Professional Development

June 21 - June 26, 2026

MIT in Focus: Teaching Vietnam Through Music with Dr. Kathryn Statler, University of San Diego

 Saturday, March 7th, 2026: 8:00 AM to 12:30 PM

Music offers incredible insights into what Americans and non-Americans thought about the Vietnam War (5000+ songs and has an incredible hold on students, helping them retain information from the lectures and readings. Material set to music is remembered better than print alone, and this generation, like every generation, is all about the music. Here we seek to incorporate music (specific songs) into as many aspects of the Vietnam War as possible.

Educators will:

• Enjoy a complimentary breakfast and parking 
• Participate in private ship tours with Vietnam Veterans
• Learn from Dr. Kathryn Statler how to use the music of the Vietnam era in classroom instruction
• Collaborate with other educators in a content integration session led by Taunya Robinson, High School History Teacher at Patrick Henry High School

To reserve a place, please contact Julia McMeans at jmcmeans@midway.org.

July 5 - July 10, 2026

The two decades following America’s withdrawal from Vietnam were marked by nuclear peril and a global scramble for influence as the Cold War entered its final stage. Seismic shifts in diplomacy, the resurgence of U.S. power and confidence, and conflicts across Eastern Europe, Latin America, Africa, and the Middle East reshaped international relations. These struggles ultimately led to the collapse of the Soviet Union and set the stage for the world we know today.

Pivotal personalities and sweeping events of the 1970s and 1980s are brought into focus through fresh interpretations by noted experts and educators. Held aboard a historic instrument of that era—the aircraft carrier USS Midway—this late Cold War program offers an unparalleled perspective on a critical yet often overlooked chapter of world history.

Please note: As this is a new seminar offering, all former MIT alumni are eligible to apply.