PITTSBURG, Kan. — Kathleen Flannery, Pittsburg State University vice president of Advancement and president/CEO of the University Foundation, was presented with the 2026 Spirit of Pittsburg Award at the Pittsburg Area Chamber of Commerce Banquet on May 7.

When Flannery and her husband, Jeffery Steinmiller, first moved to Pittsburg in 1996, they were only planning to stay for a few years. But the couple and their first son, Casey, fell in love with the community.

“Once we found our people, so to speak, that network that's so important while you have growing children; it really became evident that this was the place that became home,” Flannery said. “If you had told me three years before we moved here that we would be living in Kansas, I would have thought you were crazy.”

Soon after arriving, Flannery took young Casey to library events and Mommy and Me events hosted by the YMCA. Flannery said she immediately felt a sense of comfort as if they had always been in Pittsburg. As she became more involved in the community, she met many people who became life-long friends.

Flannery then became involved in many community organizations, starting with Leadership Crawford County. She also helped the local chapter of Big Brothers Big Sisters find resources, helped start the Pittsburg Community Theatre’s children’s program and served as The Little Balkans president. She worked at American Red Cross, United Way and was also the first full-time executive director of the Mount Carmel Foundation.

Flannery’s father died when she was 12 and she was raised by a single mother in a poor household. She said she believes her childhood environment drove her to try to help others.

“Since I was a very young child, really, I was very involved in community and making sure that people felt comfortable at home and had the resources they needed.”

While working at Pittsburg State University, Flannery has filled many roles. She started as the interim director of international programs, then became the interim assistant director for Campus Activities. She transitioned to the assistant to the vice president for Student Affairs and was the director of annual giving. In 2011, she became the executive director of University Development, then in 2015 became president and CEO of the Pittsburg State University Foundation and vice president for University Advancement.

“I've been able, very fortunate to have had a variety of experiences at the university that allowed me to learn more from each division, so everything from Academic Affairs to Student Life and everything in between,” Flannery said. “So it's been really great for me personally and professionally.”

Flannery’s sons, Casey and Kyle, who was born in Pittsburg, both graduated from St. Mary’s Colgan. Casey attended and graduated from Pittsburg State University, and Kyle studied mechanical engineering and had an aerospace minor at the University of Arkansas. Both sons now reside in Georgia.

Flannery is currently continuing to help President Newsom and his family make a seamless transition into the Pittsburg community.

“They have been great additions and have already become very engaged, very involved,” she said. “They really care about this, because this is their home as their family continues to settle here. I’m helping to work with them to make sure that they have everything they need in this transition, and I am continuing to work to support the university. From a community perspective, I want to continue to help.”

Flannery serves on the Mercy Hospital Pittsburg Board of Directors and Commerce Bank Community Advisory Board. She also works with the Rita Bicknell Giving Circle and is a Noon Rotary member.

“I try to help wherever I can and continue to give back as long as I'm able, both of time, talent, and treasure, if I can,” she said.

After spending almost 30 years digging into the community, Flannery said it’s the people here that make all the difference.

“This is all about the amazing people,” she said. “Anything that I've had a hand in it has been side by side with some amazing people, some of whom have won the Spirit of Pittsburg Award prior to me, but some I know are yet to receive that award and that recognition. So, it’s very humbling to stand beside them.”

This reporting is made possible, in part, by the Support Local Journalism Project Fund. Learn more at: southeastkansas.org/Localnews.