Prof. Barlow Der Mugrdechian, sixth from right, with members of the Osher Lifelong Learning class.Photo: Katherine Arslanian Katherine ArslanianStaff Writer The Osher Life Long Learning Institute (OLLI), a program at Fresno State designed for adults ages 50 and up who want to keep learning simply for the joy of it, invited Prof. Barlow Der Mugrdechian to teach a class, “Armenian ...

California State Assembly members, community leaders, students, and Fresno State officials at the Armenian Genocide Monument, October 16, 2025.Photo: ASP Archive Nellie ChobanyanStaff Writer Fresno State welcomed several members of the California State Assembly for a special legislative visit recognizing the deep historical roots, accomplishments, and ongoing contributions of the Armenian community in the Central Valley. Assemblymember David Tangipa (AD-8), ...

Prof. Barlow Der Mugrdechian, standing, with students from the Arts of Armenia course.Photo: Nellie Chobanyan Nellie ChobanyanStaff Writer At Fresno State, Armenian Studies 20-Arts of Armenia, continues to captivate students from all majors and academic backgrounds. Whether fulfilling a General Education requirement, exploring cultural identity, or simply discovering a new artistic tradition, students consistently describe the class as eye-opening, meaningful, ...

Dr. David Zakarian, standing center, with elementary Armenian language students. Nellie ChobanyanStaff Writer At Fresno State, the Armenian 1A-Elementary Armenian course continues to draw students from a variety of majors and backgrounds, united by a shared goal: learning the Armenian language and connecting more deeply with its culture. For many, the class is more than just fulfilling a requirement, it’s ...

Left to right: Sosse Baloian Yanez, Prof. Barlow Der Mugrdechian, Dr. David Zakarian, and Dr. Talin Suciyan. Rachel Yepremian-OwensStaff Writer On Friday, May 9, 2025, Dr. David Zakarian, Haig and Isabel Berberian Professor of Armenian Studies at Fresno State, gave a lecture titled “Glimpses into Women’s Lives in Medieval Armenia.” The purpose of the lecture was to explore how Armenian ...

Director Emily Mkrtichian, fourth from right, and students and faculty at the screening of Mkrtichian’s film. Rachel Yepremian-OwensStaff Writer On Friday, September 19, in honor of the 2-year anniversary of the Artsakh war, the Media, Communications and Journalism CineCulture course collaborated with the Armenian Studies Program to screen Emily Mkrtichian’s film, “There Was, There Was Not.” CineCulture Prof. Mary Husain ...

Anahid ValenciaStaff Writer The Armenian Students Organization (ASO) held its first meeting of the fall semester on Wednesday, September 3. Elections for ASO officers took place and the following were elected: Grigor Terpogosyan (president), Anahid Valencia (vice president), Jordan Mazmanian (treasurer), Emily Sahakian (secretary) and Lara Habib (public relations). Grigor TerpogosyanPresident When Terpogosyan transferred to Fresno State, he immediately wanted ...

Nellie Chobanyan, second row, far right, with Armenian Assembly interns in Washington, D.C. Syuzanna KovalenkoStaff Writer What was once an unexpected opportunity quickly became the best experience of her life. Fresno State student Nellie Chobanyan has lived in Fresno, CA, nearly her entire life and finally had the opportunity to live in another part of America for a few short ...

Anahid ValenciaStaff Writer Since its signing on August 8, the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP) project has brought hefty discussion to the Armenian diaspora. A poll by Gallup shows that nearly 60% of Armenians oppose the corridor. U.S. President Donald Trump brought Nikol Pashinyan, the prime minister of Armenia, and Ilham Aliyev, the president of Azerbaijan, together ...

William and his cousins posing in Fresno. Helen Minasian (cousin), Archie Minasian (cousin), William Saroyan, Kirk Minasian (cousin), 1920s, Fresno. “There is no end to a town, any town, if it’s where you were born in the first place, and where you were born again, as it is written all men must be. But oh the weather there, the heavenly ...