Steve McCrossan ’06, ’10M, ’14MPA

Steve McCrossan's transition from a career in hospitality to nonprofit leadership is a testament to his desire to serve others. Over the past nine years, he has served as the executive director of NourishNC, a Wilmington-based nonprofit that has made a significant difference in the lives of food insecure children in New Hanover County. 

McCrossan considers NourishNC to be his “dream job” because it is an opportunity to change the educational and health outcomes of children by connecting them with nutritious food. He hopes to have an impact in the community by “eradicating food insecurity among children in New Hanover County. Then expanding and doing it again in another community,” he said.

McCrossan knows that innovative ideas, such as NourishNC ’s Mobile Market, scheduled to launch in the fall, will be needed to address food insecurity. The Mobile Market is a unique initiative that will bring fresh, healthy groceries directly to neighborhoods, schools and community centers, making it easier for families to access nutritious food. By launching this initiative, McCrossan and his team are addressing immediate needs and taking a proactive approach to combating food insecurity.

“The mobile market revolutionizes nourishment for food-insecure children and their families,” he said.

McCrossan earned a political science degree in 2006, a Master of Arts in Liberal Studies in 2010, and a Master of Public Administration with a concentration in nonprofit management in 2014 from UNCW.  He served on Quality Enhancement for Nonprofit Organizations (QENO)’s Program Action Committee and facilitated several QENO learning sessions. These experiences helped hone his leadership skills and deepened his understanding of nonprofit management.

“My path to UNCW was long and winding. I found my love for learning at community colleges in Buffalo, New York and Burlington, NC,” McCrossan said. “In 2004, at 27 years old, I moved to Wilmington and began my bachelor’s degree. I was hooked. I took classes at UNCW for the next 10 years; mostly part-time while I worked other full-time jobs.”

The Landfall Foundation supported McCrossan financially for all three of his degrees. “They now also fund NourishNC. I like to say they invested in building my capacity to lead and now support the organization I lead,” he added.

“After I finished my third degree at UNCW and was approaching 40, I decided it was time to do something I loved,” he continued. “So, I quit my previous job without having another. After taking a road trip, I returned to find that the stars had aligned for me. I was interviewed and hired as the executive director of NourishNC.”

McCrossan’s educational background, from political science to nonprofit management, has equipped him with a diverse skill set crucial for navigating the complexities of leading a nonprofit organization, he said. 

“My MPA taught me to think analytically. My M.A. taught me to enjoy thinking outside conventional norms, and my B.A. taught me to seek out other thinkers,” he said. “Ultimately, my experiences at UNCW prepared me to strategically lead a nonprofit whose mission is deeply personal to me, and in the process, serve millions of meals to local kids experiencing food insecurity.”