Representing more than 26,000 alumni living in every state across the United States, the Wittenberg University Alumni Association is excited to recognize excellence as it honors six individuals with special distinctions during a ceremony from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., Friday, Oct. 4, in the 1929 Fieldhouse, part of the Health, Wellness & Athletics (HWA) Complex. The annual event is one of the many special traditions during Homecoming, Reunion, and Family Weekend, Oct. 3-6, 2024.
Alumni Association Award for Distinguished Teaching
First to be honored during the Alumni Achievement Awards banquet will be longtime educational leader Amy R. Bok McGuffey, Ph.D., class of 1995 and the 2024 recipient of the Alumni Association Award for Distinguished Teaching, the top faculty prize at Wittenberg. The award recognizes the superior classroom teaching that takes place at Wittenberg. McGuffey learned that she was the recipient during Wittenberg’s annual Honors Convocation last spring.
McGuffey joined the Department of Education at Wittenberg University in the fall of 2014. She considers herself fortunate to have had the opportunity to share her passion for education with students through numerous undergraduate and graduate courses, specializing in leadership, special education, and social studies methods. In addition to her teaching duties, she served as chair of the education department, and prior to that, director of the Graduate Program in Education.
Having spent 16 years teaching in urban, rural, and online public-school settings, McGuffey has experience at all grade levels but spent most of her time teaching middle school history and language arts. She served as an adjunct professor at Wright State University where she taught graduate-level professional development courses for practicing teachers. She also worked as a research assistant at the University of Dayton where she had the opportunity to research, write, and present on topics such as school vouchers and Catholic private schools, weighted funding in special education, and school climate. McGuffey recently took a new position as director of special education for Midwest Regional Educational Service Center (ESC).
McGuffey earned her B.A. in elementary education from Wittenberg University in 1995, her M.A. in education from Urbana University, and her doctorate in educational leadership from the University of Dayton. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her family, reading, and exercising. McGuffey and husband, Jamie, reside near Saint Paris. They have three children and one grandchild.
“Pass It On” Wittenberg Volunteer Service Award
The “Pass It On” Wittenberg Volunteer Service Award, given in recognition of exceptional demonstration of the University motto “Having Light We Pass It On To Others,” will be presented to David G. “Dave” Baker, class of 1969.
Born and raised in central Ohio, Baker attended Columbus Public Indianola Elementary and Ohio State’s experimental K-12 University School before his family moved to Worthington, Ohio, where he was elected student body president and graduated from Worthington High School in 1965. Upon a wintry visit to Wittenberg his senior year in the freezing rain, which was both treacherous and serendipitous, he found his ideal fit for his collegiate adventure.
At age eight, Baker announced he planned to become a lawyer, like his beloved and much-admired uncle. After Wittenberg, he headed to what Buckeyes fans call “The School Up North,” graduating in 1972 before returning to Columbus to begin a 46-year career as a commercial real estate attorney, eventually chairing the Real Estate Practice Group at Bricker & Eckler Law Firm. Active in the community, he served as chair of the Downtown Council of the Columbus Chamber of Commerce, chair and member of several committees at Trinity United Methodist Church, general counsel to Ohio State’s Student Loan Foundation, vice president of Columbus Ensemble Theatre, chair of the Real Property Committee of the Columbus Bar Association, board member at Stanley Steemer International, and trustee of the Foundation for Preservation of the Harrison House. In 2009, he was recognized as “Best Lawyers” Central Ohio Real Estate Lawyer of the Year.
Believing strongly that everyone should give back to their community and “pass it on to others,” Baker began his modest but consistent philanthropic endeavors in earnest in 1970 when he and fellow classmates and Phi Psi brothers Rob Rose and John Kurtz established the John C. Lobach Memorial Fund.
Baker has donated his time, talent, and treasures over the years to many charities and charitable fundraising campaigns, including encouraging alumni participation in the annual Commit to Witt, participating in the Central Ohio Committee to solicit contributions to the Health, Wellness & Athletics (HWA) Complex Restoration and Expansion Initiative, and soliciting annually for the John C. Lobach Memorial Fund that aids students with financial need. He has observed over and over again that together, he and others could accomplish amazing things, far beyond what any one of them could accomplish alone. Humbled and appreciative to receive this award, he recognizes that his efforts being honored would not have been possible without other proud alumni, and the loving support of his wife, Carol, and their two daughters, and their families.
Servant Leader Award
This year’s Servant Leader Award, bestowed upon alumni who have distinguished themselves through outstanding service, goes to Robert “Rob” Montagnese, class of 1992.
