BURNABY, B.C. – Dr. Peter Ruben has been a faculty member at Simon Fraser University since 2006. A professor in the Department of Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology, he also held the role of Faculty Athletic Representative with the SFU Red Leafs since the school was approved to join the NCAA in 2009.
 
In this role, Dr. Ruben works closely with varsity student-athletes to ensure they are on track academically.
 
"It's partly a position that helps ensure student-athletes are progressing well towards their degree," Ruben says. "Their degree is going to be important and so making sure that they are getting to finish their degree, successfully and in a timely way, and that there aren't a bunch of roadblocks towards their progress is kind of what my role is."
 
He says working with student-athletes on Burnaby Mountain has been a pleasure.
 
"The best students I've met at SFU have been student-athletes, I mean, really high-achieving people, getting great grades and while also being wildly successful in their sport," says Ruben.
 
He attributes this to the student-athletes' drive to succeed and determination to reach their academic and sport goals.
 
Another responsibility for Dr. Ruben is to help coordinate class scheduling issues.
 
"I get involved in trying to problem solve and find ways for students to not lose credit for being away, in a competition," he explains. "So, if they're going to miss an exam and if the instructors, understandably, don't want to have to write a makeup exam because that's more work for them, then there are ways of getting around that and I help navigate those waters and make it possible for the student-athlete to remain successful without putting undue burden on their instructor."
 
Dr. Ruben says he was impressed before taking on the FAR position.
 
"I started meeting student-athletes and getting my mind blown by how special they are."
 
Shortly after that, he was approached by SFU's then-athletic director and asked to take on the position he has now worked for 16 years.
 
"It was a couple of years after I first came to SFU," Ruben recalls. "I was approached by the athletic director at the time and he asked me whether I would consider being a Faculty Athletic Rep. I was chair of Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology and by virtue of our program, we've got a lot of student-athletes in our classes. So I met him and I really hit it off with him so I said sure, not realizing how interesting and important a role it has become for me."
 
Dr. Ruben says he's very happy he took on the task of being the Red Leafs' Faculty Athletic Representative.
 
"It seemed like a worthwhile thing to do and I was in a good position to do it and it was an opportunity to give service to the university and I'm really glad that I did."
 
As is SFU, the only Canadian school in the NCAA.
 
At the Red Leafs' year-end recognition ceremony in April, Dr. Ruben was presented with the Director's Award for his lasting contributions to SFU Athletics.
 

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It is just one honour in a career full of them for Dr. Ruben. His work as FAR was also celebrated in 2020, when he won the Great Northwest Athletic Conference Student-Athlete Advisory Committee's (SAAC) Faculty Mentor Award.
 
At the time, golfer Laura Jones provided this tribute.
 
"Dr. Peter Ruben is one of the most approachable faculty members we have," she said. "He makes himself available to help athletes in any way he can, be it resolving exam conflicts, offering advice or supporting us in achieving our academic goals.
 
"Every year, Peter introduces himself to the freshmen as our faculty athletic representative and offers to be a resource. I remember feeling that his invitation seemed very genuine and decided to send him an email asking for advice on getting involved in research. Despite knowing very little about electrophysiology, I was welcomed into Peter's lab and he has kindly mentored me for the past three years. He has supported me in athletics and academics through my undergraduate career and played an instrumental role in my medical school application."
 
Dr. Ruben is now in his final stretch at the university as he is retiring in September.
 
"I'm going miss the role," says Ruben, who has also been a member of the school's Faculty Senate. "I'm going to miss all my different roles at SFU, but it's been a great way to serve the university."
 
Dr. Nadine Wicks will be taking over as Faculty Athletic Representative.
 
"My successor will be great, Nadine Wicks, she's also an instructor in my department, and she's going to be fantastic. She's even more of a sports fan than I am. I wish her all the best."
 
Dr. Ruben has had a wonderful career at SFU and put a lot of time in behind the scenes with the athletics department to ensure student-athletes can reach their full potential in the classroom and in their sport.
 
Congratulations to Dr. Ruben and all the best in retirement.