Meisshialette Ortiz Quiñones is a forensic anthropologist and currently the Director of the Forensic Anthropology Section at the Puerto Rico Institute of Forensic Sciences, where she leads investigations related to the identification of missing and unclaimed persons. She was responsible for establishing the institute’s first-ever forensic anthropology unit and laboratory and was appointed director at just 23 years old.

She is a graduate of the University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in Anthropology with an emphasis in Archaeology. She also holds a master’s degree in Forensic Anthropology from the Boston University School of Medicine. Currently, she is pursuing her doctoral studies at the University of Pretoria in South Africa, focusing on decomposition processes in tropical climates.

In addition to her work as a forensic anthropologist, she is a professor within the Interamerican University of Puerto Rico system and the University of Puerto Rico at Río Piedras. Her work combines expert casework, academic training, and a strong commitment to justice. She has been recognized for her leadership in the professionalization of forensic anthropology in Puerto Rico. She has collaborated with nonprofit organizations in the U.S. dedicated to identifying missing persons and is a member of several American associations related to anthropology and forensic sciences. She is also a diplomate of the American Board of Medicolegal Death Investigators.

Beyond her scientific work, she actively contributes to the training of future professionals, science communication, and international interagency collaborations.