Seasoned traveler Lorinda Hackett, assistant professor of education at Missouri Southern, added another notch to her belt when she toured Egypt June 8 through 15. 

A former geography teacher, Hackett said, “Egypt’s geography is so impactful.” She toured Egypt with a group of friends. Her favorite activity was a Nile River cruise.

She said the side excursions “allow you to experience Egyptian life.”

Hackett, who teaches education and pedagogy classes, including “Teaching Social Studies Methods for Elementary and Middle School,” also used the trip to help her nephew complete a school assignment. 

To help him with his second grade social studies project, “Adventures of Flat Stanley,” she carried Flat Stanley with her to all the sites and took pictures of him.

The trip has also provided material for her own classes at MSSU. She said, “I have worked it into my classes and intend to do more.”

Because of her summer trip, Hackett looks forward to Egypt semester events at MSSU. 

She read the IE 100 common read, Down the Nile: Alone in a Fisherman’s Skiff, before she went on the trip, and she said she is looking forward to Mary Mahoney’s presentations Nov. 8.

Mahoney, the author of five non-fiction travel-based books, will talk about her most recent book at 9:30 a.m. Nov. 8 in Corley Auditorium. 

She will also hold book signings and question and answer sessions at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Nov. 8 and 8:3 a.m. on Nov. 9 at the Spiva Library.

Hackett says she would like to visit Egypt again in five years or so to see what happens as a result of the revolution that ousted long-time Egyptian leader Hosni Mubarak in February.