As a faculty member in Marshall's College of Education and Human Services, Dr. Cartwright teaches Elementary Science Methods and Integrated Methods in Secondary Education. While serving as a research meteorologist for MIT’s Lincoln Laboratory, Dr. Cartwright investigated the effectiveness of a thunderstorm forecast product to be used by air traffic controllers. From 2004 to 2009, Cartwright served as the West Virginia State Climatologist. In this role, she promotes relevant scientific learning and investigates relevant weather and climate research issues important to the state of West Virginia.