Mark D. Usher

Mark D. Usher is a Professor at the University of Vermont (since 2000) with cross-appointments in the Environmental Program, Food Systems Graduate Program, and affiliation with the Gund Institute for Environment and IMéRA (Marseille). His academic journey began with a B.A. in Greek and Latin (summa cum laude), followed by Ph.D. in Classics (with distinction) from the University of Chicago.

As a scholar of Ancient Mediterranean World, he specializes in:

• Orality Studies (oral transmission in classical societies)
• Ancient Ecologies (pre-industrial human-nature relationships)
• Environmental Humanities (classical perspectives on sustainability)
• Classical Text Reception (modern reinterpretations of antiquity)

His publications explore:

• Plato's Pigs (2020) - Systems science in classical thought
• How to Be a Farmer (2021) - Ancient agrarian wisdom
• How to Say No (2022) - Cynic philosophy for modern life
• How to Think about Animals (2023) - Classical animal ethics

He oversees the Sabine Hills Archaeo-Agriculture Project (since 2018), combining archaeological fieldwork with sustainable agriculture internships in Italy. His work bridges classical scholarship with contemporary ecological challenges through:

• Stoic secundum naturam principles
• Epicurean biogeochemical metaphors
• Cynic anti-consumerist philosophy
• Virgilian landscape poetics

Personal endeavors include:

• Works & Days Farm - 125-acre agrarian project in Vermont
• Self-built Architecture - Post-and-beam carpentry expertise
• Opera Libretti - Classical themes in modern performance