If Robert Bromfield achieves his goals as deputy registrar, you may never meet him, due to his busy schedule. Since Bromfield came to Princeton from Columbia University in Nov. 2000, he has been working to technologically upgrade the registrar's office.
Bromfield is in the process of implementing new web-based services like online course enrollment, registration and major declaration and improving current services such as "My Academic Record." These new services should be available within the next 18 to 20 months, he said.
"Students do have busy lives with classes, and when you do add up the hours of the day that you need to attend to administrative things, sometimes nine to five [o'clock] just isn't convenient," Bromfield said. "If we can make our services convenient enough to accommodate students' busy schedules, that's a plus."
Bromfield is originally from Jamaica, where his mother still resides. "People like to think that it's Jamaica, New York, but its Jamaica, West Indies," he joked. Bromfield came to the United States in 1980 as an undergraduate at Columbia and continued there for graduate school in the music department. "[Music] keeps me sane," he said.
Bromfield also has a passion for opera. "Some thought it was strange that I would leave New York, but the University was very gracious in making the transition," he said.
Although Bromfield now lives in suburbia, he still does not drive or own a car. Rather, he enjoys walking everywhere — from his university faculty housing to his office in West College. After living in Manhattan for 20 years, Bromfield became accustomed to never needing a car.
"I confess that I was a little apprehensive about not having a car when I relocated to Princeton. But I'm doing just fine without one — one year and counting," he said.
Though, Bromfield confessed, he may relent and buy a car in the future.
Although he is kept busy with all of his commitments as registrar, Bromfield said he is excited to become more involved with other activities on campus. "I just wanted to get the business priorities started, before I started distracting myself with other things," he said.
At Columbia, Bromfield was chair of the faculty gay and lesbian group. At the University, he hopes to help efforts to revive the programming of the lesbian-gay-bisexual-transgender (LGBT) community on campus.
"Princeton is very welcoming with its non-discrimination policy with respect to sexual orientation, but there just didn't seem to be the visibility, as I had experienced at Columbia," he explained.
Bromfield further enjoys architecture, especially the eclectic mix of building styles on campus. He is also "equally fascinated" by the history associated with campus buildings such as Nassau Hall and West College.
Bromfield is also interested in Asian culture and enjoys seeing foreign films in his spare time. His office is decorated with foreign music and movie posters that reflect his artistic interests.
Two framed pictures of squirrels — gifts from coworkers — also adorn his office, commemorating his run-in with some Princeton squirrels. Not long after arriving at the University, Bromfield heard noises in his house. He assumed it was his neighbors' dog, but the culprits really were squirrels who had invaded his attic. "It was no cause for alarm," he said, "just a funny experience."
"If you are not careful, they will overrun you," he warned with a laugh. "The squirrels and I now have a truce."
Despite his varied interests, the deputy registrar still feels that his most important job is to be available to students and to interact with them in person. He said he hopes the new web-based services he is trying to implement will not minimize his contact with students.
"What I am hoping to do is be a part of providing quality, convenient self-services for students, to accommodate students varied and busy schedules," he said.
Bromfield also enjoys helping students with their academic concerns. To that end, he serves as freshman advisor to Rockefeller College students.
"My office is always open," he said. "Just stop in to say hi."
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