Rosa Marcus: SSA Union Member/Clerical Technical Award

Ms. Marcus has been a dedicated, proactive, and cheerful technician in the Department of Physiology & Cellular Biophysics since 2003. Remarking on her tendency to pitch in with duties large and small, one nominator describes Ms. Marcus as “a friend and factotum to everyone.” Hired as a glassware technician, Ms. Marcus consistently takes on duties beyond those assigned, assisting both the physiology and pharmacology laboratories with administrative tasks in addition to effectively managing her responsibilities as a glass technician. With her excellent work ethic and positive attitude, one nominator says, “she epitomizes all the good things in our department.” In the words of another: “Rosa is a remarkable individual and a very conscientious employee whose clear interest is to help the investigators, the different labs and in general the departmental operations of both physiology and pharmacology at every level she can.”

A Conversation with Ms. Marcus

Tell us what you do at the P&S and how long you have been working here. 

I have been at P&S for 12-13 years. In my role I help the principal investigators find what they’re looking for, no matter what it is.

In my role, I like to think that I’m here to help. I am here to help not only those who work in my department but anyone who works at Columbia, no matter what department. As long as they need me, I help.

I’m very proud to be a Columbia employee. I try to behave like we are a big family.

How did you come to P&S and/or this role?

In 2003, my daughter was finishing high school, I was going through a divorce, and I needed to find a job. I needed to work. A friend of mine recommended me for this position.

What do you like most about your role?

What I enjoy the most about my role is being able to help others. My mother raised us with the saying, "Only a life lived in the service of others is worth living." I've only learned recently that that is an Albert Einstein quote. I don't think she knew that either.

Tell us about your life outside work.

I enjoy spending time with my children and family. My daughter is 30 and my son is 28. We like to go dancing, eat out, and travel. I love spending time with them.

When I travel, I go to the Dominican Republic to see my mother who has Alzheimer’s disease.