Jennifer Huberman

Jennifer Huberman is a Professor in the School of Humanities and Social Sciences at the University of Missouri–Kansas City (UMKC), where she contributes to the field of cultural anthropology through teaching, research, and mentorship. She serves as a MAP Mentor, guiding students in academic and research development.

Education:

• Ph.D. in Sociocultural Anthropology, University of Chicago, 2006
• M.A. in Sociocultural Anthropology, University of Chicago, 1999
• B.A. in Anthropology, Boston University, 1994

Her research focuses on the intersections of culture, technology, and economy. She explores how digital capitalism transforms social life, how transhumanist ideologies reimagine human futures, and how death, emotion, and identity are reshaped in contemporary society. Her work combines ethnographic depth with theoretical innovation, addressing both global and intimate dimensions of cultural change.

Her major publications span themes from tourism in India to posthuman futures, reflecting a broad yet cohesive scholarly trajectory. These works engage with cultural theory, science and technology studies, and political economy, indicating a multidisciplinary approach to understanding modernity and its discontents.

While no formal awards are listed, her publications with prestigious academic presses (Rutgers, Cambridge, Polity) signify recognition within the anthropological community.

She advises and mentors students through the MAP program and teaches courses such as Introduction to Cultural Anthropology, The Consumer Society, Writing Culture, and The Living Dead, emphasizing critical thinking and ethnographic practice. Her teaching philosophy encourages students to see everyday life as rich terrain for anthropological inquiry.

She is actively engaged in ongoing research, with future projects focusing on boredom as a defining condition of contemporary society, continuing her exploration of emotional and existential dimensions of modern life.