Pittsburg State University will open Pitt State Press, a new interdisciplinary creative studio, on the fourth floor of Grubbs Hall. A ribbon-cutting ceremony is scheduled for Friday, Sept. 25, at 1 p.m., with campus and community members invited to attend. The studio aims to provide students with practical experience in publishing, digital media, storytelling, and content creation, operating under the umbrella of the English & Modern Languages Department.
The creation of Pitt State Press is funded by a grant from the university's Annual Program Innovation and Infrastructure Grant process, which supports student-centered research and creative initiatives. The studio is designed to serve as a central hub for collaborative projects across various media, including print, audio, video, and visual formats. Students from multiple academic programs, such as English, Art, Communication, Graphic Communications, and Marketing, are expected to participate.
Associate Professor Chase Dearinger, who is directing the studio, highlighted the goal to create "a space where students can gain real-world experience" through collaborative efforts across different fields. Students will engage in diverse projects ranging from book production and podcasting to event planning and community engagement. The facility is equipped with professional-grade tools for publishing and media production, including a digital printer, book binder, saddle stapler, and specialized podcast and video production equipment. This setup is intended to allow students to build professional portfolios and acquire practical skills before graduation, developing competencies in publishing, media production, storytelling, design, and audience engagement within a creative environment.
Pitt State Press will also support established student initiatives, including the Cow Creek Review, Pitt Lit Podcast, and Emerald City, the university's national fiction magazine. Furthermore, the studio is integral to students enrolled in ENGL 306: Theories and Technologies of Writing, a capstone course within a new Creative Media Certificate that is currently under development. Students are slated to begin utilizing the space for coursework and collaborative projects as early as next year. As part of the project, renovations have updated the public-facing section of the fourth floor, featuring new furnishings and a redesigned creative commons area intended to encourage collaboration and creative exploration.
Beyond its academic functions, the studio will facilitate mentorship and outreach programs. Student leaders will assist in hosting visiting high school classes, offering hands-on workshops and demonstrations designed to introduce younger students to creative careers and emerging media technologies. English & Modern Languages Chair Casie Hermansson noted that the new studio "ensures that Grubbs Hall remains a place dedicated to learning by doing," connecting its mission to Professor Grubbs' dedication to supporting students.
Earlier on Sept. 25, at noon, faculty and staff who office and teach in Grubbs Hall will commemorate what would have been the 150th birthday of O.F. Grubbs with a special celebration in the basement lobby. Grubbs, a longtime professor of history and economics, left a lasting mark on the university and the community, teaching until he was 83. Born the year Pittsburg was founded, his 150th birthday coincides with Pittsburg’s 150th anniversary year celebrations. Students and community members are also invited to join this commemoration.
