In Memoriam: Ronald Hambleton

Professor Emeritus Ronald Hambleton, College of Education, died on April 28. He was 78.

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Hambleton is considered a pioneering figure in the field of educational measurement, having made influential contributions to item-response theory and other topics in the field. He founded the Research, Educational Measurement, and Psychometrics (REMP) Program at UMass Amherst, and served as the executive director of the Center for Educational Assessment. He was a distinguished university professor and held various leadership roles in the National Council on Measurement in Education (NCME), the International Test Commission and Division 5 of American Psychological Association (APA). He was a member of the National Academy of Education and a fellow of APA and the American Educational Research Association (AERA).

But, perhaps most importantly, Hambleton was beloved by his friends and colleagues for being an incredibly kind person. In the words of Distinguished Professor Steve Sireci, “Ron was passionate about measurement, and passionate about life.  He was inspiring and cared deeply about people. He always said he couldn’t believe he got paid for what he did, because he enjoyed it so much.”

Donations to a College of Education legacy fund established in Hambleton’s name can be made via MinuteFund.

Read Hambleton's obituary online.