Morgan Community College (MCC) enthusiastically announces the appointment of Dr. Marlon Escamilla Rodriguez, a distinguished archaeologist and academic leader from El Salvador, as the 2024-25 Fulbright Scholar-in-Residence. Sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, this prestigious appointment brings Dr. Escamilla Rodriguez to MCC.
Dr. Escamilla Rodriguez brings a wealth of expertise and experience to MCC. He holds a Ph.D. in Archaeology and a master’s degree in Cultural Anthropology from Vanderbilt University. Dr. Escamilla Rodriguez also holds a postgraduate degree in Social Anthropology and a bachelor’s degree in Archaeology from Universidad Tecnológica de El Salvador (UTEC). His career consists of significant roles including National Director of Cultural Heritage of the Ministry of Culture of El Salvador, Curator of the University Museum of Anthropology at UTEC, and editorial assistant for the academic journal Ancient Mesoamerica published by Cambridge University Press.
“This is a unique and special opportunity to host Dr. Escamilla Rodriguez as a talented visiting scholar at Morgan Community College,” said Dr. Curt Freed, MCC President. “This is a true honor because MCC is one of just a small handful of schools across the country with this chance to host a Fulbright Scholar-In-Residence. I know the positive contributions Dr. Escamilla Rodriguez will make will touch students, staff, and community alike.”
Currently serving as the coordinator of the bachelor’s degree in Archaeology at UTEC, Dr. Escamilla Rodriguez has been recognized for his excellence in teaching. He has received awards such as Outstanding Teaching Assistant in the Department of Anthropology at Vanderbilt University and Distinguished Teacher at the Technological University of El Salvador.
Dr. Escamilla Rodriguez’s research interests include landscape archaeology, the anthropology of movement, migrations, underwater archaeology, and the study of rock art. Since 2010, he has led the Archaeological Project of Costa del Bálsamo, investigating the migratory patterns of indigenous groups. Dr. Escamilla Rodriguez has contributed to academic journals and has presented his research at conferences across the United States and Europe.
Beyond his academic achievements, Dr. Escamilla Rodriguez is a prominent figure in El Salvador’s archaeological community. He is the founder and current president of the Association of Archaeology of El Salvador (ARQUES), founder of the International Council of Museums (ICOM-El Salvador), and a member of the Salvadoran Academy of History.
During his tenure as Fulbright Scholar-in-Residence at MCC, Dr. Escamilla Rodriguez will enrich the college community through teaching Latin American history, collaborating with faculty on internationalizing the curriculum, engaging with student groups, and serving as a guest lecturer. He will partner with various local organizations in Morgan County, including schools, the Fort Morgan Library and Museum, One Morgan County, and the United Way of Morgan County.
“The MCC family is looking forward to welcoming Dr. Escamilla Rodriguez for the upcoming academic year! Dr. Escamilla Rodriguez brings with him a wealth of knowledge in both the social and hard sciences,” stated MCC Vice President of Instruction, Dr. Deborah Coates. “He will be able to deeply engage with our students in the classroom as well as experiential learning exploring the historical cultural sites in Colorado. We are fortunate to have such an experienced archeologist and anthropologist join us for the year.”
The faculty and staff of MCC are eager to welcome Dr. Escamilla Rodriguez in early August and look forward to the expertise and cultural insights he will share with the community.
MCC is now registering students for fall semester. Courses begin August 19, 2024. The Fall 2024 course schedule and information about registering is available at morgancc.edu/fall.
About Morgan Community College:
With a main campus in Fort Morgan, Morgan Community College serves a large region in Northeast Colorado. The college is committed to providing high-quality education, fostering student success, and serving as a catalyst for economic and community development. Additional information is available at MorganCC.edu.
About Fulbright Scholar-in-Residence:
Fulbright is a program of the U.S. Department of State, with funding provided by the U.S. Government. Participating governments and host institutions, corporations, and foundations around the world also provide direct and indirect support to the Program, which has operated in over 160 countries worldwide.
Since 1946, the Fulbright Program has provided over 400,000 talented and accomplished students, scholars, teachers, artists, and professionals of all backgrounds with the opportunity to study, teach, and conduct research abroad. Fulbrighters exchange ideas, build people-to-people connections, and work to address complex global challenges. Notable Fulbrighters include 62 Nobel Laureates, 89 Pulitzer Prize winners, 80 MacArthur Fellows, 41 heads of state or government, and thousands of leaders across the private, public, and non-profit sectors.
