Anthropology
What is Anthropology?
Anthropology is the study of people. In its most general definition, anthropology is the study of humanity in its broadest possible context in space, time, and topics. Anthropology has a holistic approach, which means looking at all aspects, or the whole. The aim of anthropology is to understand the whole of human existence- both past and present, both as a biological organism and as a cultural creature.
Learn more at: This is Anthropology
The site includes information about the discipline, an interactive map of anthropology projects around the world, the skills and careers anthropologists have, and how to become an anthropologist. The site is a project of the American Anthropological Association.
Anthropology at LAVC
At LAVC, a wide variety of courses are offered in Anthropology for both general education credit and for satisfying lower division transfer requirements. All courses are UC and CSU transferable and an AA degree in Anthropology may be earned. For more information, see the College Catalog.
| Contact |
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| Chairperson Rebecca Stein |
| Phone (818) 947-2538 |
| Email |
| Office Location Allied Health & Sciences Building |
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Office Hours Email for availability |
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Department |
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Pathway Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM)
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Degree
The Anthropology Department at Los Angeles Valley College aims to provide a variety of courses, giving students a holistic approach to the field. Students will be able to analyze the patterns underlying diverse anatomy, behaviors beliefs, attitudes, and identities using the concepts of cultural relativism and evolutionary theory.
Associate of Arts for Transfer (AA-T) in Anthropology is designed to prepare students for a seamless transfer into the CSU system to complete a baccalaureate degree in Anthropology. The AA-T also satisfies the UC Transfer Pathway.
The Anthropology Department fully participates in the Zero Textbook Cost (ZTC) Program. It is possible to earn an associates degree in Anthropology at Los Angeles Valley College with no textbook cost to the student. Below you will find links to access the textbooks on-line for free via Pressbooks.
Please Note: If the student prefers a printed copy, there are options to access the textbook on reserve at the LAVC library., or purchase for a small fee through the LAVC Bookstore. A printed copy is optional, students will have full access to all educational resources on-line at no additional cost.
Please note: ANTHRO 103, 104, and 116 will use Open Educational Resources (OER) provided via Canvas.
Anthropology Society
The LAVC Anthropology Society is a non-chartered, student driven collective endorsed by the Anthropology Department of Los Angeles Valley College and is nationally recognized by the American Anthropological Association. The "A-Society seeks to establish an active social network that works to enrich the student experience by fostering community among majors and/or others that have a keen interest in our discipline.
Faculty Advisor: Eugene Scott - (contact: scottek@veosonica.com)
Faculty
Anthropology Faculty
Adjunct Anthropology Faculty
Click below for a list of adjunct faculty. For a complete list of LAVC faculty search the LAVC Directory.
| Name | Contact |
|---|---|
| Madlen Avetyan | |
| Toni Edge | |
| Kenneth "Duke" Feldmeier | |
| Sashur Henninger | |
| Oscar Hernandez | |
| Amanda Keating (Zunner) | |
| Angela Kirwin | |
| Jaclyn Magginetti | |
| Gil Ramos | |
| Benjamin Shepard | |
| Yasmine Shereen | |
| Keith J. Snyder | |
| Eleanor Strauss | |
| Amanda Toth | |
| Alberto Vigil | vigila@lavc.edu |
Faculty Profiles
- MA in Anthropology, CSU Northridge.
- Teaches Anthro 101: Human Biological Evolution, Anthro 102: Human Ways of Life, Anthro 104: Human Language and Communication, and Anthro 121: Anthropology of Religion, Magic and Witchcraft.
- Areas of Interest - Religious Communities, Diasporas in the United States, Ethno-religiosity and Cultural Identity, Folklore.
- Fun Fact - Among many careers I tried before teaching was working as a private investigator.
- Pronouns - she/her.
- M.A. in Anthropology. CSU, Fullerton. M.F.A. in Broadcast Cinema. Art Center College of Design.
- Teaches Anthro 101: Human Biological Evolution, Anthro 102: Human Ways of Life, Anthro 103: Archaeology, Anthro 104: Human Language and Communication, Anthro 111: Laboratory in Human Biological Evolution, and Anthro 121: Anthropology of Religion, Magic and Witchcraft.
- Areas of Interest - Human Variation + adaptation. Art, language, + culture. Education. Legal systems. Equity. Osteology. Cultural pluralism.
- Fun Fact - I have four dogs, nine cats, some fish, that share my house with me. Along with a variety of wild rabbits, squirrels, chipmunks, + voles living in my yard that I share my garden veg with. I enjoy hiking + biking + painting + sewing + reading. Irish murder mysteries are my current favorite genera.
- Pronouns - she/her.
- MA in Applied Anthropology, Prescott College.
- Teaches Anthro 101: Human Biological Evolution, Anthro 102: Human Ways of Life, Anthro 111: Laboratory in Human Biological Evolution, and Anthro 121: Anthropology of Religion, Magic and Witchcraft.
- Areas of interest - Food and Anthropology.
- PhD in Anthropology, UCLA
- Teaches Human Biological Evolution (Anthro 101/111), Primate Lives (Anthro 116), Human Language and Communication (Anthro 104)
- Areas of Interest - evolution of behavior; cooperation; primate behavioral ecology; evolution of language
- Role in the department - "The bone keeper" (aka lab collection manager)
- Fun Fact - I enjoy reading science fiction books, watching the squirrels on campus, caring for my three cats and one dog at home, and going to see plays and musicals with my family.
- Pronouns - she/her
- MA in Anthropology, CSU Northridge.
- Teaches Anthro 101: Human Biological Evolution
- Areas of interest - Anthropology of space and meaning, urban anthropology, evolution of culture, free speech.
