An unexpected turn for the best Lessons and insights from a governmental beginning turned 25-year mining career By Ashley Maden
a.maden@winnemuccapublishing.net
Lithium Nevada Corp. Vice President of Government and Community Relations Tim Crowley started his professional career with sights set on politics and government affairs, never did he imagine he would find himself with a mining career spanning a quarter of a decade and counting. Crowley admits that he didn’t understand mining much prior to his unanticipated entry into the industry as a professional, which led to being President of the Nevada Mining Association and now to working for one of the nation’s most closely watched lithium projects in northern Nevada. Crowley’s father, the late Dr. Joeseph N. Crowley spent much of his career as a professor at the University of Nevada Reno, serving as president of the university for a record-setting 23 years from 1978 to 2001, the
longest-serving president at a single institution among the nation’s principal universities at the time of his departure from the position. The Joe Crowley Student Union is named after professor Crowley and his many contributions to the university and the local community. (Tim) Crowley said he didn’t desire a career in academia like his father but instead wanted to be involved in politics because he enjoyed learning about people and solving problems on a big-picture level. Crowley obtained an undergraduate degree from the University of Nevada Reno with focused studies in geography and political science. After completion of his undergraduate studies, Crowley took an opportunity to work for then Nevada Senator Harry Reid in Washington D.C. as part of an internship program. With this opportunity, Crowley said he found value in managing a diverse and heavy workload of issues that traveled through the office, often physically taking boxes of work home to complete as email and the internet had not yet been adopted as the primary form of communication. “I couldn’t have asked for a better start to my career,” said Crowley. “Every day it was something different and I was constantly learning.” The position led to an opportunity to work for Governor Bob Miller in the department of conservation, which led
8 - MINING • A July 2021 publication of Nevada News Group
COURTESY PHOTO
Tim Crowley, Lithium Nevada Corp Vice President of Government and Community Relations started his professional career in politics that developed into a passion and career solving problems across the mining industry.
to his introduction to the mining industry. A friendship and business relationship between him and a couple of members of the mining industry led to a job offer to work for the Nevada Mining Association in government affairs when Governor Miller’s term neared end, along with Crowley’s job. During his time with the Nevada Mining Association, Crowley had the opportunity to work in Las Vegas for four years,
a
