Matthew Wranovix is a Distinguished Lecturer and the Honors Program Director at the University of New Haven, where he has served in the latter role since 2011. He is affiliated with the College of Arts and Sciences, specifically within the Department of History (listed as "Department of Human Sciences - History" in his profile). Dr. Wranovix received his Ph.D. in History from Yale University in 2007, with a dissertation titled "Parish Priests and their Books: Reading, Writing, and Keeping Accounts in the Late Medieval Diocese of Eichstätt." He also holds an M.Phil. in Medieval Studies (2004) and an M.A. in History (2001) from Yale University, as well as a B.A. in History from Rice University (1999), where he was a member of Phi Beta Kappa. As a historian of medieval and early modern Europe, Dr. Wranovix specializes in the history of religion and the circulation, reception, and transformation of ideas. His research spans several interconnected areas including clerical education, the circulation of books, and the construction of personal and institutional libraries by members of the secular clergy in fifteenth-century Germany. He has also written extensively on the legend of the Magi and has recently begun exploring medieval attitudes toward games of chance and games of skill in literature, law, and art. His teaching emphasizes the history of ideas, including courses on how Greek, Roman, and medieval ideas influenced Christopher Columbus and concepts of crime and punishment from the fall of the Roman Empire to the Enlightenment. Dr. Wranovix's scholarly output demonstrates a consistent focus on late medieval German religious history, particularly regarding parish clergy and their intellectual and cultural practices. His publications show an evolution from pure historical research toward incorporating pedagogical innovations, especially through the "Reacting to the Past" methodology that uses historical role-playing games. This dual focus on historical scholarship and innovative teaching methods is evident throughout his recent work. His notable academic honors include: Hans Gatzke Prize for Outstanding Dissertation in European History (May 2008) Fulbright Grant Recipient (Katholische Universität Eichstätt-Ingolstadt, Germany), 2004-2005 Multiple Yale University fellowships during his graduate studies Phi Beta Kappa (Rice University), 1999 As Honors Program Director since 2011, Dr. Wranovix has guided numerous honors theses and developed creative approaches to honors education. His conference presentations on honors education, particularly "Creative Approaches to the Honors Thesis at the University of New Haven" (2017), demonstrate his commitment to innovative undergraduate research mentoring. While specific grant information isn't detailed in the profile, his Fulbright award and multiple Yale fellowships indicate a strong history of research funding. Dr. Wranovix is an active member of several professional organizations including the American Historical Association, American Society for Church History, Fulbright Association, Medieval Academy of America, and National Collegiate Honors Council. His multilingual abilities (German with excellent proficiency, Latin with excellent reading proficiency, and French with reading proficiency) support his research in medieval German ecclesiastical history.
