Professor of Mathematics Michael Fraboni teaches analysis courses in the upper-level category, including real, complex, and numerical analysis, as well as the senior seminar for mathematics.
Michael Fraboni, professor of mathematics, has been with Moravian University for 22 years. He crossed the river from Lehigh University where he earned his PhD.
What drew you to your academic discipline?
I always had a talent for mathematics and enjoyed the elegant consistency of it. I had a class on chaos theory my first year of college which showed me there was even more to math than I saw in high school, and I was hooked. Mathematics has an amazing beauty that only becomes more apparent the more you study it.
What are your research interests, and why are you drawn to them?
Lately I’ve been working in the field of combinatorial game theory. It asks if we can understand finite games by proving who the winner would be in any given situation. Finite games include tic-tac-toe but also chess and Go. Some simple games are easy to understand, but they quickly become more difficult. Something truly complicated like chess would be almost impossible to fully characterize, but it’s always great to have an aspirational goal!
Are there any specific moments from your experience with students that stand out in your mind as special?
I value the honors projects I’ve completed with students. They gave me an opportunity to work closely with a student over the course of an academic year and help them grow as mathematicians and as individuals. A research project I participated in as an undergraduate was influential for me, and I hope I have been successful in giving that experience to my students.
Share something about yourself that people may not know.
I started my college career as a physical therapy major before changing to mathematics. I was always interested in physiology and healthcare, but as I said above, I took an interesting math course, and the rest is history.
What do you like to do with your free time?
I like to spend time with my wife and two sons. In particular we all enjoy a good road trip to see new things around the country. I also enjoy reading fiction when I have the time—typically science fiction.
I can never resist a good ________.
Tiramisu. I have a sweet tooth, and a good tiramisu is one of my favorites.