He was really enthusiastic and taught the class well. He would get off topic frequently, but I liked it. He never, ever, used the book, do not buy it. And he was very, very hot and geeky. That helped to keep me awake at 9am.

Jerry Ek does an amazing job in teaching archaeology. His class is interesting and makes sure students understand concepts before moving on. Although he does go off on tangents, the tangents actually helped me remember things on the test, because a lot of the times they are funny stories or examples related to key concepts. Great professor!!

Great teacher, one of my favorites I have had at WWU. I would recommend him to anyone. Don't bother with the textbook for intro to Archaeology, just go to lectures instead.

Awesome Professor! Very into his career and what he does on campus and off. Anecdotes make lecture very interesting and often pretty funny. Lectures were never boring and the material covered in class is actually really cool. I just took this class for a GUR but am actually really sad that its over now. Tests aren't hard either. Take this class!

Jerry is a superb professor. He challenged the class regularly but kept the lectures light with jokes and anecdotes. Easy grader and even easier to talk to. Also he's wicked hot.

One of the best professors I've ever had. Jerry's amazing.

Very passionate about the subject and his area of expertise. Tries very hard to make it interesting for those students that weren't very excited for the class when they signed up. WORTH TAKING.

My favorite prof at Western.

Jerry is great. Not only are his lectures hilarious, but they get across a lot of information. He is extremely knowledgeable and presents info in a way you remember no matter how dull the subject is (Anth theory, ugh). Tests aren't hard if you study for them a little and assignments are easy. Definitely would take again. I never used the textbook.

Jerry was overall great. He does go on a lot of tangents though. He pretty much had to cut a third of the course out because we ran out of time. Assignments are super easy and you're pretty much guaranteed a 10/10 on the discussion responses as long as you actually respond. Interesting material. Wish Jerry taught more classes.

Jerry obviously loves his job, often going off on interesting tangents that are very often funny. Completely worth taking! Attendance is done randomly and you do have to go to class to get all the information. The assignments are easy, with reviews given before exams, and if you ask a question he'll do his best to help clarify. (totally cute too.)

I liked this class more than I expected. Tests and assignments are easy if you go to class. Jerry is really hot and funny.

Ek is a really great prof. I've had him for two classes, and both were fun. Lots of discussion. Interesing material, and he has a tendency to let the class go off on cool tangents. Assignments and tests are easy if you show up. Not hard to get an A.

Best prof I've had at WWU.

This class is pretty tough, but I liked it. Jerry is extremely passionate about his work, and that helped make the class a lot more interesting.

This class was fun. I took it during my last quarter, and wish I had taken more of his classes. Very interesting, and prof Ek is really funny. Not hard if you show up regularly.

I loved this class! Really interesting . I had Jerry for Intro as well, and liked both courses. Aztec/Inca/Maya is more involved (with a big paper), but really fun. Lots of discussion. One of my favorite profs at western.

Jerry is a great professor! Makes everything really clear and is passionate in this field. He also goes off on relevant tangents that make lecture really interesting. Cool guy, great prof, take this professor!

Jerry is great! He teaches in a way that you can relate to and definitely has a sense of humor. His exams are pretty straight forward and he'll give you an example of the structure. He posts his lectures online but talks a lot more in detail during class. Plus one of the assignments was to watch Indiana Jones, who doesn't love that?

A really good class. One of the few faculty members who consistently addresses the issues of social justice and power in the anthropology program. Highly recommended.

Good class worth taking.

Really great class! Jerry is awesome!

I've taken Jerry's Intro class as well as his Maya Inca & Aztec Archaeology, and i've learned he is an archaeologist first and foremost, so he focuses on teaching with his experience and opinions; even if they contrast the textbook or the popular belief in academia. His tests are a breeze and he's super sweet and kinda geeky. A+ teacher

Jerry is a great prof. Very enthusiastic. We talked a lot about current politics, so the class was more relevant than I expected.

He tends to go off on rabbit trails or soap boxes but they are fun. He is easily excited on certain topics of Archaeology. He only gives feedback on exams, not assignments. Assignments were easy.

Attendance counts towards the overall grade, so go to class daily even though the lecture notes are online, lectures are the best way to learn and Jerry has a good sense of humor and fun stories to tell. Would definitely take his class again.

