Bethany M. Usher

Bethany M. Usher

Bethany M. Usher

Associate Provost for Undergraduate Education

Bioarchaeology, Evolution of Health and Disease, Growth and Development, Osteology, Diet

Dr. Bethany M. Usher, Associate Provost for Undergraduate Education, takes students to graveyards - she is a biological anthropologist who studies cemeteries from both osteological and archaeological perspectives to understand the social structure and health of past communities. She is passionate about getting students to apply their classroom experiences and learn how fun and exciting it is to tackle intellectual challenges. Usher, who earned a BA in Anthropology and Biology from the University of Virginia, an MA in Bioarchaeology from Arizona State, and her PhD in Biological Anthropology from Penn State, has previously been a professor at SUNY Potsdam (2000-2010). 

Usher’s current research focuses on studying human health, growth, diet, and community structure from cemeteries.  She studies archaeological cemeteries (focusing on Tirup, a Danish medieval graveyard) as well as modern Anabaptist burial grounds.   

Courses Taught

ANTH396 Humans, Disease, and Death
ANTH396 Food and Human Evolution