Memories of the Richard Flores Taitano Micronesian Area Research Center

Abstract

Trained as a Paleo-Anthropologist and Old World Pre-historian at the University of California, Berkeley (UCB), Dr. Hiro Kurashina’s academic career has spanned more than two decades at the Richard Flores Taitano Micronesian Area Research Center, also known as MARC (RFT-MARC), at the University of Guam, through the 1980s, 1990s, and the early portion of 2000s. During these years, he served as a Faculty Member, Acting Director, Director, and Acting Dean of the UOG Graduate School & Research. While Dr. Kurashina was the Director of MARC, the new MARC Building on campus was completed, including the much expanded MARC Collections, Research, and Publication Areas. MARC became officially designated as a Center of Excellence in the course of Dr. Kurashina’s Directorship. The present Legacy Report highlights some of the memorable activities, legacies, and a number of scholars, visitors to the Center, faculty, support staff, and students who contributed significantly to the growth and development of MARC under the administrative leadership of Dr. Hiro Kurashina.