PITTSBURG, Kans. — Since 2011, Ingram’s Enterprise Journal has highlighted “The Prime 50 Kansans You Ought to Know.”

In Pittsburg, somebody on that record has been credited as essential in serving to redefine what a metropolis and college can do for one another.

“I’m happy with it largely due to how a lot it acknowledges the work that my staff has carried out right here, the work that Pittsburg State has carried out right here. We’re seeing the fruit of lots of the work that we’ve carried out over the previous 10 years collectively and actually that collectively piece is the main target,” mentioned Dr. Shawn Naccarato, PSU Chief Technique Officer.

Since 2007, Dr. Shawn Naccarato has worn a number of hats at Pittsburg State College. At present he serves as the varsity’s Chief Technique Officer — and over the previous 10 years he’s labored intently with President Dr. Steve Scott to develop the area people. This success has helped him develop into certainly one of Ingram’s Journal’s “Prime 50 Kansans You Ought to Know.”

“We’ve actually chartered a brand new means ahead with redefining the best way the College and the Metropolis labored collectively,” Dr. Naccarato mentioned. “And so throughout that work we’ve carried out Block 22 in downtown, coronary heart of downtown Pittsburg, which is a good living-learning entrepreneurship heart the place we’re cultivating that tradition of creativity and innovation.”

Naccarato has additionally helped develop polymer science at Pittsburg State College.

“I had the pleasure about seven years in the past of being concerned in securing $1 million a yr to start out a brand new polymer chemistry program. Simply final yr we introduced the launch of our new Nationwide Institute For Supplies Development. Reality be instructed we’re within the Polymer Period,” he mentioned. “There’s only a few issues that you can imagine that don’t have a polymeric connection.”

As for the longer term, Naccarato hopes to quickly announce the Polymer Analysis Heart’s first analysis tennant — and finally flip the house subsequent to the middle right into a analysis and improvement park.

“The final word hope is we’re constructing corporations, we’re rising jobs, and we’re rising this neighborhood proper right here in Southeast Kansas,” concluded Dr. Naccarato.