—Laurie Morrissey

Making His Own Tradition
Charles Crowley is not averse to change: he's had various jobs within the banking industry and lived in five different cities, from San Francisco to London. He has exchanged the roles of student and grad student for those of husband and father. One constant, though, is his continued affection for the small college on “the hill” where he spent his undergraduate years.

That affection takes many forms, including participating in alumni chapter activities and giving Saint Anselm business students tours of the Manhattan investment banking firm where he works. One of the most notable examples of his loyalty, however, is his consistent giving history. Crowley made his first pledge the year he graduated, and has contributed nearly every year since.

“I just thought about how much fun I’d had and what I got out of my college experience, and it was important to me to give something back—even in a small way,” he says. “I don’t think you have to wait until your 30th class reunion, when hopefully you’re in a better economic position. Everything helps. It all adds up.”

Fortunately for the college, his contributions added up even more due to his employer’s generous matching gift plan. Since 1997, Crowley has worked for investment banking firm Keefe, Bruyette and Woods, which primarily serves banks and smaller financial services firms. A senior vice president, he heads a financial strategies group in the fixed income division.

Crowley grew up in Medway, Mass., where his family ran a funeral home. After earning a master’s degree at the University of Connecticut, he moved to San Francisco and started looking for a job in the financial industry. Saint Anselm continued to lend a helping hand—for several weeks, he stayed at Woodside Priory, a private Benedictine high school affiliated with the college. After three years working for a bank in San Francisco, he moved on to jobs in Cleveland, London, and Scottsdale, Arizona. Thirteen years ago, he moved to New York to be closer to his family. There, he met his wife, JR.

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