldi/index.html), a member of the University Administrative Council, and a member of the Faculty of the Graduate School of Education.

Dr. Ruben’s scholarship focuses on communication systems theory, and on the translation of communication concepts to enhance personal and professional competence and organizational strategy in varying contexts—interpersonal, intercultural, organizational, health, educational and leadership. He is the author of more than 40 books and 200 journal articles and book chapters. Among his most recent books are: Strategic Planning in Higher Education (with S. Tromp, 2010); Assessing the Impact of the Spellings Commission: The Message, the Messenger, and the Dynamics of Change in Higher Education (with L. Sandmeyer, L. Lewis, T. Russ, S. Smulowitz, and K. Immordino, 2008), What Leaders Need to Know and Do (2006), Communication and Human Behavior, Fifth Edition (with L. Stewart, 2006); and Pursuing Excellence in Higher Education: Eight Fundamental Challenges (2004). He was also the founding editor of Communication Yearbook.

Brent is the 2004 recipient of the National Communication Association Gerald Phillips Award for Distinguished Applied Scholarship, and the 2003 recipient of National Association of College and University Business Officers Professional Development and Scholarship Award. He also received the Rutgers University Daniel Gorenstein Award for outstanding scholarship and contributions to the university (2000), and in 2006 was the first recipient of the Brent D. Ruben Award created by the National Consortium for Continuous Improvement in Higher Education (NCCI) to recognize distinguished leadership contributions in higher education.

Brent was one of the founding faculty members of the Department of Communication, and served as Chair of the department for a number of years. He was also the first Director of the integrated communication, information and library science Ph.D. Program.