Through the Plexiglass: Morgan McCartan

By Katie Fehrenbaker

Tell me about yourself! 

My name is Morgan McCartan and I am a junior in the Class of 2022, majoring in Human Biology Health and Society.

Which testing site(s) do you work at?

I work at RPCC, Sage Chapel, Bartels, and the ILR Conference Center.

Why did you choose to become a surveillance tester?

I decided to become a surveillance tester because as a pre-med student I was aware of the health and safety repercussions that would threaten our campus if a successful testing protocol was not in place. I knew this project would require a lot of teamwork, strategizing, and would be ever changing, but I was eager to join the team. I also knew that any sense of “on-campus normalcy” this semester was reliant upon the effectiveness of surveillance testing and I wanted to look back at this time and say, “Cornell succeeded and I was part of it.” 

What has your experience working at the testing centers been like so far?

Working at the testing sites has been really fun because I get to see so many familiar faces—  in an unusual way it is a social activity. The staff is also extremely diverse, from students to local residents to librarians, thus there is never a dull conversation behind the plexiglass!

What do you like to do in your free time? Hobbies? Fun facts? Interests?

I have really enjoyed exploring the Ithaca area this fall and living off campus with my best friends. In my free time, I am usually hanging out on the porch of my house or cooking with my roommates. 

I am also a member of Delta Gamma sorority, PATCH (Pre Medical Association Toward Careers in Healthy), and the MEDLIFE chapter at Cornell. 

If you could say something to the Cornell community, what would you say? 

Keep it up! We are doing great.