Jerry has been one of my favorite professors at Western so far! Attendance does count towards your final grade but he keeps his lectures entertaining and going to class is actually enjoyable. He has a good sense of humor and creates a great back and forth between himself and the students in class. Would 100% take another class with him!

Jerry absolutely kills it. Super funny, conversational and helpful. He has years of experience in the field in S. America. It's obvious that Jerry enjoys the pedestal that teaching gives him, and he uses it to go on fantastic tangents ranging from politics to life advice to his dog. He incorporates TONS of philosophy and ethics into his lectures.A+

Great professor and great class. He makes archaeology very interesting and is passionate about the subject. There are only 4 assignments and 3 tests, along with some discussions. He does take attendance randomly so you must go to class. Worth taking!

Jerry is my favorite prof at western! I've taken three of his classes, and all were great. He's really funny, and the lectures and discussions are interesting. Definitely mandatory to show up regularly, though.

Jerry as a professor was awesome. He made lectures fun by sometimes going off on tangents about his own research and other peoples as well. The powerpoints were awesome and helpful (if you came to class) they included a lot of pictures that helped you actually see what he was talking about as it is hard to describe "bowlness." GO to class!

Jerry is the greatest Professor I have ever had (I have had 2 professors, lol), the point is, he is an amazing teacher and I want to take his other class on collapse. Also, he has done some really cool field work and I would recommend using every opportunity to ask him about it. Before his class I was dead set on bio-chem, now I am not sure.

Seriously, just take him! He's great! Attendance is mandatory because of attendance sheets, no textbook, tests are straightforward and simple if you pay attention in class. He's a really nice guy with great stories and fieldwork. One of the best in the anth department :)

Great prof! Would take again. yelp 10/10!

Jerry's lectures are always entertaining and thorough. No textbook and the readings posted on canvas aren't necessary since he covers the material in class. Overall really cool guy and loved this class.

I don't have anything bad to say. One of the best professors I've ever had.

I have had him for three classes and I am always hoping to have another with him.

I had Jerry for a three different classes. Two of them were reading heavy, the other was a practical class. Either way, hes the best. If I can find a way to take another class with him, I will.

Jerry was absolutely hilarious. Only complaint was that his his class consisted entirely of lectures. Even so I would highly recommend him!

Jerry was the chillest professor I had this quarter. His lectures were interesting and he was passionate about the topic. Fun class! Average workload.

Jerry was a great professor with awesome lectures! This class is pretty history heavy at the beginning, but Jerry makes it all really interesting. The exams are not bad if you study the lectures (which he posts online). Super cool class overall, would definitely reccommend!

Grades based on group projects. Interesting class. Definitely worth taking.

Jerry is a great guy! His tests are very straightforward and you get plenty of information from slides and lectures to do well. Attendance is mandatory but no textbook at all! Felt like high school in difficulty level.

This is a great teacher to have, as he clearly delivers a lecture while keeping you engaged with hilarious stories. Don't assume his classes are easy, but you will enjoy them.

Jerry is fantastic and everyone should take him! He is hilarious and very chill. He does take attendance, and it is a good thing to go to his classes because it is all lecture. He does posts his slides on canvas but it's better to be there for his lectures! His class is very straightforward and you get what you put in!

Jerry is a great professor. His lectures can be slow at times, but he uses his field work experience to make class more interesting. Gives a lot of examples so the PP information is easier to retain. Assignments were graded fairly and exams were similar to the study guides he hands out. Overall, a fun elective course.

Jerry is awesome! I found myself looking forward to his classes because his lectures are super engaging. There isnt a textbook for this call class but he does post the slides on canvas. I dont recommend missing his lectures though because honestly it makes learning the material way easier than doing it individually. He posts study guides!

Jerry is one of the best professors I've had at Western, take his class even if it doesn't go towards your major.

Loved Jerry. If you are interested in the topics, you will enjoy the class. He does go on tangents but they are (most of the time) informative and interesting! He is funny and doesn't take things too seriously like some of my other professors. You can tell he cares about his field and his students' success.

