News

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 ...

Th Armenian Studies Program would like to thank the donors, authors, and publishers for the following books, periodicals, videos, and archival gifts, either offered personally, or to the Program. Krikor Djabourian, Los Angeles, CA, for a copy of two books in honor of his late brother, Hampartsoum Djabourian, «Մեր Ժամանակին Մեծ Երաժիշտն ու Նուիրեալ Ազգասէրը»  The Great Musician and Dedicated ...

Seated, left to right: Dr. Talinn Grigor and Dr. Houri Berberian. Standing, left to right, Dr. David Zakarian, Dr. Hagop Ohanessian, and Prof. Barlow Der Mugrdechian. Natalie AgazarianEditor Armenian women, as a minoritized ethnoreligious and gender category, played a pivotal role in shaping Iranian modernity. Dr. Houri Berberian (Professor of History, Meghrouni Family Presidential Chair in Armenian Studies, and Director ...

    David Ashkharian Biology Minor in Armenian Studies What was your favorite Armenian Studies class, activity, or event? My favorite class was the Arts of Armenia, ArmS 20. I found it incredibly fascinating to explore how faith in Christianity inspired so many beautiful pieces of artwork, church architecture, and more – both in Armenia and abroad. What did you ...

Rachel Yepremian-Owens Staff Writer “What is so sweet in this land that we continue to come back?” said Vrej’s grandmother. It was a question she constantly asked herself and her family members and was a central focus of the film “My Sweet Land.” The award-winning documentary “My Sweet Land” was screened before a large audience at 5:30pm on Friday, April ...

Natalie Agazarian Editor With a measured breath, the tender, yet commanding touch of the Armenian pianist Svetlana Navasardyan sent the Fresno State Concert Hall into a resonance of flourishing melodies. For the next two hours, the audience was swept into a colorful realm of intonation, phrasing, and texture. With her strong presence and masterful precision, Navasardyan didn’t simply play – ...