Past president of NYSTA, Josephine Mongiardo helped found The Oren Lathrop Brown Professional Development Program and has been awarded the title of Distinguished Voice Professional. She holds a BA from Barnard College, an MA in musicology from Columbia University and has completed a vocology internship at Mount Sinai Hospital under the supervision of eminent otolaryngologist Dr. Peek Woo and speech pathologist Linda Carroll. She has a thriving teaching practice in New York City, and her students have been featured at Chautauqua, Seattle, Lake George and Delaware Operas and in chamber and orchestral performances throughout the United States. She teaches applied voice and vocal technique and repertoire courses at Barnard College and applied voice at Columbia Teachers College. Her students have been accepted to graduate voice programs at Manhattan School of Music, Mannes College of Music, Rice University, and the SUNY Binghamton/Tri-Cities Opera Program. Her cantorial students hold prestigious positions in New York (Stephen Wise and Park Avenue Synagogue) and across the United States.