(Generic Student)
These comments are taken directly from the (anonymous) student evaluation forms...
MMW6: The American Century (Spring '07)
Percent recommending this professor: 100%
(Total Enrollment: 209)
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"Hollander is a fantastic, interesting, dynamic lecturer with an infectious sense of humor.
It's like SARs, but funny."
"This class was absolutely amazing! It was the perfect mix for young intellectuals. You really brought in the 'modern' into Making of the Modern World. In addition, you made it fun to come to class. Who would've known that was possible?! I really wish I had more time at UCSD to take more of your classes. Thanks."
"Hollander is a wonderful professor. I'm doing a political science minor because of him. He is funny and explains everything clearly. The courses I have taken with Hollander have been the best MMW's so far."
"Best Prof. I have ever had!"
"Best professor @ UCSD!"
"Ethan Rocks"
"Great professor, very interesting. Approachable + Friendly."
" ♥ Prof. Hollander "
"Prof. Hollander presents material in a very organized and entertaining manner."
"The best MMW Professor that I've taken.
I feel like I am learning so much and relating it to everyday life."
"Hollander is a man among boys."
"Very charismatic. Cares a great deal."
"TAKE HIM! He's awesome and stimulates my mind."
"Prof. Hollander: Probably the best MMW Professor."
"I like this professor a lot. My favorite MMW professor by far. Nice powerpoint. Nice guy."
"Entertaining and lively lectures; one of the best I've had."
"Funny Man. Keeps class interesting. By far the best MMW class/professor."
" J ! Prof. Hollander is such a great professor! I look forward to his lectures."
"Hollander is awesome! One of my favorite MMW professor I've ever had!"
"Professor Hollander is Great! His lectures are very interesting. Unlike most of my classes, I stay awake in his class and retain most of the information."
"Very energetic and caring. One of the best professors yet."
"He's an excellent professor. He's really funny and gets the point across. He makes class really interesting.... He's the best professor ever!"
"Professor Hollander, you were the best MMW teacher I had.
Thank you so much!! J You made MMW very enjoyable!"
"Best MMW professor there is ... by far."
"I learned a ton. Great professor!"
"Best of the MMW professors."
"Best MMW Professor I've had."
"Great professor. Ties in popular culture, history, specific events, and general trends/the big picture very well. Clear PowerPoints, too."
"Best MMW Prof. there is."
"He's a cool dude."
"He was my favorite professor at UCSD."
"Never a dull moment in class."
"Hollander made class tolerable."
"The coolest. Best MMW ever."
"Funny, interesting + EXCELLENT at explaining complex happenings."
"Hollander is great! He's entertaining and really makes the material come to life. Funny, too."
"Awesome professor! I'd say one of the best MMW teachers. Funny and enthusiastic!"
"I would recommend Professor Hollander to all future MMW students I encounter."
MMW5: Revolution, Industry and Empire (Winter '08)
Percent recommending this professor: 92%
(Total Enrollment: 224)
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"He's a very good lecturer and keeps my attention during classes. He's very funny too and adds interesting facts to the lectures to keep them entertaining. Great Professor!"
"[K]nows how to attract students to his lectures. He seems very interested in the course material....
I like his lectures and I actually attend, not because I have to but because I love to.
"One of the best teachers I've ever had."
"Lectures are freakin' sweet.
Studly teacher.
Keep up the good work."
"Rather interesting stories. Prof Hollander tells stories that relate to the topic and somehow makes the most random things connect. ... and the candies! J"
"His Powerpoint presentations are very well made. His timing with the clicker is perfect. I wonder if he rehearses his lectures the night before. It's nice to see him wearing a tie to lecture.
We can tell he enjoys teaching this class."
"Lectures (especially the powerpoint slides) are fantastic!"
"He is funny on top of being very knowledgeable about the subject!
I love how he ties in other examples, makes it more interesting and fun."
"Hilarious, interesting, and intelligent individual. Knows the material well and presents it side by side with modern day issues so we know the importance of what we are learning."
"I enjoy coming to class. He really does give out candy!"
"Keeps potentially dry material interesting and current."
"Good lecture. Perhaps needs a fact checker."
"You are awesome!!"
"Prof. Hollander explains the material very well. He knows what he is talking about and makes it really easy for us to understand. He loves what he is doing and that is evident through his zeal for teaching and excitement in class."
"Amazing Professor! Makes MMW really interesting.
His lectures are always very stimulating & fun."
"Hollander is very excited about the material he is teaching and it is contagious!
His slides are amusing....
I am definitely going to try to get into his class [next quarter]."
