As Spring quarter draws to a close, the Social Sciences and Humanities Division celebrates the contributions and accomplishments of two retiring full-time professors, Caroline Hartse and Marie Weichman.
Caroline Hartse
For more than three decades, Professor Caroline Hartse has enriched Olympic College through her dedication to teaching, scholarship and community engagement. As she retires after 31 years at OC, we celebrate a career defined by intellectual curiosity, meaningful partnerships and an unwavering commitment to student learning.
Since joining Olympic College in 1994, Caroline has inspired generations of students through her commitment to anthropology and her focus on the importance of understanding and supporting cultural and linguistic diversity. Her teaching spanned cultural, environmental, biological, linguistic, and medical anthropology, always emphasizing the relevance of anthropology in our interconnected world.
Among her many accomplishments, Caroline helped create and lead the Yama Project, a collaborative initiative that combined archaeology, oral history, and community engagement to document the historic Japanese American community of Yama & Nagaya on Bainbridge Island. The project provided students with hands-on professional experience and contributed to the successful listing of Yama & Nagaya Village on both the Washington Heritage Register and the U.S. National Register of Historic Places.
Reflecting on her career, Caroline shared, “Every quarter, I learn so much from students through their insights into and applications of anthropology.”
She also expressed deep gratitude for the colleagues, staff and numerous community organizations and partners who helped create opportunities for student learning and success throughout her time at Olympic College.
Caroline’s legacy will be felt through the countless students she mentored, the community partnerships she fostered and the lasting impact of the Yama Project. We thank her for her dedication and wish her all the best in this next chapter.
Marie Weichman
After 18 years of dedicated service to Olympic College, we congratulate Professor Marie Weichman on her retirement and thank her for the lasting impact she has made on our students, campus and community.
Since joining Olympic College in 2008 to lead the Ceramics and Sculpture programs, Marie has helped shape countless artistic journeys while expanding opportunities for students through initiatives such as the OC Clay Club, community art projects and innovative gallery exhibitions. Among her many achievements, she curated the acclaimed exhibition FROM THE ASHES, which she considers to be one of the most beautiful exhibitions hosted by the college.
Reflecting on her time at OC, Marie shared that each wave of new students made her a better person and that the friendships she gained are what she values most.
“I like to tell people that until I came to OC, I was a gypsy, but my life here changed that. I am rooted now,” Marie shares.
Those relationships, built through years of teaching, mentorship and community engagement, are a testament to her generosity and passion as an educator.
While Marie says she is “not retiring; I’m returning to my first career,” we know her influence at Olympic College will endure. As the studio calls her back to full-time artistic practice, we wish her continued inspiration and success in this exciting next chapter.