The Rice University community gathered Sept. 5 to celebrate the life and legacy of longtime political science professor Bob Stein. The sun had just begun to set as family, colleagues and former students arrived at the Wiess President’s House — a fitting backdrop for an evening filled with heartfelt stories and deep appreciation for one of Rice’s most devoted civic scholars.
About 75 people attended the gathering, including Rice faculty, alumni and friends along with Stein’s wife Marty, daughters Nora and Annie, son-in-law Jesse Dickerman and dignitaries such as former Houston Mayor Bill White. The group shared memories, laughter and the lasting lessons they learned from Stein’s mentorship, advocacy and enduring love for the city of Houston.
“Bob’s work showed us how academic research can be intentionally designed to serve public purpose from the very beginning,” said Elizabeth Vann, director of community partnerships and associate teaching professor in political science. “He taught his students that improving people’s lives is not just possible — it’s the purpose.”
Amy Dittmar, the Howard R. Hughes Provost and executive vice president for academic affairs, reflected on Stein’s legacy of civic scholarship and leadership: “As a member of the Rice faculty for nearly 50 years, Bob was a model citizen. He used what he learned from his research to inform real change in Houston and gave our students a more well-rounded, engaged educational experience.”
“It has been my honor and privilege to have worked with Bob throughout the years,” said Rachel Kimbro, dean of the School of Social Sciences. “A respected colleague, venerated mentor and dear friend to many, Bob left an indisputable mark on everyone he met. His kindness, tenacity and dedication to enhancing society will have a lasting impact on the world.”
Rice alumnus, trustee and former White House press secretary Josh Earnest also reflected on Stein’s impact as a teacher and mentor. “More than 30 years after I walked into his classroom for the first time, Bob Stein was still offering me the quiet encouragement and generous mentorship that has shaped my life so profoundly,” Earnest said. “He opened the door to a professional life I didn’t even know existed — and he modeled how gifted teachers and world-class researchers can thrive at a place like Rice.”
Stein, who passed away in July, was known nationally for his expertise on voting behavior, emergency preparedness and local government. He helped shape public policy and trained generations of students who now serve in academic, political and civic leadership roles across the country.
“He truly believed that democracy only works when we all show up,” Vann said.
In tribute to that legacy, Rice has launched the Robert M. Stein Fund for Social Policy Research. With support from Stein’s family, the fund will help create opportunities for students and faculty to engage in research and partnerships that strengthen civic life — causes that Stein championed throughout his 46-year career at Rice.
The Stein Fund ensures his impact will continue — through applied research, student experiences and community collaborations that uphold the values he lived every day.
The evening closed with a toast from Rice President Reginald DesRoches, who summed up Stein’s impact in Houston and beyond: “Bob was a force at Rice — a beloved professor, a mentor to generations of students and a trusted voice on civic life. As we remember Bob, we celebrate a man who made Rice, Houston and the world a better place. Please join me in a toast to Bob — lift your glass and say: ‘to Bob.’”
To learn more or to donate to the Stein Fund, visit riceconnect.rice.edu/donation/stein-fund.