R-MC Welcomes Fulbright Scholar

Fulbright Scholar-in-Residence Shaza Ismail

9/19/12

Randolph-Macon College welcomes Fulbright Scholar-in-Residence (SIR) Shaza Gamal Ismail, associate professor from Helwan University in Cairo, Egypt, for the 2012-2013 academic year. Ismail will teach “Ancient Egyptian History,” “Women in Egyptian Politics,” and “Coptic Art in Egypt.” She will also give public lectures on campus and in the greater Richmond area.

“We are thrilled to host Dr. Ismail at Randolph-Macon College,” says R-MC President Robert R. Lindgren. “Her expertise and unique perspectives complement our rigorous liberal-arts curriculum.”

Ismail brings a wealth of experience and knowledge in early Christian art and architecture, ancient Egyptian history and art and Egyptian politics. She has taught at Helwan University in Cairo for nine years and has also been a lecturer at the University of Wales, United Kingdom. Ismail was awarded a Fulbright Scholar fellowship to teach at Temple University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 2006 and 2007. In addition, she is a member of the International Association of Coptic Studies (IACS), the American Research Centre in Egypt (ARSCE), and the Arab Syndicate of Tour Guides. She has published a dozen research and scholarly papers in respected journals and for conferences and academic organizations.

Ismail earned her bachelor’s degree in Tourism Guidance and her master’s degree in Early Christian Art from Helwan University. She earned her Ph.D. in Early Christian Art and Architecture from Helwan University and the University of Wales, United Kingdom.

This is the second Fulbright Scholar-in-Residence to visit Randolph-Macon. During the 2009-2010 academic year, Randolph-Macon hosted Tang Hao, associate professor of economics at South China Normal University. Tang’s lectures and courses focused on the economic relationship between China and the world and China’s contemporary economy and politics.

The Fulbright Program is the U.S. government’s flagship international exchange program. The Fulbright Scholar-in-Residence Program brings visiting scholars from abroad to lecture at U.S. colleges and universities. In addition to teaching courses, scholars give campus-wide and/or community lectures, help initiate international programs and contribute to curriculum development. The program is especially appropriate for small liberal arts colleges, minority-serving institutions and community colleges. The Fulbright Program is supported by the U.S. Department of State.