Montagnese, B.A., M.H.A., C.P.A., is president & CEO of Licking Memorial Health Systems (LMHS), Licking County’s primary health care provider with over 2,400 employees. He joined LMHS on a full-time basis in 1993 and served in several senior and executive positions prior to assuming his current position in 2006. Under his leadership, the Health Systems expanded the main hospital campus with new medical areas, five off-campus health care facilities, and the acquisition of the Licking Memorial Hospital – Tamarack location. Through his direction, LMHS incorporated numerous cutting-edge technologies to benefit patients, including the installation of the Epic Electronic Health Record System and the Da Vinci Robotic Surgical System.
Montagnese holds a B.A. in business administration with a concentration in accounting from Wittenberg and a Master of Healthcare Administration from The Ohio State University. Additionally, he is a certified public accountant and member of the Ohio Society of CPAs and the Healthcare Financial Management Association.
He currently serves as chairman of the Central Ohio Technical College Board of Trustees, formerly serving as vice chairman. He is treasurer and past president of Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) Foundation Board, past president and Lifetime Honorary Member of the BBBS Board, chairman of the Newark Campus Development Fund, emeritus member of the Salvation Army Advisory Board, and a board member for First Federal Savings, GROW Licking County, Our Futures in Licking County, and the Institute for Health Innovation. Montagnese also serves as a member of the Newark Rotary Club and the Boys & Girls Club Advisory Board. He previously served as a member of the Ohio Medical Quality Foundation Board.
Montagnese received local recognition by the American Red Cross of Licking County and Newark Rotary Club, among others, for his outstanding leadership, service, and contributions to the community. He also received state and national acclaim as Columbus CEO Executive of the Year and Columbus Business First C-Suite Award and Forty Under 40 list honoree, and as a top 10 national finalist for the Modern Healthcare Community Leadership Award. He was also named on Becker’s Nonprofit Hospital & Health System CEOs to Know list for three consecutive years.
He and his wife, Lauren, live in Licking County. The couple has one daughter and two sons. He has coached sports teams for many years in the Central Ohio area.
Professional Achievement Awards
This year’s Professional Achievement Awards, presented to Wittenberg University alumni who have achieved outstanding distinction in their professional field, go to Jessica “Jessie” Ebie, class of 2004, and Brittnee Finnearty Lydy, class of 1999.
Ebie is an associate teaching professor in the School of Life Sciences at Arizona State University (ASU), where she also serves as director of the ASU Online Master of Science in Biology Program and vice president of the ASU Career Faculty Association. She earned her B.A. in biology and psychology from Wittenberg in 2004, her M.S. in biology from the University of Cincinnati in 2012, and her Ph.D. in animal behavior from ASU in 2020.
Ebie’s professional journey has been shaped by a broad range of experiences in both research and education. In addition to her six years as a teaching professor, she has worked as a marine educator, research technician in a limnology lab, and lab manager in a behavioral health psychology lab. Her diverse background has enabled her to approach teaching with a unique perspective, blending rigorous scientific training with a deep commitment to mentorship and student engagement.
At ASU, Ebie has taught as many as 800 students in a semester, yet she remains dedicated to providing personalized support and guidance. Drawing from her own experiences as a first-generation college student, Ebie understands the importance of building strong connections with students and credits the close relationships she formed with faculty during her undergraduate years with inspiring her own approach to teaching. Today, she strives to create a welcoming and inclusive environment in her classes, mirroring the sense of community that was so meaningful to her at Wittenberg.
At Estrella Mountain Community College, Ebie taught smaller classes and served a diverse student population. The contrast between the large university setting and the community college environment has enriched her understanding of different educational needs, and she brings this insight into her teaching at ASU.
Ebie has been recognized with multiple awards for excellence in teaching and mentoring, both as a graduate student and faculty member. She has mentored undergraduate and graduate students in experiences ranging from classroom instruction to hands-on laboratory and field research. She actively works on improving her teaching practices by incorporating evidence-based methods, ensuring that her students receive a high-quality education that equips them for success in their future careers.
Also a dedicated researcher, Ebie focuses on the behavior and sensory ecology of polydomous ants in her lab, particularly reproductive regulation and social organization in species such as the Australian weaver ant. Her research has potential applications in agriculture, particularly in the use of ants as natural biological pest control.
