Stephen Crotty '22 Leverages His Passion for Politics

Once unsure whether a major in political science was right for him, Stephen Crotty ’22 is confident that he made the right decision as he prepares for his full-time role as an Election Project Coordinator at Edison Research in New Jersey.

Despite the passions he has cultivated during his time as a Royal, it was a love of hiking and recreation that initially drew Crotty to Queens. As he toured schools throughout the Southeast, the Texas native quickly realized that, at Queens, he could tap into Charlotte’s vast professional opportunity while spending his personal time exploring endless hiking trails and outdoor activities just a day trip away.

“Queens drew me in because of the amount of opportunity that the school had to offer while still being a smaller campus community,” said Crotty. “Queens’ location in the Charlotte community is unbeatable with uptown just minutes from campus. It is close to the mountains of Asheville while also being just a few hours away from the coast.”

Though it was Queens’ small class sizes and advantageous location that initially piqued Crotty’s interest, the political science major quickly found a home in various groups across campus.

“I came into Queens as a member of the Men’s Track and Field team which has been a very inspirational part of my experience here,” Crotty explained. “Being surrounded by students who really push themselves to become national champions in their respective sports has encouraged me to work harder on and off the field.”

In addition to serving as a student athlete, Crotty has served as a Royal Ambassador offering campus tours and enjoys providing prospective Royals the same glimpse of life at Queens that impacted his college decision as a high school student.

Learn more about Stephen Crotty ’22 as he reflects on his time at Queens in this brief video.