John Mountz Alumnus of Distinction

JOHN MOUNTZ, PENN STATE ’90 GREENVILLE, N.C. DIRECTOR OF STUDENT ENGAGEMENT

Dedicating yourself to a career in higher education takes a commitment to learning and growing within the profession that only a select few have the patience and understanding to accomplish. While Phi Kappa Tau is proud to have a number of these men, today’s spotlight will be on John Mountz, Penn State ’90, and his determination to improve upon and generate the best possible student experience within every institution throughout his distinguished career. Currently serving as the Director of Student Engagement at East Carolina University, Mountz leads a department that’s focused on providing advising, support, leadership development, and resources to over 35 fraternities and sororities and more than 450 registered student organizations. For his work at ECU and in recognition of his service to the fraternity and sorority community, Mountz was recently awarded the 2022 Sue Kraft Fussell Distinguished Service Award by the Association of Fraternity/Sorority Advisors (AFA). AFA Executive Director Jason Bergeron stated, “This award recognizes John Mountz’s longtime service to the fraternity/sorority profession and to AFA as a mentor, a volunteer and champion for the fraternity/sorority profession.”

Long before this much-deserved recognition, Mountz took his first position at the University of Michigan as a fraternity advisor. This came off the heels of completing his M.Ed. at the University of Florida, and he would spend three years in that position before moving on to North Carolina State. His time at NC State began as the Assocaite Director

of Greek Life, and throughout his thirteen years with the university, Mountz would go on to assume the Director position. Since 2013, Mountz has supported fraternity and sorority organizations with his consulting company, J. Mountz Consulting, and has been a LeaderShape facilitator for over two decades. Following the stint of working solely for his consulting company, Mountz arrived on the ECU campus and served as the Director of Greek Life until January of 2021 when he assumed his current position.

Within our own organization, Mountz is a consummate volunteer and committed brother. Joining the Fall of his sophomore year, he was seeking organizations which would provide the opportunity to become more involved on campus. Drawn to the lifelong bond that Phi Tau offered, Mountz immersed himself within the Omicron chapter. As an undergraduate, he served as Vice President of Alumni Relations, and remembers fondly the alumni who were invested in the chapter and fraternity long after they had graduated. As a graduate member, Mountz serves as educational dean, was part of the group that helped develop the Borradaile Challenge, and has shared a wealth of knowledge as a volunteer at educational programs like Leadership Academy and Growth Summit. When not fostering the experiences and education of young men and women from across the country, Mountz enjoys spending time with his family. He met his wife, Kecia, through a connection within the Phi Tau house at Penn State, and they now have two daughters, Rebecca and Abigail, who are both members of the Zeta Tau Alpha sorority. A big dog family, the Mountz’s also have two labs, Holly and Piper.