Reviews of professor Erin Durban

Rating: 5.0/5, difficulty: 3.0/5
I wish there were more courses like this one that teaches things that we need to know about living in a diverse world. Professor Durban exposed me to new ideas and cultures that I didn't know about, and I wish everyone would take this course. They are also incredibly funny and kind, and they care a lot about their students.

Rating: 5.0/5, difficulty: 3.0/5
I am a non-anthro major and was worried about this class. But I loved the class activities and learning how to do field work and you will too! Professor Durban was incredibly helpful and worked closely with me and other students on on our projects. I loved going to office hours because she always has tea and snacks! The TA Thomas was also great!

Rating: 5.0/5, difficulty: 4.0/5
Prof. D. is dedicated, caring, and brilliant. Their accessible classes and ethnographic research experiences stood apart from the mind numbing lectures online during the pandemic. I am grateful to have learned from someone who truly cares about anthropological research and social justice, and you will be too.

Rating: 5.0/5, difficulty: 4.0/5
The things that make this professor stand out are not easy to describe in a catch phrase like the ones above. Professor D-A turned what I heard was a very boring course into an exciting ethnographic research exploration. Its a lot of work, but work that for once seems relevant and useful. I highly recommend taking this course.

Rating: 5.0/5, difficulty: 4.0/5
Professor Durban pushed us to be our best and dig into our own research about social issues with enthusiasm, always with the best feedback and a helping hand along the way. They gave 300% to us, and I gave it back with no regrets. It made me want to become an anthropologist so that I can make a difference in the world around me.

Rating: 5.0/5, difficulty: 5.0/5
This was a theoretically challenging course, which I enjoyed thoroughly even though it seemed many students did not. I appreciated being pushed to think (a rarity at UMN) and apply the theories about biopolitics and necropolitics in a project about accounting and counter accounting in human rights. Heavy workload, but very valuable for the future.

Rating: 5.0/5, difficulty: 4.0/5
Incredible professor. Very smart and supportive. Worked at a good pace and had good accountability structures for reading, research, and writing. Always made me think about things from a different perspective.