DeKALB – Being a teenager during the Vietnam War and completing active duty in Germany during the Cold War, Professor Aaron Fogleman has lived and breathed history.
Fogleman was born in North Carolina but moved between various U.S. states during his childhood. After settling in Oklahoma, he attended Oklahoma State University where he got his bachelor’s degree in history and German.
While attending university, Fogleman was an ROTC cadet and served active duty in Germany for three and a half years, as well as some time in the reserves.
“I was really interested in history. I didn’t know what I wanted to do long term, but I wanted to be involved with something historical and important,” Fogleman said.
He lived and studied for his masters in Germany after his completion of active duty and later attended University of Michigan Ann Arbor where he earned his PhD.
“I remember when I started college in 1977, like a lot of people, I was afraid of World War III. By the time I finished college in 1981, studying history in Germany, I was no longer afraid of World War III,” Fogleman said.
Along with this, his time in Germany was filled with high tensions of the Cold War. But because of his research and studies Folgeman wasn’t scared.
“If you want war you need to convince people that there’s something wrong with the other people that’s going to make them fight the war. That’s propaganda,” Fogleman said. “Just be more wise and discerning and knowledgeable of what the threat might be or might not be, so you don’t fall for simple propaganda.”
When asked about his accomplishments, Fogleman brought up his books and articles. Fogleman has taught roughly 5,000 students in total.
“I get to, for the most part, get to teach what I’m good at, what I like to teach, and what we need – and I like it,” Fogleman said.
All his students, both undergraduate and graduate, use his work in their classes but his articles are mainly used for graduate students.
Though he has a busy teaching schedule, Fogleman still finds the time to balance working on his newer research.
“Teach your classes as best as you can. First and foremost, you’d find time after that to do your research. If you get a sabbatical or a grant you better make the most of it, once teaching starts up you won’t have time to do that,” Fogleman said.
Fogleman’s interest in research writing began during his time at Oklahoma State, when he entered a student essay contest for undergraduates and won second place.
“I was so happy I called up my advisor and he said ‘Congratulations, and you’d get paid for this one.’ I thought, ‘That’s a strange thing to say.’ I had no idea what was going on, but I got $50,” Fogleman said.
Outside of his classes and research, Fogleman enjoys playing the viola and plays in his county’s local orchestra. He enjoys traveling, sports and combining creative nonfiction and family history.
Fogleman wanted to leave a message to the students of NIU.
“A lot of people grow up with bad attitudes and stereotypes about history, especially during their high school years. And those of them that actually show up in our classes think it’s fabulous,” he said. “We need more and more people, because if you get in there, you’re going to like it, but people are telling you, ‘Don’t take history because it’s boring. It’s not important. You’ll never get a job with it,’ and things like that. All of it is untrue. You should take history classes here, we’ve got a great department with a lot of really great teachers. And we’ve got plenty of students, but the more the merrier.”
Professor Fogleman has office hours from 9:15 to 10:45 a.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays in Zulauf Hall, Room 613.
