Matthew Simpson, Ozarks Technical Community College’s director of research, strategic planning and grant development, has been appointed to the Governor’s Innovation Task Force as a member of its steering committee. Missouri Governor Eric Greitens announced the launch of the task force earlier this week.
Simpson, along with private, nonprofit and public sector leaders from across the state, will assess the current state of innovation in Missouri, analyze best practices from other states, and develop specific recommendations for what the state can do to promote innovation and new technology start-ups. The committee will host roundtables in St. Louis, Kansas City, Springfield, Columbia and Cape Girardeau to engage local innovators, entrepreneurs, civic leaders and scholars in the planning process.
Simpson has worked in research and strategic planning at OTC since 2011. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Political Science from Missouri State University in 2007 and his Master of Arts in Political Science from Vanderbilt University in 2010. Simpson currently serves as the legislative chair for the Missouri Community College Association Research Council. He is also an active member of professional organizations and local civic boards including the Springfield Greene-County Library Board and the Foundation for Springfield Public Schools Board.