UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — An Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at Penn State winter semester course will examine United States Cold War policy and how it continues to impact the world today.
The free online class, National Defense: The Truman Doctrine and Containment Theory, will be instructed by Tyler Gum, director of the Pennsylvania Military Museum, from 10-11:30 a.m. on Jan. 25.
OLLI at Penn State offers community members aged 50 or better the opportunity to learn, explore and connect through educational experiences, travel, social and volunteer opportunities.
Gum developed his upcoming lecture last year in commemoration of the 75th anniversary of the Truman Doctrine being signed in 1947 following World War II. The national defense policy established that the U.S. would provide political, military and economic assistance to all democratic nations under threat from external or internal authoritarian forces.
Gum said the Russian invasion of Ukraine made the subject matter even more relevant.
“It really became a topic of interest for a lot of our audience and a lot of our academic partners as they were turning to military historians and museums to understand domino theory and containment theory,” Gum said. “As we saw a commemorative moment evolve into a contemporary topic, it took on an interest and following if its own. It is always enlightening for audience members to see how intertwined some of what is going on now dates back to the end of World War II.”
Gum has taught the class to different groups and said he is looking forward to sharing the topic with an OLLI at Penn State audience.
“In the past, teaching OLLI classes was a phenomenal experience. It was a great turn out, great attendance. We don’t always get to have time to pursue those types of talks, so it was fun for me personally. When you have folks that already have an energy to pursue the topic it is exciting for everyone,” Gum said.
National Defense: The Truman Doctrine and Containment Theory is one of many courses offered during OLLI at Penn State’s winter semester. Registration for the free online course is available here.
OLLI at Penn State winter semester courses run through Feb. 17. Topics include art, history, science, nature, religion, wellness, crafts and more.
OLLI at Penn State is a program of Penn State Outreach.