HomepageGold StandardAlumni Spotlight: Megan Maccaroni ’14

Alumni Spotlight: Megan Maccaroni ’14

Megan Maccaroni ’14 was a well-rounded Ursinus student – making time for academics, extracurricular activities and her Ursinus family.
Megan was an Admissions tour guide, resident advisor, Wellness House program coordinator, club officer for UCEA, a dancer for Escape Velocity and a fellow in the Office of Sustainability. She did all of this while double-majoring in environmental studies and Spanish. Megan’s academics expanded outside of the classroom as she studied abroad in Costa Rica and did at externship at John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge at Tinicum in Philadelphia.



Megan participated in Ursinus’s externship program during it’s first year. As an extern, Megan’s goal was to learn what a job with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is all about. She explored this and so much more as she shadowed Mariana Bergerson ’02, a deputy manager at John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge. She got a taste of the daily refuge operations and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s mission. Megan’s favorite memory was walking through the refuge and seeing all the different plants and wildlife. 

Megan’s experience as an extern had such a positive influence on her life that she decided to host an extern this winter. She wanted a current Ursinus student to have the opportunity to exploring an environmental career just like she did. As an Environmental Scientist II, Megan collects groundwater, soil and air samples from different sites and analyzes data to ensure these sites are meeting regulations from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP). She also works on wetland applications and other permits that are submitted to the NJDEP Division of Land Use and Regulation. Megan showed her Ursinus extern, Katrina O’Donnell ’18, some of the tasks that happen in the environmental consulting field. Katrina attended a meeting where she learned how to manage multiple projects in a small consulting firm. Megan showed Katrina the various laboratory equipment used to collect groundwater, soil and air samples. They also worked on a wetlands application together. Megan shared what happened during her last day of being an externship host on the Ursinus alumni Instagram page. If you missed it, check it out.

Megan’s advice to current students is, “Enjoy and take part in activities and build up your Ursinus community…the Ursinus family will stay with you even after you graduate.”

Megan lives in southern New Jersey with her fiancé. She stays in touch with her Ursinus family, even though her friends are located in various spots around the world. She schedules time to visit Ursinus for Homecoming, to visit with friends and to attend UC by the Sea. Megan does all of this as a way to stay in touch with her inner Bear.


By Hannah Marshall 16

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