"I think he's very interesting and makes the subject enjoyable."
"Really good at holding my attention and making the material interesting."
"Besides Jordan, [the] best professor for MMW taken in my three years @ UCSD.
So awesome, I took him twice. J"
"Hollander is slightly obnoxious, and reminds me of a 15 year old pubescent girl."
"Very retarded. Full of himself. Annoying."
"He expects [that] you actually do all the reading, but it's not too bad."
MMW5: Revolution, Industry and Empire (Winter '07)
Percent recommending this professor: 96%
(Total Enrollment: 151)
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"Awesome, funny & entertaining! J Fair tester & reasonable guy."
"Hollander is by far the best prof. I have had in my 3 years here. He holds your attention the entire class and is funny + animated and related what he's teaching to everyday life.
There is never a boring lecture!"
"Professor Hollander is very well-prepared. I enjoyed his lectures.
He is very entertaining and his lectures are well-organized."
"He is funny, but corny at times. However, he is one of the best MMW professors."
"Hollander is the shit."
"Hollander: makes MMW a class I look forward to going to!"
"His character, personality & extra effort in teaching makes this class not only a great learning experience but fun. The material is so much easier to learn because the prof. is far from mundane! I love how his lectures are set up ... very organized. Strongly recommend this class.
(I usually don't like history, too.)"
"Very funny + amusing! I actually enjoy coming to class!"
"Best professor I've ever had for any MMW! Great lecturer and professor.
Good humor and personality."
"Hollander is so money."
"He's fabulous!"
"Great professor. Heard it was his first time, but could've fooled me."
"He reminds me of a T.V. weather man."
"He wears interesting ties. J "
POLI136a: Nationalism and Ethnic Conflict (Fall '07)
Percent recommending this professor: 96%
(Total Enrollment: 153)
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"Not taking this course would be detrimental to your UCSD experience."
"One of the most amazing professors I have ever had the pleasure of meeting! I absolutely love his lecture style + I have learned a lot. Great personality! Love the humor!!"
"Hollander is probably the best Poli Sci professor. His lectures are very engaging -- amazing powerpoints! -- and he makes the material very understandable. He is extremely knowledgeable and really funny."
"Great Guy. Down to earth. Best class so far."
"By far one of the best professors I have ever had. I wish he taught more Poli Sci courses here @ UCSD and I have never seen a professor put so much time + effort into preparing lectures. Hands down, absolutely incredible prof."
"Fantastic instructor! Engaging, helpful, very stimulating."
"A great professor.... He makes the class fun and is one of my favorite professors so far!"
"Hollander is a great prof. who really gets excited about the material and the class."
"Prof. Hollander is always well prepared with expert powerpoint projects. He knows the material well, and his upbeat tempo + humor make class fun."
"I wish I could have taken more of his classes."
"Hollander is awesome! Hilarious, cool, interesting..."
"Very funny. Best powerpoints ever. Makes drymaterial interesting."
"Great professor. Makes material very interesting & fun. Best teacher."
[Note on the next few comments: Just before the mid-term, a student sent me a question by email. It wasn't a good question. He was really just 'fishing' for hints about what to study. Moreover, the email was terribly written -- rife with mistakes in spelling and grammar. In fact, the email looked more like a high school student's text message than a formal email, since it contained phrases "C U in class" and so on. Well, to make a show of it, I removed the student's name and put the email on a powerpoint slide, using about five minutes of class time to discuss it and correct the grammar. The responses to this 'lesson' were quite varied, as u can c below...]
"The professor is really arrogant and he put copies of student emails on powerpoint for everyone to read.... REALLY inappropriate and disrespectful."
"Prof. Hollander is an extremely clear lecturer and does a great job of presenting the material in an easy-to-understand way. He may come off as kind of a jerk, but he's a great professor. Just don't send him a grammatically incorrect email."
"Going over bad e-mail questions was the best commentary ever."
"I like how he calls out dumbasses in class."
POLI136a: Nationalism and Ethnic Conflict (Fall '06)
Percent recommending this professor: 91%
(Total Enrollment: 52)
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"Great guy. Very likeable, knowledgeable — wants students to enjoy learning the material."
"Hollander is awesome! Lectures are interesting and he explains the material very well."
"Very charismatic + very knowledgeable about the topics we learn in class. He always makes sure we understand the material and I like that he keeps us informed on current issues."
"Hollander is so kick ass!"
"Is effective in teaching because of eloquence."
"I
would think he was young if he wasn't balding. Also, he can't spell
Kazch Kozak Kazakhstan."
"Concerned with learning names ... a rare thing!"