EGYPT, INTERSECTION OF EAST AND WEST
A Curriculum Workshop
Saturday, April 21, 2007

A curriculum workshop in Greensburg, Pennsylvania for secondary and tertiary educators interested in world cultures, religions, and languages; Western civilization; or the Middle East, Africa, and African American history

Throughout the millennia, Egypt has played a pivotal role as a geopolitical crossroad of cultures. It is seen as a site of political, social, and religious change as Arab, African, Western, Islamic, and Christian cultures meet and mingle in the latest of a long history of encounters. Egypt is a place to begin studying how the Western world developed as a result of synergies, divergence, and the "clash" civilizations, and how the "Oriental" world has responded and evolved as a result of interactions with the West. Workshop sessions will highlight the historical and contemporary significance of East and West convergence and the impact on Egyptian society throughout the ages as a result of their geographical destiny.

The workshop will be held on the campus of the University of Pittsburgh, Greensburg, in the Hempfield Room of Chambers Hall, 150 Finoli Drive, Greensburg, Pennsylvania 15601-5860. To generate opportunity for dialogue and discussion, we are limiting enrollment to 25 participants. Pre-registration is required by mail or via the online form below.

There is a $15 workshop fee. Event participants will receive curriculum enhancements, breakfast, and lunch. Secondary educators will receive Act 48 credit hours.

This workshop is being held as part of a Fulbright-Hays 2007 Short-term Egypt Study Tour for Educators: Islam, the West, and the Muslim World.

Workshop Sponsors

Consortium for Educational Resources on Islamic Studies
www.cerisnet.org
412-648-2113

Global Studies Program
University Center for International Studies
University of Pittsburgh
www.ucis.pitt.edu/global
412-648-5085

Special thanks also to University of Pittsburgh, Greensburg, for providing workshop space and technical support.

Schedule

8:30 a.m.	Registration and Light Breakfast
8:45 a.m.	Introductions and Program Overview (Elaine Linn)
9 a.m.	Egyptian History: Periods of East and West Intersection - Greco-Roman Empires, French Expedition, British Occupation, to present (Christina Michelmore)
10:30 a.m.	Break
10:45 a.m.	Egyptian Economy Fifteen Years After Reform: Current Challenges and Future Prospects (Fatma El-Hamidi)
11:45 a.m.	Lunch - Egyptian cuisine
Noon	Movie and Discussion: Driving an Arab Street - The film follows Egyptian taxi drivers as they navigate the streets of Cairo and share their diverse perspectives on American and Egyptian society, culture, politics, and the relationship between these two civilizations. (Moustafa Ayad)
1:15 p.m.	Islam’s Changing Identity: Islam and Contemporary Egypt (Ahmed Abdelwahab) A Woman’s Perspective (Pakinaz Baraka)
2:30 p.m.	Break
2:45 p.m.	The Regime of Mubarak (Buba Misawa)
3:45 p.m.	The Many Faces of Egypt: Humor, Folktales, and Music (Kurt Werthmuller)
4:45 p.m.	Closing Remarks (Elaine Linn)

Speakers

Ahmed Abdelwahab teaches Arabic, economics, and the sociology of Islam at California University of Pennsylvania, University of Pittsburgh, and Butler Community College. He has also served as president of the Islamic Center of Pittsburgh.

Moustafa Ayad was born in Cairo, Egypt, and lived half of his life in the Middle East. He is journalism graduate from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale and a staff writer for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Pakinaz Baraka is assistant professor at Misr University for Science and Technology in Cairo Egypt and is a current Fulbright Scholar at the University of Pittsburgh in the School of Education.

Fatma El-Hamidi is a visiting professor of economics at the University of Pittsburgh in Oakland. She has consulted for governments and NGOs in the U.S. and the Middle East on labor markets and human development.

Elaine Linn is assistant director of the Global Studies Program at University of Pittsburgh’s University Center for International Studies (UCIS) and serves as outreach representative for the CERIS secretariat.

Christina Michelmore, chair of the history department at Chatham College, worked in the Middle East, investigating sub-Saharan culture, the impact of Islam on Arab-speaking societies, pre-modern civilizations, and their adaptation to western culture.

Buba Misawa, associate professor of political science at Washington and Jefferson College and visiting professor at the University of Pittsburgh, teaches on the politics of the Middle East and Africa, and on U.S. foreign policy towards Africa.

Kurt Werthmuller, assistant professor of history at Geneva College, was the recipient of a Fulbright Fellowship for research in Cairo. He has contributed to the soon-to-be published Encyclopedia of the Arab-Israeli Wars.

Pre-registration required

All registrations must be received by Monday, April 16, 2007. The workshop is limited to twenty-five registrants.

Those submitting the online form below may pay their $15 workshop fee at the door. Those preferring to complete a hard copy of the form (as found in the workshop brochure) should mail it with a check payable to "University of Pittsburgh" to this address:

Egypt: Intersection of East and West
Global Studies Program
University Center for International Studies
University of Pittsburgh
4100 Wesley W. Posvar Hall
230 Bouquet Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15260

Online Registration Form

Name:
Professional position:
Subject(s) taught and student level(s):
Institution name:
Work address:
Work phone:
Home address:
Home Phone:
Preferred e-mail address:
Are you requesting Act 48 hours?	Yes No

Click here for a PDF of the workshop brochure and registration form.

Click here to read about the Fulbright-Hays 2007 Short-term Egypt Study Tour for Educators: Islam, the West, and the Muslim World.

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Global Studies Program
University Center for International Studies
4100 Wesley W. Posvar Hall
230 Bouquet Street
University of Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, PA 15260
USA
Phone: 412-648-5085
Fax: 412-624-4672
E-mail: global@pitt.edu
Web: www.ucis.pitt.edu/global

This page last updated: 6/23/08

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EGYPT, INTERSECTION OF EAST AND WEST A Curriculum Workshop Saturday, April 21, 2007