2024 Josephine Sitterle Failer Award
Cathy Montalto ’79
On Thursday mornings, rain or shine, you’ll find Cathy Montalto ’79 headed to the Traditions Room in the Ohio Union, where she’ll join Ohio Staters, a lively group of students, staff and professors who plan campus service projects.
An associate professor emeritus, Montalto could easily have stepped away from Staters when she retired from Ohio State two years ago. She’d certainly earned a break after serving the organization since 1996, including 20 years as treasurer.
But Montalto wouldn’t think of missing a meeting in the Traditions Room. She maintains a tradition of her own — volunteering her time and talents to improve the quality of student life at Ohio State.
That’s why, in addition to helping Staters, she has mentored hundreds of students in Ohio State’s chapter of Mortar Board, a national honor society for senior undergraduates.
As a student, Montalto was inducted into the chapter in 1978. Years later, when she returned to teach at Ohio State in the College of Education and Human Ecology, she signed up to advise the student chapter. She also serves on the executive committee of the organization’s alumni chapter.
In every endeavor, Montalto has one goal: to help students maximize their abilities and achieve their ambitions. After all, it was an Ohio State professor who made her think big.
“Cathy Montalto is legendary in her support of students. With her positive attitude and constructive feedback, she helps students to develop leadership skills and build community. She serves as an excellent role model and mentor.”
“I was a freshman, taking a class taught by Francille Firebaugh, dean of the college of home economics. Here I was, a girl from a small rural community, the first in my family to go to college. I wrote a paper for the class, and when I got it back, Dr. Firebaugh had written on it, ‘Where do you plan to go to graduate school?’”
Montalto was shocked. “I’d never thought of graduate school, so it was very impactful when Francille Firebaugh planted the seed. She has been a tremendous mentor to me to this very day.”
Seeing how a professor could be such a positive influence motivated Montalto to give back. At Ohio Staters, she mentored 20 student treasurers over the years. She also serves as Stater’s unofficial historian thanks to her long service.
As for Mortar Board, Montalto received the national society’s highest award, the Excellence in Advising Award in 2022 for her role in supporting students.
“Everything I’ve done, it’s with the hope of enabling students to get the most out of their education and their whole experience at Ohio State,” Montalto says.
Awarded to those whose voluntary personal involvement has enhanced the quality of student life at the university beyond the call of business or professional duty.