2026 Ralph Davenport Mershon Award

“If anyone calls from Ohio State and says, ‘I need help,’ I always say, ‘Of course. What can I do?’”

For more than 40 years, Catherine Baumgardner has answered that call as a dedicated volunteer, donor, adviser and mentor. She chairs alumni committees, guides university leaders, funds scholarships and strengthens the Buckeye community in countless ways.

Throughout her career — as a hospital administrator, professor at Penn State and the University of Alabama and as a leadership consultant — her commitment to Ohio State has remained constant. Although she lives nearly 400 miles away in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, she returns to campus often. “My car knows the way to Columbus very well,” she says.

Her commitment encompasses time, talent and treasure. Dr. Baumgardner supported the efforts to endow a chair in the School of Public Health and funds an endowed scholarship that honors her parents and grandparents. Access to education has always been a strong driving force for her, and providing scholarships is a way of paying it forward for those that supported her educational pursuits. “My grandmother always told me, ‘People can take anything from you, but they can never take away an education.”

She credits her mother for instilling a love for Ohio State early on. “My mother graduated from the School of Nursing in 1961,” she says. “I grew up learning the OHIO song before nursery rhymes. Ohio State was always on my radar, and I aspired to attend from a very young age, and I have never regretted that decision!”

When she arrived from her hometown of Wintersville, Ohio (population 3,000), the university gave her a broader view of what was possible. “Ohio State introduced me to new experiences,” she says. “It gave me confidence by letting me try new things, and it let me fail without judging.” The lifelong mentoring of several professors, staff and alumni supported that confidence. Today, Dr. Baumgardner honors their support by mentoring scholarship recipients and alumni.

Over the years, Catherine has been a driving force in Ohio State’s alumni and academic communities, contributing her leadership to numerous committees including the Honors and Scholars Advisory Council, the HSMP Alumni Society, the Ohio State Alumni Advisory Council and the alumni association’s board of directors (both of which she chaired). She also served on the Time and Change Campaign Committee of the Foundation Board, and the Advancement Committee of the Board of Trustees.  Her philosophy about volunteering is to “just start somewhere.” She feels that too often, people wait for when they can do the big things, and miss the opportunity to make even small differences.

Soon, she’ll add another chapter to her Buckeye story. Starting in 2027, she’ll teach a leadership course in the Executive Master of Health Administration program, sharing her experience and inspiring others. As she says, “a full circle moment.  Like coming home.”

And if Ohio State calls before then, she’ll answer — and be at the ready to contribute whatever she can in time, talent, or treasure to continue making a difference.