Sociology and Anthropology
Agnes Scott College, GA

In Students' Own Words
"Not only is Professor Lee Bloch incredibly passionate about their subject, but they also inspire interest and awareness in students that reach beyond the walls of the classroom. As a group of students, Lee supported us having an Indigenous Peoples day informational demonstration and raising awareness about Indigenous issues in America. Lee is undoubtedly one of the best teachers and mentors I've had during my academic years."
"[Your work] inspired me to continue leveraging the power I have as a student to fight for NAIS after you leave Brandeis... Thank you for reminding us of Indigenous power, healing, hope and triumph in this particular political moment that can feel hopeless."
"Equitable, open, funny, a space where I felt respected and not intimidated, but where really intense and important learning is always happening."
"Professor Bloch's ability to guide discussion to ensure that those not institutionally empowered to speak were uplifted really improved classroom conversation."
"I appreciated the slightly more creative writing assignments of blog posts. I think that this course is especially effective in allowing a space for alternative perspectives on commonplace issues, and really breaking down the boundaries that students aren't even aware of in their thinking. The subject matter of this course forced me to think critically about things that I had always taken for granted, and I think that the questions raised in this course are crucial."
"The care Professor Bloch gives the material has been unprecedented in my other classes prior to this one. A true gem in my Brandeis University!"
"This course really shows me that NAIS is imperative to Brandeis "
"[This course] was great, one of my favorites in my time at Brandeis."
"The readings selected for this course were incredible––you could really tell that they were chosen with thought and intention (no fluff/busy work). These readings really felt like fundamentals and essentials for Native American and Indigenous studies (NAIS). They readings were challenging in the best way––and they informed my understanding of larger themes in general that expand beyond NAIS (such as critical race theory, American politics, neoliberalism, understandings of the nation–state etc.)"
"The Decolonization class you taught in the first semester was the best class I've ever taken, both in High school and my first year of college. As someone who's grown up in Zambia and India, two countries where the... colonial framework is still very present to this day, decolonization is a concept that I now use as a lens through which I view the world around me. I've decided on becoming an anthropology minor because of your classes, and hope to get involved with Native American and Indigenous issues in the future both inside outside the classroom. The first ever American history and anthropology class I've taken was yours, and I can't say enough how much I enjoyed it."
"Very friendly, open to discussion - it is inclusive, not just for history majors, so the way the material is presented and explained makes everything relaxed and fun to learn"
"Professor Bloch has a commitment to Indigenous studies and their students. They open students minds and challenge perceptions and misconceptions in a productive way focused on learning."
"Professor Bloch's classroom felt like a safe place for learning and exploration of new ideas about history, gender, society, and subjectivity."
"I have learned a lot from this class––material that I have never learned in any other class I have taken at Brandeis. Professor Bloch has always been mindful of our needs and wants when teaching this course, something that I don't think some professors always take into consideration. He had us do a mid–semester evaluation and clearly adjusted to the course so that it could better fit our needs."
"Lee's enthusiasm for the subject was truly infectious – he really knew what he was talking about, and was able to feed us really complex theories/ideas through a carefully–selected menu of potent articles. I also appreciated how at the beginning of class Lee would connect what we were talking about in class to current events, either through news articles, political cartoons, or memes. I think the readings that were selected were very important to the lesson plan, and I appreciated the slightly more creative writing assignments of blog posts."
"How is it that I have made it all this time and never had a class focus so much on indigenous peoples? This is critical for understanding the world we live in today."
"Their classroom always felt welcoming and inclusive."
"I thought the structure of in class conversations was a nice mix of information being provided and room for discussion lead by students. I also think the topic of the course is incredibly important information for anyone, especially at Brandeis, to have and courses about indigenous studies should be prioritized in the future"
"The readings we did were all very thought provoking and truely deepened and complicated my understanding of many issues. I was exposed to an entirely new type of theory in Indigenous studies."
"Feedback on the essays is excellent and often includes recommended further reading on subjects I have shown interest in."
"The emphasis on Native scholarship is a prioritized core of this class."
"This class encouraged me to think outside of the box and question everything."
"The course was challenging, because it made me think, it made me consider my stances, and I ended up working a lot harder towards my coursework in this class not in a negative way, but more because I WANTED to do well. I wanted to learn and articulate my ideas well."
"I've enjoyed every aspect of the course, and I would absolutely take courses under this discipline or under this professor again because I achieved so much from it."
"I thoroughly enjoyed this class and would recommend it and the professor to all of my peers."