News

The 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. Dr. Sergio La Porta, Fresno, CA, for a copy of An Armenian Futūh Narrative: Lewond’s Eighth-Century History of the Caliphate by Sergio La Porta and Alison M. Vacca (Chicago: Institute for ...

Sara Beberian Business Administration-Marketing Minor in Armenian Studies What encouraged you to take an Armenian Studies course? It came naturally for me to want to take Armenian courses – it was not even a question. I was so happy to see that they were offered at Fresno State. As a Charlie Keyan Armenian Community School alumna, I was excited for ...

Ani Sargsyan Staff Writer Musician and jazz artist Tigran Hamasyan was introduced to music from a young age. In an interview from the podcast Rearrange with Narek Amirkhanyan, Hamasyan said “even when I was in my mother’s womb, my father would play a lot of music, especially rock. And I don’t have a recollection of when I started. I just ...

Ani Sargsyan Staff Writer “We have a lot of films that amplify what is bad about humanity, and to me the concept of someone watching somebody else and starting to care about them…that’s human nature, and an idea that is important to reflect in film,” said Michael A. Goorjian, director of “Amerikatsi.” On Friday, April 26, 2024, the Armenian Studies ...

Staff Report On Wednesday, April 10, 2024, Prof. Barlow Der Mugrdechian, Berberian Coordinator of the Armenian Studies Program at Fresno State, gave a talk on “The Armenian Genocide: 1915-1923,” at Madera Community College. The event was organized by Dr. Hagop Ohanessian of the Madera Community College History Department and the “Our Story” History Club. Nearly fifty people were in attendance ...

Natalie Agazarian Editor Dr. Bedross Der Matossian discussed “Armenian Jerusalem: Past, Present, and Future” on Friday, March, 2024 at the Smittcamp Alumni House on the Fresno State Campus. Dr. Der Matossian is a Professor of Modern Middle East History at the University of Nebraska, Lincoln and was born and raised in the Old City of Jerusalem. His presentation was organized ...

Hannah Paloutzian Staff Writer On Tuesday, March 12, 2024, the Fresno State International Coffee Hour invited international student Harutyun Amirkhanyan to discuss Armenia and its history. Each month, the International Coffee Hour holds an event highlighting a different country in order to engage students in the wide range of cultures that Fresno State students come from. Everyone is welcome to ...

Ani Sargsyan Staff Writer On Thursday, April 25, 2024, the Armenian Studies Program welcomed Dr. Elyse Semerdjian, Robert Aram and Marianne Kaloosdian and Stephen and Marian Mugar Chair of Armenian Genocide Studies at Clark University, to talk about her new book, Remnants: Embodied Archives of the Armenian Genocide. The presentation was made possible through the Ralph Shabazian Armenian Memorial Fund. ...

Staff Report The film “Lost Birds” was screened at Scottsdale Community College on Friday, April 18, 2024, as part of “Genocide Awareness Week.” The event was co-sponsored by the Armenian Studies Program. Prof. Barlow Der Mugrdechian introduced directors Ela Almayac and Aren Perdeci to a full audience. The screening was followed by a question and answer period.

Sara Beberian Staff Writer “The moment in my life where I thought I did not know anything is the moment that I started learning… there is no learning if there is no listening.” These words from musician Hachig Kazarian were his closing sentiments in his informative presentation on his recent book, Western Armenian Music: From Asia Minor to the United ...