Jerry is super fun to listen to, he's really interesting and carries himself well. This class was fairly easy with time given in class to do the homework. I recommend taking him. Im definitely taking him for other classes if I can

He tells a lot of funny stories and has a good sense of humour. He grades on attendance, tests and a very small handful of take home assignments

'Sustainability, Resilience, Collapse' seminar. Jerry's a funny, chill guy; great stories, clearly engaged with what he does. He can be unfortunately tangential sometimes, but gives good feedback, is flexible about due dates, and is focused on student learning. Content involving sustainability and ecological harms was especially thought-provoking.

Ek was a good prof for an asynch class as his lectures have a lot of personal anecdotes and good stories, so if you can learn at 2x speed you'll have maybe 3 hours a week from this class. One complaint is that some assignments are not assigned in chronological order so make sure to look at due dates for the current and next weeks assignments.

Jerry is an amazing professor. I learned so much in Honors 103, and it was very low stress. The workload seemed pretty average; there were no exams and the final was a research paper or similar project.

Took him for Honors 103. Super great class. weekly readings then all class was discussions. weekly short answer thing but hes a pretty easy grader. Final project at the end was super clear and gave us a ton of time. Loved this class, he's a great prof and knows a ton. Sometime goes on long tangents though. I would take other classes from him!

Jerry is an engaging professor who cares about the success of his students. His lectures are long but full of wit and humor, and he interacts with the students throughout. The assigned readings are often a bit heavy, along with his course-loads in general, but he does a great job making himself available to his students.

I personally found this class very interesting. You really have to listen to lectures and read the text in order to pass, but the quizzes and assignments are super easy as long as you have listened.

Here's the rundown. There is a quiz every week with a response paper and/or discussion due within each week. The class is pretty easy and easy to understand just watch the lectures for the quizzes and email the TA if you need help understanding. There are no tests in this class.

Jerry is probably the best anth 335 professors from the horror stories I've heard about the class. 1-2 assignments every week but he gives time to do them in class and to help. Lectures last 20-30 minutes and the rest of the time is to work on homework and Fridays were for group projects. Rarely had to do anything at home except some of the final.

Jerry is super laid back and really flexible on moving deadlines when the class asked. This is the most hated class in the Major and he knows it so it tries to make it navigable. I enjoyed it and he's open to feedback.

This is a review for 335 as well as 422. 335 - Great professor for this class, you will get an A if you prepare for the quizzes (keep notes of exercises) and communicate with groupmates. 422- A lot of writing, and even more reading. Discussions were VERY long, be ready for a heavy course load. Course was great though and very interesting!

Jerry is hands down my favorite professor of all time. He's passionate about his subject, his lectures are engaging, he cares about his students, he's a clear and constructive grader, just overall an incredible instructor and person. Every class I have the opportunity to take with this man I am taking, no questions. 100/10.

This class almost singlehandedly convinced me to go through with an anthropology minor. Fascinating content, engaging lectures. Peak professionalism. Jerry is always on time, prepared, and ready to answer questions. Definitely recommend, even if you are not into antho/archae, you will find something fascinating to love about the topic w/ Jerry.

Loved this class. Just two exams + an assignment every week, but tests weren't cumulative and were always super clear. Everything is based on his lectures, so you definitely have to attend class. He'll get distracted and go on tangents but the tangents are always super interesting. Definitely would take again, highly reccomend.

I hate math and took this for QSR credit so I didn't have a lot of fun with the homework and quizzes. Jerry is a great professor, though. He is engaging and understanding of student circumstances. The group project/paper was a lot of work but he spaced out the workload well.

I know people really like him, but honestly I found his lectures kind of boring. Like he would talk a lot about something that could be summed up in one sentence, perhaps 1.5 hours was too long for this class. He was also really hard to get in contact with outside of class.

Jerry is awesome, highly recommend any of his classes!

He was great. Late assignments are accepted, and all the lectures are online. Tests are based on lectures as there is no textbook. Assignments are interesting and mindful. There are 8 assignments over the course that are turned in online and even if you do them last second you are sure to get full credit.

I really liked Jerry's class, the lectures were in the afternoon so it was hard not to fall asleep but he somehow made the material interesting and his anecdotes and overall demeanor made the class worthwhile. Hes just a really sweet guy who cares about his field and his students. Tests were hard though so pay attention and take notes.

