She earned a PhD in Consumer Economics from Cornell University. As a consumer economist, Montalto studies factors and processes affecting the economic status and financial security of households and individual household members. Her research trajectory includes collegiate financial wellness, consumer financial strategies related to education and health care, household saving behavior including retirement preparation and emergency savings, and individual time allocation including labor force participation behavior. Dr. Montalto’s research has appeared in numerous peer-reviewed journals including the Journal of Economic Psychology, Financial Services Review, Journal of Family and Economic Issues, Journal of Youth Studies, Journal of Financial Therapy, and Journal of College Student Retention.