Watching a new day dawn from atop Mt. Sinai made the nighttime climb all worthwhile for Lamar University professor Dominic Beggan.
Beggan experienced this unique opportunity this summer thanks to the Fulbright Scholar Program as the assistant professor of political science at Lamar University traveled throughout Egypt and Israel from late June to mid-August.
As a Fulbright scholar, Beggan went to the Middle East in hopes of gaining background for a new class at Lamar. Along with 15 other professors, teachers, and librarians from the U.S., he attended an intense series of lectures and historical excursions throughout the region.
"You can read and read and read," said Beggan "but a book is not the reality encountered on the ground." From his experience, Beggan has developed a new course that explores the similarities and differences among Egyptians and Israelis. The "Comparative Middle Eastern Politics" course will be offered in spring of 2008. The course will be open to all majors.
Beggan first learned about this opportunity from an email about research opportunities available through the Fulbright Scholar Program. The Fulbright Scholar Program looks for individuals with outstanding academic backgrounds as well as experience in international settings. Beggan fits this profile. At 15 years old, he emigrated to the U.S. from Northern Ireland, and often travels throughout Europe. Beggan studied political science and history for his bachelor's and master's degrees from McNeese State University and holds a Ph.D. from the University of New Orleans.
With the support of Lamar's Office of the Provost, Beggan began preparing for his expedition. In the time Beggan spent abroad, he met with more than 37 renowned scholars and government officials. At the Arab League, he met Hesham Youssef, chief of the Cabinet of the Security General, and Nadia Touba, a professor in the school of education at Alexandria University. Beggan also met Arthur Avnon, Israel's deputy director general for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
However, the trip was more than lectures. In Egypt, visited the sixth-century St. Catherine's Monastery and the Chapel of the Burning Bush at the base of Mt. Sinai. "Although it is hard to pick just one thing because everything was so amazing," recalls Beggan, "(Mt. Sinai) was the one of the most fantastic experiences of the whole trip."
Other highlights of Beggan's trip include a three-day cruise down the Nile River, and a visit to the city of Jerusalem where he experienced first hand the four quarters of the city and visited the Wailing Wall.
Beggan also visited the Golan Heights, the battleground of the 1967 Six-Day War between Syria and Israel. The outcome of the war continues to affect the geopolitics of the region. Beggan will incorporate his experience into the curriculum of the new course.
The Fulbright Scholar Program sends 800 scholars and professionals to more than 140 countries every year. Ordinarily, Fulbright full grants provide funding for round-trip travel/relocation expenses, living expenses for the duration of the program, a one-time research allowance and a monthly stipend.
Since its inception, the program has chosen approximately 279,500 participants based on academic achievements and leadership ability. The program is governed by the Council for International Exchange of Scholars and sponsored by the U.S. Department of State.
The program was proposed by the late Senator J. William Fulbright, D-Arkansas for the purpose of promoting "mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries of the world." After being approved by Congress, President Truman signed the bill into law in 1946, therefore creating the Fulbright Scholar Program.
More information about the Fulbright Scholar Program can be obtained by contacting Beggan at (409) 880- 7801 or email dominic.beggan@lamar.edu. Additionally, the legislation provides for a student program. Interested students should contact Donna Birdwell about the Fulbright U.S. Student Program. She can be reached in room
102 of the ROTC building, by phone (409) 880-8658 or email donna.birdwell@lamar.edu. Applications and general information for the Fulbright Scholar Program and Fulbright Student Program are available at www.cies.org.
