SIOUX CITY, Iowa — Dr. Gregory Guelcher recently returned from giving a lecture at the American University in Cairo, and he hopes the experience helps build a lasting connection between Morningside University and another part of the world.

Guelcher, a history professor at Morningside, presented a lecture titled “Japanese Imperialism in Manchuria, 1930s–1940s” at AUC this past spring. The presentation served as the final highlight of his sabbatical during the Spring 2025 semester.

“It was a rejuvenating experience to see a vibrant intellectual community,” Guelcher said. “It got me excited about coming back and resuming teaching duties at Morningside but also bringing back new knowledge. It was quite exciting for me.”

Guelcher connected with AUC through Dr. Patrick McKinlay, professor of political science, who had previously held joint Zoom-based classes with an AUC colleague. McKinlay encouraged Guelcher to collaborate.

Intrigued, Guelcher arranged joint virtual classes with his U.S. and the World Since 1945 students and their Egyptian peers. That class also includes discussion about Egyptian history.

That collaboration eventually led to his in-person invitation to speak in Cairo.

Founded in 1919 by American missionaries, the American University in Cairo is one of the most prestigious institutions in the region, ranked consistently high among Egyptian and African universities.

During his visit, Guelcher focused on themes of imperialism and colonialism. He was impressed by how quickly students connected with the material, especially considering that English was a second language for most of them.

“They immediately picked up on the more important parallels between the experience of the Chinese in Manchuria under Japanese rule, and of course, their own experiences under British rule in the late 19th and early 20th centuries,” he said. “I used visual images to make my talk more accessible and to open opportunities to ask them questions.”

Guelcher and his wife, Yumiko, had time to explore Egypt during their stay, and he hopes to one day lead a May Term trip to the region with Morningside students. In the meantime, he’ll continue to integrate his global experiences into his courses — particularly his class on Middle Eastern History and Culture next spring.

“I want our students to hear the viewpoints of their peers in another country,” Guelcher said. “For them to hear from students in Egypt, that’s a valuable experience. We usually have a good discussion.”