George D. Quinn, Political Science

George D. Quinn of Mays Landing loves people. And his experience at ������Ƶ has fostered that passion in many ways and helped shape his career path. He will soon graduate with his bachelor’s degree in Political Science and then move on to a nationally ranked Political Science Ph.D. program at Rutgers University this fall.

Quinn plans to be a university professor of Political Science one day. “I chose this career path because I simply love people,” he said. “I really love to engage others and help bring the best out of people. As a future educator, I really will enjoy taking complex topics and creating ways for everyone to learn.”

Quinn also minored in Jewish Studies and Holocaust and Genocide Studies. During his time at ������Ƶ, Quinn has focused his work on the Holocaust Resource Center. He reflected on how much he enjoyed this research and being a part of it. 

“The thing I love most was being a part of active living history. I have been able to document so many stories and get a better understanding of the power of resilience through trauma. I specifically have worked to document the stories of Holocaust survivors and refugees who came to our local area and settled on chicken farms,” Quinn said.

“Unfortunately, after these farms became unprofitable many of these families had to once again reinvent themselves. Many established their own small and local businesses. As a member of the Exhibition project, I have created a database of nearly 150 businesses in Atlantic, Cape May and Cumberland counties.”

On April 19, Quinn hosted a Zoom livestream event, “Profiles of Local Holocaust Survivor Owned Businesses in South Jersey,” that highlighted the work he mentions. Quinn was awarded the ������Ƶ Board of Trustees Fellowship for Distinguished Students, which funded this presentation.

At age 6, Quinn was diagnosed with Asperger’s (autism spectrum disorder), which was an obstacle for him to complete his education.

“I feel that the welcoming atmosphere and positive energy on campus has enabled me to not see myself as an outsider but instead as a member of the community and a fellow student,” he said.

Instead of having a traditional high school experience, Quinn was homeschooled from seventh grade until he came to college. 

“I really enjoyed my experiences being homeschooled, and it gave me so many opportunities that I would not have had. It’s fascinating that since COVID, so many have been homeschooled or continue to be homeschooled,” he said. “I think it’s a really cool option, and if your parents and community will help you, you can really succeed and study the topics you really care about.”

When asked what he will miss most from his time at ������Ƶ, he did not hesitate.

“Hands down, the thing I will miss most about ������Ƶ is the people. The ������Ƶ community is truly one of a kind. I just love how you can broaden your horizons and study so many different topics and learn to love different perspectives,” he said. “This, I feel, is something society is losing, an ability to talk with one another and maybe disagree without being disagreeable. ������Ƶ really breaks that mold. You are loved and appreciated for your perspective, but at the same time, the community teaches us to appreciate other perspectives.”

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