Mike Fontaine came to Cornell in 2004 and has risen through the ranks. As a Professor of Classics (the fancy name for the study of ancient Greece and Rome), he investigates Latin literature from ancient Rome through the Renaissance. His special interest lies in jokes and practical wisdom in the ancient world, and he enjoys teaching students to speak Latin, which he learned to do from a papal secretary in Rome 25 years ago. Every other year he co-teaches a popular undergraduate course on Wine Culture, with tastings in every class. He holds a BA from Millsaps College in Jackson, Mississippi, and a Ph.D. from Brown University, both in Classics. He lives in Ithaca with his wife, Alyssa (JD '06), who is Executive Vice President and General Counsel at Tompkins Financial Corporation, and their two children.