Lydy grew up the daughter of a coal miner in Athens, Ohio, to which she attributes her passion for geology. This passion eventually led her to Wittenberg, where she studied both geology and Japanese. Her interest in Japanese was sparked by a visit to her older sister, who was working in Japan. Upon graduating from Wittenberg, Lydy married her college sweetheart, Kevin Lydy, class of 1998, and they moved to Japan to teach English. Inspired to pursue teaching as a profession after returning to Ohio, she earned a Master of Arts in Teaching from Miami University. Since then, Lydy has been teaching middle and high school science for over 20 years.
For the past 15 years, Lydy has worked at the Dayton Regional STEM School, where she focuses on teaching science through a Project-Based Learning model. Her students' work, including plate tectonics models and molecular models, has been donated to underfunded schools around the country. Most recently, she collaborated with the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Legacy Management on a STEM sticker project with Fernald Preserve in Hamilton, Ohio. Her students’ stickers, which celebrate diversity in STEM disciplines, are utilized by Fernald Preserve for outreach purposes.
Lydy models lifelong learning to her students by seeking opportunities to further her own understanding of the world. She has attended research workshops and seminars at world renowned locations including the National Radiation Center at Washington State University, McDonald Observatory in Fort Davis, Texas, the National Weather Service Training Center in Kansas City, and the National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory at Michigan State University.
Lydy has served as a teacher leader through her presentations on best STEM teaching practices at both regional and national conferences, including the National Science Teachers Association, the Innovative Teaching Summit, the DO STEM Conference, CINSAM Night, and the Project WRIGHT Symposium. She has received grants from the David Meade Massie Foundation, the Cincinnati Observatory, and the Ohio Energy Project to help provide her students with materials and experiences that deepen their understanding of scientific concepts. Last spring, she was named the 2024 Big Hoopla STEM Teacher of the Year.
Perhaps most importantly, Lydy routinely has former students visit her to let her know that she is the reason they pursued a career in the STEM fields; most dear to her heart is the role she has played in several of her students choosing to study at Wittenberg.
Alumna of the Year
The Alumna of the Year is the most prestigious recognition bestowed upon alumni. The award celebrates alumni who have attained a significant level of achievement in their chosen field, impacted their local communities with integrity and character, and demonstrated a continued commitment to Wittenberg. This year’s recipient is Amber Gibbs, Ph.D., class of 1998.
Gibbs currently serves as the CEO and superintendent of the Cuyahoga County Board of Developmental Disabilities (Cuyahoga DD) in Cleveland, Ohio. Cuyahoga DD serves over 15,000 people each year, offering services throughout the lifespan to support and empower people with developmental disabilities to live, learn, work, and play in their communities.
Gibbs joined Cuyahoga DD in 2008 and served in a variety of supervisory and leadership roles, with notable accomplishments including leading a major effort to eliminate the waiting list in Cuyahoga County and finding ways to expand a program to support families caring for their loved ones with developmental disabilities. Under her leadership, the agency expanded innovative housing options for people with disabilities and assisted organizations throughout the community to install sensory areas and universal changing stations, making Cuyahoga County a more welcoming and inclusive place for all residents.
A leader at the state level with the Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities and other county boards, Gibbs was recognized in 2018 with the Ohio Association of County Boards’ Partners in Excellence Award for her groundbreaking work to eliminate the statewide Medicaid waiting list.
As an adjunct professor at a local community college for almost 20 years, Gibbs has enjoyed working with hundreds of college students in her psychology classes. She tries to emulate what she learned from her caring and passionate professors at Wittenberg to help inspire her students to share their light with others.
After earning her bachelor's degree in psychology from Wittenberg, Gibbs earned her master’s degree in social science and psychology from the University of Chicago and a doctorate in organizational leadership from the University of Dayton. She lives in Cleveland with her husband, Lorenzo, and three daughters. Gibbs volunteers with Girl Scouts of Northeast Ohio, the Cleveland Kids Book Bank, and Beaumont School, and serves on the board of directors for Community Fund Ohio. She is grateful and proud that her family often joins her at various community events to support people with disabilities, and they each volunteer with organizations that are meaningful to them.
The Alumni Association Achievement Award program will be emceed by Kelly Sumption, class of 2001, president of the Wittenberg Alumni Association Board, who will present the welcome. President Michael L. Frandsen, Ph.D., will present the closing, and the Rev. Tracy Paschke-Johannes, Rev. David P. and Carol Matevia Endowed Pastor to the University, will give the blessing followed by dinner and the presentation of the awards.
In light of recent events in Springfield, added safety and security measures will be in place throughout the weekend. Only those registered for Homecoming, Reunion, and Family Weekend events will be allowed into the respective venues, and IDs will need to be shown prior to entry.
To view this year’s Homecoming, Reunion, and Family Weekend events or to register, click here.
