Erin Stiles

Erin Stiles, Professor of Anthropology at the University of Nevada, Reno, specializes in the intersections of religion, law, and gender. Her ethnographic work in Zanzibar, Tanzania, Ghana, South Africa, and Utah examines Islamic family law, legal pluralism, and Mormon spiritual experiences.

• Ph.D., Washington University in St. Louis
• M.A., University of Colorado, Boulder
• A.B., Duke University

Stiles' research explores:

• Islamic legal reasoning in marital disputes and inheritance law
• Gender dynamics in LDS fundamentalist and Irish Traveller communities
• Spirit-world encounters in Utah Mormonism
• Comparative legal practices across sub-Saharan Africa and the Indian Ocean

Her recent publications focus on global Islamic divorce mechanisms, LDS spiritual ethics, and postcolonial legal adaptations in East Africa. She teaches courses ranging from introductory cultural anthropology to specialized topics in African studies and Islamic law.

Stiles actively mentors graduate students working on:

• Healing practices among LDS fundamentalists
• Marriage customs in Irish Traveller communities
• Islam and migration in Japan
• LGBTQ+ affirming Protestant groups