After four years at Wesleyan Marcia Bromberg, Vice President of Finance and Administration, the school’s chief financial and administrative officer, will retire at the end of the fiscal year in July.
Bromberg’s achievements include many of the changes seen around campus today. She was heavily involved in planning and financing the Fauver Field Dorms and new senior townhouses, a move designed to keep more students on-campus. She played a large part in the development of the new bookstore.
The Administration is splitting her job responsibilities until a replacement is found. Vice President and Secretary Peter Patton and Vice President for Information Technology John Meerts will oversee the offices that work with the Vice President of Finance and Administration.
In a campus-wide email announcing Bromberg’s decision, President Doug Bennet lauded Bromberg’s achievements, including creating auxiliary services and organizing Environmental Awareness day. He encouraged the Wesleyan community to thank her for her service.
According to Bromberg she has been planning early retirement for some time. Expanding the role of her position within the University has taken its toll, as she was working 60-80 hour weeks. A friend’s recent death convinced her of the move.
“I had a kind of epiphany,” Bromberg said. “I’m fortunate to be able to retire relatively young,”
Bromberg plans to spend the next year on the road trip around the country with her husband.
“My husband and I love to hike,” Bromberg said. “We will hike as many of the highest points in the country as possible.”
Bromberg then plans to retire to Asheville, North Carolina where she has already bought a home.
Members of the Administration were generous with praise for Bromberg.
“[Bromberg] sees her role as service to the University community—an orientation that leads her to embrace the goals and interests of faculty, students and staff,” said Justin Harmon, Director of University Communications. “She is direct and honest, [which are] attributes that have won her the respect of many on campus.”
“She was a staunch advocate for information technology,” Meerts said. “Marcia’s keenly understood how information technology could make the university run smoother and more efficiently, and she supported the use of technology for innovation in teaching and learning.”
On the other hand, the student body seemed unaware or indifferent towards the news of the administrator’s imminent departure.
“You’ve heard her name but don’t know who she is,” said Albert Hill ’07. “I’ve heard of her in connection to Environmental Awareness day.”
Others remembered Bromberg’s comments in a New York Times article last fall about rising tuition costs.
“I know she said something about tuition and dining costs,” said Ryan Weed ’06.
Bromberg was quoted in the article as saying that rising tuition costs would not hurt the university’s enrollment. The New York Times originally attributed to her a quote in which she stated that regardless of the high cost parents would still be willing to pay it and think that the University was better for it. The article created quite a buzz at the time, but Bromberg maintains she was misquoted.
“The reporter put a spin on what I said to him that was very hurtful,” Bromberg said. “Luckily people who know me supported me. We take great pride in being cost-effective.”
Yet Bromberg leaves Wesleyan with good memories.
“Wesleyan is a terrific place,” Bromberg said. “What’s been happening here since President Bennet arrived has been phenomenal. This is the best place [students] will ever be in your life.”
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