- Fun Fact - I love shopping at Marshalls.
- MA in Anthropology, Columbia University.
- Teaches Anthro 101: Human Biological Evolution, Anthro 111: Human Biological Evolution Laboratory, Anthro 102: Human Ways of Life, Anthro 103: Archaeology: Reconstructing the Past, and Anthro 121: The Anthropology of Religion, Magic and Witchcraft.
- Areas of interest - My research focus is on the field of medical anthropology. I am interested in the interrelationship between mental health, culture, and stigma, as they impact the recovery rates of vulnerable populations.
- Fun Fact - I have traveled to 25 different countries.
- Pronouns - she/her.
- MA in Anthropology, Cal State LA.
- Teaches Anthro 101: Human Biological Evolution, Anthro 102: Human Ways of Life, Anthro 104: Human Language and Culture, and Anthro 121: The Anthropology of Religion, Magic and Witchcraft.
- Areas of Interest - NAGPRA and Forensic Anthropology.
- Fun Fact - My favorite movies are Superbad and Alfred Hitchcock’s Notorious.
- MA in Anthropology, CSU Northridge.
- Teaches Anthro 101: Human Biological Evolution, Anthro 102: Human Ways of Life, Anthro 111: Laboratory in Human Biological Evolution, Anthro 116: Primate Lives, and Anthro 121: Anthropology of Religion, Magic and Witchcraft
- Areas of interest - Disaster anthropology, subcultures of triathletes and ultra runners, food anthropology, medical anthropology, and evolutionary biology
- Fun Fact - Former competitive Ironman triathlete, worked for the Jane Goodall Institute, and I’m a disaster relief volunteer.
- Pronouns - she/her.
- MA in Anthropology, CSU Fullerton.
- Teaches Anthro 101: Human Biological Evolution, Anthro 102: Human Ways of Life, and Anthro 121: Anthropology of Religion, Magic and Witchcraft.
- Areas of Interest - Mating and parenting.
- Fun Fact - I love DND and the beach!
- Pronouns - she/her
- MA in Anthropology, CSU Northridge.
- Teaches Anthro 101: Human Biological Evolution, Anthro 111: Laboratory in Human Biological Evolution, and Anthro 121: Anthropology of Religion, Magic and Witchcraft.
- Areas of Interest - Neanderthal and Homo sapiens co-existence, Middle-to-Late Pleistocene hominins, primate behavioral ecology.
- Role in the Department - Tau Alpha Epsilon Advisor and website updates.
- Fun Fact - Before teaching anthropology, I taught babies to swim.
- Pronouns - she/her.
- PhD in Anthropology, University of Indiana.
- Teaches Anthro 101: Human Biological Evolution, Anthro 111: Human Biological Evolution Lab, Anthro 116: Primate Lives: Behavior, Evolution, And Culture, and Anthro 121: Anthropology of Religion, Magic and Witchcraft.
- Areas of interest - Primate Social and Behavioral Evolution, Primate Socioecology, Primate Functional Anatomy, Animal Behavior, and Comparative Primate-Human Anatomy and Behavior.
- Fun fact - I enjoy playing and recording music, I enjoy riding dirt bikes and I especially enjoy long hikes with my dogs in undisturbed natural settings.
- Pronouns - he/him.
- MA in Anthropology, CSU Fullerton.
- Teaches Cultural Anthropology (Anthro 102) and Anthropology of Religion (Anthro 121),
- Areas of Interest - Cyborg Anthropology, Sumo, The Art of Stillness,
- Role in department - Anthro Society Advisor
- Fun Fact - I have four middle names.
- Pronouns - he/him.
- PhD in Anthropology, UCLA.
- Teaches Anthro 111: Laboratory in Human Biological Evolution.
- Areas of Interest - I am interested in the evolution of human behaviors and Life History Theory.
- Fun fact - I love film and play guitar.
- Pronouns - they/them.
- MA in Anthropology, UCLA.
- Teaches Human Biological Evolution (Anthro 101) and Anthropology of Religion (Anthro 121).
- Areas of Interest - qualitative research (surveys, focus groups, ethnographic interviews), religion, medical/psychological anthropology.
- Role in department - Department chair.
- Fun Fact – I read a truly ridiculous amount, love musical theater, and have two cats named after my favorite drag artists (Jinkx Monsoon and Sasha Velour).
- Pronouns - she/her.
- MA Anthropology, The New School for Social Research.
- Teaches Anthro 101: Human Biological Evolution, Anthro 102: Human Ways of Life, and Anthro 121: The Anthropology of Religion, Magic and Witchcraft.
- Areas of Interest - division of labor, power and culture, Cyber anthropology, epigenetics, epidemics and pandemics.
- Fun Fact - I love cats and how irreverent they are. I love to swim, hike, and cook.
- Pronouns - she/her.
- MA Anthropology, CSU Fullerton.
- Teaches Anthro 101: Human Biological Evolution, Anthro 111: Human Biological Evolution Lab, Anthro 104: Human Language and Culture, and Anthro 121: The Anthropology of Religion, Magic and Witchcraft.
- Areas of Interest - evolution of cooperation, disease avoidance strategies, and reproductive strategies.
- Fun Fact - I conducted my master's research in the Amazon Rainforest.
- Pronouns - she/her.
- MA in Biological Anthropology, CSU Fullerton.
- Teaches Anthro 101: Human Biological Evolution and ANTHRO 111: Laboratory in Human Biological Evolution
- Areas of Interest - Comparative and Functional Osteology; Paleogenomics.
- Fun Fact - I enjoy reading peer reviewed articles.