Conor Kelly 鈥21
Political Science and History
A double major in Political Science and History, Conor dove into opportunities that challenged him to think critically and conversations that taught him to listen well. He embraced the chance to write opinion pieces for The Lorian, an experience that gave him confidence as both a writer and a thinker. 鈥淪eventeen-year-old me thought it was pretty cool to get paid to write my opinions,鈥 he laughs. But what he didn鈥檛 expect was how those bylines would shape his approach to dialogue and communication. 鈥淟oras taught me how to interact with people I disagree with, to keep conversations civilized, and to see issues from different perspectives.鈥
Conor is quick to credit his professors for their impact. The political science faculty pushed him to thoughtfully debate the issues of the day, while Dr. Kristen Anderson-Bricker challenged him to take a slower, more deliberate approach to research and writing. 鈥淚 can be fast-paced and sometimes rush into things,鈥 Conor admits. 鈥淒r. Anderson-Bricker would always make me stop and ask: 鈥楧o I have evidence to support what I鈥檓 saying?鈥 That changed how I think, how I write, and even how I see the world. She helped me realize things are multicausal, there鈥檚 always something more to learn.鈥 That encouragement ultimately inspired him to add History as a second major.
Beyond the classroom, Conor found a tight-knit community that has kept him connected even after graduation. 鈥淎t Loras, I wasn鈥檛 forced into one perspective or another. It was an encouraging environment that gave us the space to grow as students and as people. That sense of community is one of the reasons I come back every year for Homecoming.鈥
After graduation, Conor went on to earn a Master鈥檚 in Political Science from the University of Illinois in Springfield. Today, his career is rooted in political writing, research, and media, most recently serving as an Editor and Researcher for The Collins Law Firm, where he focused on environmental law and policy.
Still, at his core, Conor carries the lessons he learned on campus: to keep questioning, keep listening, and keep learning. 鈥淚 look at life like I鈥檓 a perpetual student,鈥 he says. 鈥淟oras gave me that perspective.鈥
Tune in to this month鈥檚 Duhawk Dozen podcast to hear how Conor turned classroom lessons and newsroom deadlines into a career grounded in writing, civic engagement, and lifelong learning. Congratulations, Conor!
