Month-long trek to Egypt inspires profs

One of the most memorable moments for Christine Dupont-Patz was seeing the sunrise from the top of Mt. Sinai.

A four-hour trek up Mt. Sinai to see the sunrise is just one of the personal activities that a Metro State professor experienced when she traveled on a month-long research trip to Egypt in July.

For her research project, Visiting Assistant Professor of Art Christine Dupont-Patz studied Coptic Churches in Egypt, both old and new. “I documented where early Christians had left carvings on ancient Egyptian temples,” says Dupont-Patz, who is already integrating these images and experiences into her curriculum. “They don’t need (this information) just for class, but for cultural awareness. In this day and age it would be irresponsible to not teach about Islamic art.”

Dupont-Patz was among four Metro State faculty members and nine teachers from the Jefferson County School District who participated in the seminar under a Group Project Abroad Fulbright award. It’s the sixth Fulbright award secured by Metro State Interim Executive Director of International Studies Ali Thobhani.

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