Mike Fontaine is Professor of Classics at Cornell University. Professor Fontaine has published many books on jokes, humor, and comedy in ancient Greece and Rome. His latest is titled “How to Tell a Joke: An Ancient Guide to the Art of Humor.” The timeless joke-telling strategies and techniques he’s culled from the ancient world have served him well in his years as Cornell’s acting Dean of Faculty, Associate Dean of Faculty, and Associate Vice Provost of Undergraduate Education.
Professor Fontaine teaches a range of courses about the ancient world, including Greek Mythology, Introduction to Ancient Rome, and Wine Culture. He lives in Ithaca with his wife and children and travels frequently.