New interdisciplinary creative studio to open in Grubbs Hall

Two events - one honoring the past and one looking to the future - will be celebrated in Grubbs Hall on Friday, Sept. 25, and campus and community are invited to attend.

At 1 p.m., the ribbon will be cut on Pitt State Press, a new interdisciplinary creative studio on the fourth floor that will give students hands-on experience in publishing, digital media, storytelling, and content creation.

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. students and community members are invited to join them.

The longtime professor of history and economics left a lasting mark on both the university and the community, teaching until he was 83. Born the year Pittsburg was founded, his 150th coincides with Pittsburg's 150th anniversary year celebrations.

Pitt State Press

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, and is under the umbrella of the English & Modern Languages Department.

The studio will serve as a hub for collaborative projects across print, audio, video, and visual media. Students from English, Art, Communication, Graphic Communications, Marketing, and other programs may participate.

Highlights include professional-grade equipment for publishing and media production, including a digital printer, book binder, saddle stapler, and podcast and video production tools.

Through projects ranging from book production and podcasting to event planning and community engagement, students will build portfolios and practical experience before graduation, Dearinger said.

"The goal is to create a space where students can gain real-world experience while working collaboratively across fields," said Associate Professor Chase Dearinger, who is directing the studio. "Students will have opportunities to develop professional skills in publishing, media production, storytelling, design, and audience engagement within a creative environment that reflects today's industries."

The studio will support existing student initiatives including Cow Creek Review, Pitt Lit Podcast, and Emerald City, the university's national fiction magazine.

Beyond the studio

It also will serve students enrolled in ENGL 306: Theories and Technologies of Writing, a capstone course that is central to a new Creative Media Certificate currently under development. While the certificate program is being finalized, students will begin utilizing the space for coursework and collaborative projects as early as next year.

And, the project includes renovations to the public-facing portion of the fourth floor, with new furnishings and a redesigned creative commons area intended to encourage collaboration and creative exploration.

Pitt State Press also will create opportunities for mentorship and outreach. Student leaders will help host visiting high school classes for hands-on workshops and demonstrations designed to introduce younger students to creative careers and emerging media technologies.

"The creation of Pitt State Press ensures that Grubbs Hall remains a place dedicated to learning by doing," said English & Modern Languages Chair Casie Hermansson. "Just as Professor Grubbs devoted his career to supporting students, this new space will help the next generation discover, create, and share their stories."

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