Dr. Matthew Shupp ’00-03M, professor of counselor education and selected member of the 2021-25 Fulbright Specialist roster awarded from the United States Department of State, spent three weeks in December of 2025 at Suez Canal University in Egypt. There, he helped the university develop a plan for its first-ever clinical counseling center, work that he called “one of the most exciting opportunities” of his career.
When Shupp arrived at Suez Canal, he quickly jumped into classroom teaching and direct training. This required him to compile material that typically takes an entire semester into compact and intensive workshops. Even though Shupp has returned to Shippensburg, he emphasized his plan to continue working with Suez Canal University to support the clinical counseling center and for other projects. “This proposed partnership allows us to establish an ongoing relationship to assess the present and future needs,” Shupp noted.
While in Egypt, Shupp faced some language barriers. He often had to rely on translator apps, bilingual faculty and intermittent internet connections. He adapted by using voiceover translation in PowerPoint presentations, which he shared that students “absolutely loved” learning this way.
Cultural norms played a huge role in both Shupp’s clinical practice and his daily life in Egypt, noting the many cultural differences that exist between a predominantly Muslim country and the Western world. One of the differences he described was in the way people greet one another and view personal space, sharing that in some contexts, “it’s more respectful to touch one’s heart and bow versus giving a hug.” Shupp also highlighted how everyday life includes five daily calls to prayer and schedules were often arranged so students and staff could observe them without missing instruction.
In the beginning, Shupp said he had to start with the basics before advancing into complex topics. “I had to back up and start with ‘here is how we define counseling,’” he shared. Over the course of the three weeks, participants began to “scaffold their thinking” and understand therapeutic frameworks and reflective practices.
To structure his teaching methods, Shupp drew inspiration from several graduate courses at Ship, such as professional orientation to counseling, clinical theories, pre-practicum skills practice and an advanced strategies course on crisis counseling and suicide risk assessment. He acknowledged that while it was impossible to cover semester-long concepts in such a short amount of time, providing exposure to students allowed them to expand upon their knowledge moving forward. Shupp gave a shout-out to Drs. Magda Hagras, Nehal Lotfy and Hadya Adel, for their contributions to the partnership and for providing translation during Shupp’s lessons.
The visit also broadened Shupp’s understanding of the world and his classroom teachings. While traveling through Egypt, he shared that the cultural differences, “…gave me pause and humbled me. It reminded me that America is not the center of the universe.” He added that the experiences and memories he made along the way have enriched his instruction back at Ship – adding a layer of multiculturalism, diversity, equity and inclusion.
Outside his academic work, Shupp explored Cairo and Ismailia, the pyramids of Giza and the Grand Egyptian Museum, and the Suez Canal Museum. He described his time in Egypt as “wonderful, overwhelming, enriching and challenging all at the same time,” stating that it was among the most fulfilling experiences of his life.
The institutional support and personal connections that Shupp formed at Suez Canal University carry the vision of the university’s counseling center forward. “I feel very fortunate,” said Shupp.