Jerry is a great professor! I was taking this class because I needed 5 more credits and was not expecting to like it as much as I did! For a first quarter of freshman year this was a great class to make me excited for lectures and there are interesting assignments which don't feel like busy work.

I love prof. Ek. He was my best professor hands down! Super funny and had really Interesting lectures. I loved his class so much. Also the assignments were super easy and he always gives enough time to complete them. Only difficult things were the tests so study!

I think Jerry is a great professor but this class itself can be hit or miss with people. If you've taken anywhere from algebra-precalc in the past, then this will feel like review. If you haven't, then Jerry might not explain things thoroughly enough for you. He also gets off topic very easily making the lectures longer. Never used the textbook

I loved this class! Ended up taking it for a GUR but so glad I did. Jerry is amazing and the only thing i was worried about for the class was removed at the beginning of the class.Awesome class where I was able to maintain a good grade the whole way through. Thanks Jerry and Kelsey for a great winter class and time in archology 210 which I enjoyed

This class is a hard one but Jerry does a good job making the material accessible. If you ask questions and check in with him, he is very thorough! Also a funny professor :)

interesting and passionate lectures, funny, weekly quizzes, not all the quiz content was stuff i remembered being covered

Wonderful, interesting lectures. Quite a few assignments but they're not that hard, gives you enough time to complete tests/quizzes without stressing. Really enjoyed Ek's class and would highly recommend!

I really liked his CRM class, it wasn't as hard as I heard it was. 2 presentations and one role play. Class was fun and the kids were fun to be around. Lectures can be somewhat boring as it's mainly just talking about the laws you need to know, but it's only for about half of the term. I wish there was more information on arch/excavation methods.

This is the 4th class Ive had with Jerry and personally I didn't like this one that much. There is LOTS of reading for homework, he'll assign 5-6 20 pg papers for each week to be discussed in class. It becomes a little unmanageable with other classes. The lectures are also pretty boring and unengaging. I guess it makes sense for a theory class tho.

Dr. Ek is a great professor to take for Intro to Archaeology. He does well to introduce a lot about the topic at surface level, then later goes a little deeper to the topic. His lectures are interesting enough to pay attention to and he likes to talk about how the Archaeology/Anthropology department and field works. Easy but interesting class.

I've had Jerry for many classes and I absolutely love him. He's such a good professor, and so funny. He is also a pretty comprehensive lecturer, and is usually available for questions outside of class. I would wholeheartedly recommend him in any class to anyone. I always recommend people tale Anth 210, Intro to Arch with him, it's such a fun class!

Funny professor and his lectures are entertaining enough. He has multiple reading assignments due every week that are easy. And discussion post every week that are very easy. There's 3 group presentations due throughout the quarter. He doesn't grade them harsh but you have to research a lot so be prepared. He does ramble in lecture but it was funny

Fun class typically has two assignments a week. Quizzes are online and open note. Lectures can be long but he tries to keep it interesting.

I took the 2hr 20min 2x/week section with Jerry and it was great. We usually got a 5 minute break half way through class, but there were a few times that didn't happen. If you aren't interested in archaeology- beware; few opportunities to engage with peers, and "story-times" last a while. Great prof and easy class

Great professor! Would definitely recommend!

Prof. Ek makes Intro to Archaeology an engaging experience. Interesting lectures, manageable assignments, and just the right level of difficulty. For study prep, I found unstuck ai and the textbook very helpful.

He's a great start to Archeology, but he does get off track sometimes. He likes telling his own stories out in the Archology scene, and it ends up wasting time sometimes. Other than that, he's a great teacher!

12/10 professor. This man has a doctorate and PhD, but prefers you call him Jerry. He's super chill and has clean directions on assignments, quizzes and discussions that are not very hard and get the point across. One of the funniest professors at WWU, he says some out of pocket sh*t on his time in the field and it's very entertaining.

I LOVE JERRY!!!!! Definitely one of my fav professors at WWU! He's very funny, has a great balance of lecture to HW, and is amazing to listen to in class. I was actually excited to go to lecture each day, and you can tell he cares so much about his field. Overall, amazing guy, amazing professor, highly HIGHLY recommend him!!