Joe Pearson serves as the Executive Director of the Mid-America Science Park (MASPark) in Scottsburg, Indiana. The Science Park embraces entrepreneurship, business development and incubator programs, and industrial training. Joe was a member of the development team that planned, designed, and secured the $11 M funding for MASPark. The Park opened in October 2011. Joe formerly served as Indiana’s Assistant Commissioner of Agriculture and Rural Development from 1996-2004 under Governors' Evan Bayh, Frank O'Bannon, and Joe Kernan. In 2005, he assisted in the creation of Indiana’s Office or Rural Affairs and served as its first Executive Director. Later, he joined Purdue University's Center for Regional Development where he was responsible for the development, drafting, implementation, and marketing of the Rural Indiana Strategy for Excellence (RISE 2020) through the Center.Joe received his Bachelor’s Degree from Purdue University and completed his Master’s Degree and Doctorate in Educational Administration from Ball State University.