Top Stories

Staff Report Dr. David Zakarian has been appointed as the Haig and Isabel Berberian Professor of Armenian Studies at Fresno State, joining the Armenian Studies Program for the Fall 2024 semester. Dr. Zakarian was previously an associate faculty member of the Faculty of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies at the University of Oxford. “The Armenian Studies Program welcomes Dr. Zakarian,” ...

Staff Report The Matenadaran (Mesrop Mashtots Institute of Ancient Manuscripts) organized and hosted an International Armenological Congress from July 19-22, 2024 in Yerevan, Armenia. Armenian Studies scholars from throughout the world gathered to discuss the current status of the field, to give reports on their programs, and to discuss further areas of cooperation. The Congress opened on Friday, July 19, ...

Staff Report Dr. Simon Maghakyan, a political scientist known for his pioneering forensic and theoretical research on heritage and security, has been named the 20th Kazan Visiting Professor in Armenian Studies at California State University, Fresno for the Fall 2024 semester. “It is a humbling honor to hold the distinguished position of Kazan Visiting Professor,” stated Dr. Maghakyan. “Being entrusted ...

Staff Report (Cambridge, MA) The Society for Armenian Studies (SAS) marked its 50th Anniversary with a three-day groundbreaking international conference at Harvard University and the National Association for Armenian Studies and Research (NAASR). Titled “Armenian Studies: Evolving Connections and Conversations,” the conference took place September 13-15, 2024, and was co-sponsored by the Mashtots Chair in Armenian Studies (Harvard University); the ...

Anahid Valencia Staff Writer The Armenian Students Organization held its first meeting of the 2024-2025 academic year on Thursday, August 29, 2024. A new Executive Board was elected for the year: Harut Amirkhanyan, President; Careen Derkalousdian, Vice President; Jonathan Chardukian, Treasurer; Ani Sargsyan, Secretary; and Sylvie Khatchikian, Publicist.   Harutyun Amirkhanyan President Accounting Major Why are you interested in ASO? ...

Careen Derkalousdian Staff Writer “The primary mission of our program is to teach,” said Prof. Barlow Der Mugrdechian. “Through the participation of students, support of administration and staff, and through the engagement of our community, this program has thrived.” On Sunday, March 17, 2024, the Armenian Studies Program held its 36th Annual Banquet at the Fort Washington Country Club to ...

Staff Report The Armenian Studies Program awarded scholarships to sixty-two students from forty different endowment or scholarship funds for a total of $115,000 for the academic year 2023-2024. In addition to providing needed financial support, the scholarships encourage students to pursue a Minor in Armenian Studies and to enroll in the various course offerings. We ask our students and our ...

Sara Beberian Staff Writer It is not enough to say “Never Forget.” As an Armenian living in the Diaspora, years pass and it becomes easier to assimilate into the new culture where we are living, to forget where we came from and why we are here. Many of us, born in America, are third or fourth-generation Armenian-Americans. Many of us ...

Natalie Agazarian Editor “My imagination has ingested only a filament of a huge event.” Peter Balakian, author and poet of eight books, visited the Fresno State campus on Monday, April 22 to address what Dr. Sergio La Porta introduced as a “continuation of a conversation through poetry.” Balakian’s lecture, titled “Imagining the Past: Atrocity, Trauma, and the Armenian Genocide,” reflected ...

Staff Report Fresno State alumni Jeff and Jason Ahronian have established an annual scholarship in the Armenian Studies Program at Fresno State. Jeff and Jason wanted to give back to the community which has helped them out with so much over the years. They believe it is important that students learn about the rich Armenian culture and history and the ...