After nearly four decades of dedication to higher education, longtime Paradise Valley Community College faculty and beloved Spanish professor Dr. David Rubí is retiring at the end of the Spring 2026 semester. Rubí’s impact has shaped generations of students, colleagues, and the broader college community.
At the heart of Dr. Rubí’s work has always been the students. His teaching philosophy centers on providing a well-rounded educational experience; one that goes beyond job training to emphasize critical thinking, communication, and self-reflection. And while he acknowledges the evolving landscape of higher education, he remains a strong advocate for the value of the liberal arts.
“Critical thinking skills are the most valuable,” he said. “Students need to learn how to challenge assumptions, support their ideas, communicate effectively, and grow as human beings.”
Dr. Rubí believes education should expose students to diverse perspectives and experiences, helping them not only prepare for careers, but also develop the skills to navigate life with insight and intention.“You have to be fair, you have to listen to them, and sometimes you have to be tough, but most of all, you want to orient them in a way that they can succeed in their chosen career.”
What has made Dr. Rubí’s career most meaningful are the moments of transformation he has witnessed in his students over the years.
“The wonderful thing about this job is when students come in and you see the light of learning turn on,” he reflected. “All those years of struggle and effort to which we commit ourselves as teachers, the years of preparatory and life-long learning, as well as self-reflection needed to hone our craft, all the work that goes into setting up our classes and continually improving them, having to learn to understand and be equitable to different learning styles, maintaining the rigor of continuously crafting of instruction to make it relevant; all the challenges we face as instructors, are absolutely made worth it when you see the light of learning turn on in a student’s face.
“When you see a student ‘get’ something that you are teaching, and how it opens up their mind and their possibilities, this makes all of the hard work as a professor worth it,” he continued. “Teaching can be frustrating, but it is also the most rewarding, most fulfilling job a person can have, and I am grateful and feel blessed to have been able to have had a career as a community college professor.”
PVCC President Dr. Jana Schwartz praised Dr. Rubí’s lasting contributions to the college and its students.
“Dr. Rubí’s career is a powerful example of what it means to be a truly student-centered educator,” Schwartz said. “His dedication to academic excellence, shared governance, and the transformative power of education has left an indelible mark on PVCC. Generations of students are better prepared to think critically and engage meaningfully with the world because of his work.”
Colleagues echo that admiration, noting not only his impact in the classroom but also his intellectual rigor and leadership.
“David is one of the smartest people I know, and his ability to dissect an issue is exceptional,” said Dr. Jon Storslee, Business and Information Technology faculty. “I think he would make a great lawyer in addition to an outstanding educator.”
A Journey That Came Full Circle
Dr. Rubí’s journey with the Maricopa County Community College District (MCCCD) started nearly 50 years ago as a student at Phoenix College, working as a student tutor for the Special Services office. From those early days, he discovered his calling in higher education, which would define his life’s work.
“I was lucky – I knew early on what I wanted to do with my life,” he said, recalling telling his Spanish Professor Dr. Martin Durrant at Phoenix College, “I want to do what you’re doing” when he was just nineteen years old.
That passion led him into a career in various roles across the district including tutoring, administration, compliance, and teaching.
Academically, Dr. Rubí holds an Associate of Arts from Phoenix College, a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish and a PhD in Spanish Literature (with a focus on Chicano literature) from Arizona State University (ASU), and a Master of Arts in Spanish from Stanford University. His scholarly work includes the publication of El héroe sobajado: Ejemplos en la cuentística chicana (2021), published by Editorial Pliegos in Madrid, which reflects his deep commitment to the study of the Spanish language and Hispanic culture. He also is committed to issues of social and human rights and justice.
After finishing his Master’s degree, he moved to California and worked for the Human Resources office at Foothill De Anza Community College District. In 1988, he came back to Arizona and was hired by Mesa Community College (MCC) on special services contracts assigned to work on various projects. He was then offered a one-year-only position as Spanish faculty and director of MCC’s bilingual teachers’ aide certificate program.
In January 1989, Dr. Rubi began teaching at Río Salado Community College as a Spanish adjunct instructor, and later taught as an adjunct for Phoenix College. Later, he held executive and research positions for the State Board of Directors for Community Colleges of Arizona, supporting projects related to policy research and reporting, college demographic studies, and minority affairs.
In 1996, Dr. Rubí came full circle accomplishing his earlier wish when he became a residential faculty member teaching Spanish at PVCC, a role that would define the rest of his career. “It was always good to know I had a base at Maricopa, where I could explore,” he said, “but getting the job at PVCC was the fulfillment of my youthful dream.”
For the past three decades, Dr. Rubí has taught Spanish and humanities courses at PVCC while also taking on significant leadership responsibilities. He spent more than 14 years as the evening supervisor for PVCC’s language program, which prepared him to serve as Faculty Chair of the Communication and Liberal Arts Division from January 2019. He also has contributed extensively to shared governance, serving multiple terms in Faculty Senate leadership, including two terms as Faculty Senate President, from 2014 to 2015 and from 2024 to 2025, and representing PVCC at the district level on the Faculty Executive Council of the Faculty Association.
His leadership extended beyond campus as well. Dr. Rubí chaired the statewide AzTransfer Languages Articulation Task Force for nearly a decade and led the Maricopa Community Colleges Languages Instructional Council as chair for three years. He also played key roles serving as PVCC’s Curriculum Development Facilitator for several years, and participated in college-wide initiatives focused on HLC accreditation, planning, governance, and diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Dr. Rubí credits much of his longevity and success to his colleagues – both faculty and staff, who have taught him, supported him along the way, and encouraged him. He also admires his colleagues’ commitment to PVCC’s learning-centered mission and their focus on student success.
A Legacy That Endures
A Phoenix native with deep cultural roots in the Southwest, Rubí has also been active in community and professional organizations, contributing to efforts that advance equity, access, and representation in higher education. His career reflects not only academic excellence, but a profound commitment to opening minds and expanding opportunities for all students.
As he retires in May 2026, Dr. Rubí leaves behind a legacy of compassion and leadership. He intends to make the most of retirement traveling, writing, volunteering, and most importantly, spending more time with his wife of almost 38 years, María Lucía Patiño Hernández, and his son, Cristián David Rubí-Patiño.
“I can’t think of anything better than spending every day possible with her. When we were housebound while the college was shut down during the pandemic, I had a wonderful time being with her all the time!” he said.
Please join us in celebrating Dr. Rubi’s lasting impact and extraordinary career 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., May 7, Building Q, Room 120, on PVCC’s Union Hills campus.