Register May 7 for Osher Lifelong Learning summer courses

The University of Delaware Osher Lifelong Learning Institute is organized as a learning cooperative for adults 50 and over to take and teach classes together with no grades, exams or educational prerequisites.

Registration is open now for OLLI summer courses, with classes starting Monday, June 3, in Lewes. Prospective members can visit the programs, and register on the same day if they wish, during in-person registration from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Tuesday, May 7, at the Fred Thomas Building, 520 Dupont Ave., Lewes.

Last year, more than 900 courses were offered to over 4,000 members in Lewes, Ocean View, Dover and Wilmington.

The Issues in U.S. Foreign Policy course in Lewes hosted an exciting series of guest speakers presenting wide-ranging discussions on international issues currently facing the U.S. Addressing hot-button topics like terrorism, chemical weapons and U.S.-Russia relations, presenters included high-level U.S. foreign policy specialists and public servants with backgrounds in the U.S. Foreign Service, academia and the U.S. military. A former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, former U.S. ambassadors, a former CIA senior analyst, a former CNN world affairs correspondent and more were among the who’s who of guest experts.

Instructors Sergei Boboshko of Lewes and Lee Stanford of Rehoboth Beach cite a lifelong interest in international affairs and a desire to inform as the inspiration for the class.

“It is generally an accepted view that Americans are not as well informed as they should be on matters of geopolitics that affect the U.S.,” said Boboshko. “We wish not only to inform but to allow Americans to make informed choices about what leaders to elect, what policies to support, and ultimately to have influence on what role the U.S. should play on the world stage. This is an integral part of our democracy and of our democratic heritage.”

He added, “Attendance has been between 65 and 70 for each class this semester, and we never seem to have enough time for all the questions, despite the fact that we run for 90 minutes without a break.”

Across speakers and topics, Boboshko said a few common themes emerged, especially the decline of U.S. influence in world affairs at a time of increased risks, and as a result, an increased need for strong U.S. alliances abroad.