In memory of archaeology professor Marisol Cortes-Rincon

Archaeology professor Marisol Cortes-Rincon was awarded the title of Professor Emeritus on Oct. 1, an honor that is rarely earned posthumously. Earning this speaks to her outstanding contributions to the university and students. Cortes-Rincon died in late May. Students, staff and faculty received an email regarding the news of her passing on May 28.

The title of emeritus is an honor that is rewarded to faculty at the time of their retirement, Cortes-Rincon’s hard work and dedication met the standards despite her not making it to retirement, said Marissa Ramsier, current department chair of anthropology.

Cortes-Rincon was a member of the anthropology department at Humboldt State University from 2010-2024. Cortes-Rincon spent 14 years heading Humboldt’s archaeology program. 

Cortes-Rincon was a first generation student. She and her family moved to the United States from Colombia in her early teenage years. She joined the Humboldt anthropology faculty after the completion of her doctorate in anthropology, with a concentration in archaeology and geographic information systems, from the University of Texas, Austin; master’s in anthropology with a concentration in medical anthropology, along with her bachelor’s classics with minors in archaeology and pre-law, at Montclair State University. 

Ramsier, and Barbra Klessig Co-Director said they felt that professor Cortes-Rincon was a central part of the anthropology department. 

“Professor Cortes-Rincon wore many hats in the department, including: Professor, Lab Director, Field Program Director, Director/Co-Director of the Cultural Resources Facility, Department Chair, advisor, and mentor both to students and other faculty,” said Ramsier and Klessig in an email. “Marisol led by example. She believed in her students – that everyone ‘could do it.’ She held everyone to high standards and encouraged them to do their best work, to give it their all, because that is what she did.” 

Cortes-Rincon was described by colleagues and students to be fierce, resilient, strong, brilliant, inspiring, giving, and bada**. “We think Marisol would have found it hilarious that a word used to describe her had to be censored!,” said Ramsier and Klessig.

Former undergraduate Daniel Busch expresses how supportive professor Cortes-Rincon was.  

“She taught me how to be an archaeologist and inspired me to seek a higher degree in my field,” Busch said. “She was an incredible teacher and truly cared about her students.” 

A Graduate Studies Newsletter from fall 2017 had a faculty spotlight Q&A with Cortes-Rincon where she talked about being an academic, loving crossfit to stay in shape to hike the jungles in Belize and her dogs. 

“We would spend all day hiking through the jungle, miles and miles through thick vegetation, across rivers, and ending with a long and challenging up-hill climb. After all of this she would come back to camp and do a crossfit workout. Even more incredibly, in her last season she did all of this while also going through chemotherapy. She was always looking to take on greater challenges and did so with a smile and often a maniacal cackle of laughter,” said Cady Rutherford, former undergrad who worked with Cortes-Rincon in Belize.

Cortes-Rincon’s husband, Steve Rincon, shared his best moment of Cortes-Rincon that captures her character is how committed she was.

“In January of 2023, while still actively receiving chemotherapy, she declared to me that she was going to her Belize field school in May. Not only did she go and had a great season, but she also figured out a way to continue receiving chemotherapy treatments in the jungle,” Steve Rincon said. 

Professor Cortes-Rincon won numerous contracts and grants, she helped students gain hands-on applied archaeology experience.

“She provided total support for any research interest expressed by a student. This support of undergraduate research was especially significant,” Rutherford said. “These sorts of opportunities are rare in most programs, and her significant work in providing these sets so many of her students (including myself) up to get into high quality graduate programs or to go directly into professional work with the kind of experience new graduates rarely have.”

The anthropology department along with Cortes-Rincon’s family are working on setting up a student scholarship in her honor. 

“One of her final acts as a faculty was to dedicate her remaining research funds to support student scholarships to participate in field schools. She wanted others to have the opportunity to experience a field of study that was so impactful to her,” said Ramsier and Klessigl. “We are in the process of setting up an endowed scholarship to fulfill this wish and promise.” 

“She was dedicated, funny and super smart. I think that one of the qualities people admire about her was her loyalty,” Steve Rincon said.