Dr. Matthew Vester

Since arriving at WVU in 2000, Dr. Matthew Vester has taught courses in European history, ranging chronologically from ancient times to the present. His classes have included the Golden Age of Piracy, the Renaissance, the Christian Church, Microhistory, and the History of the Alps. His publications on sixteenth- and seventeenth-century French and Italian political culture have examined nobles and princely dynasties, popular politics, taxation, and kinship structures. He thinks that discovery often sneaks up and surprises us when we avoid taking things for granted about our areas of research or creative endeavor. 

He loves to bike on the rail trail, teach students paleography, run with his dog Cachou, critique the state of the world with his family, watch Liverpool FC, and worship at St. John University Parish.