Reflecting on his education, former UC Berkeley registrar and director of admissions Robert Bailey takes a fond look back on his formative school and university years.
Following his graduation from the University of Washington in the early 1960s, Robert Bailey admits that he thought he was finished with education. This, he has since revealed, could not have been further from the truth, as the former UC Berkeley registrar and director of admissions now looks back on his formative years attending school and university.
“After graduating from the University of Washington in 1961, I ran out of the university’s doors thinking that I was through with going to school,” says Bailey.
While at the University of Washington, Robert Bailey swam for the swim team, was active in student government, and was the president of his Delta Upsilon fraternity. “Following graduation, however, it became apparent that I was far from through with my education,” he adds.
“Soon, I was graduating again, this time from the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps,” reveals the former UC Berkeley registrar and director of admissions.
Then taking up the position of second lieutenant, Robert Bailey reported for duty at Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma. Around the same time, the former UC Berkeley registrar and director of admissions also attended the Office of Special Investigation school in Washington, D.C.
“By now, I had my BA degree, a teaching certificate, and was, after completing my six years of active duty, thinking of teaching school and coaching swimming,” Bailey explains.
While reporting for duty at Tinker Air Force Base, Bailey enrolled in a post-graduate night course. “Little did I realize at the time, enrolling in this post-graduate night course, that I was back in academia for the long haul,” he reveals. For the next few years, Robert Bailey took one course each term until he was assigned overseas to Korea.
Bailey would later take a role as a freshman swim coach at the University of Oklahoma, returning to graduate school, finishing his second degree, and enrolling in the doctorate program.
By now, Bailey also had a job in the College of Continuing Education and was in charge of the Summer Swimming Program for the city of Norman, Oklahoma. “I was coaching the Sooner Swim Club in the summer, too,” he adds.
“I completed my next degree in the summer of 1968,” Bailey continues, “and was offered a job as director of registration with the University of Oklahoma.”
For the next 25 years, Robert Bailey would serve almost exclusively in the admissions and records career field. “This,” he adds, wrapping up, “was not only at the University of Oklahoma, but also Governors State University, Illinois, and at UC Berkeley, California.”
