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Staff Report The Renaissance Cultural & Intellectual Foundation, a non-profit organization founded by Artur Janibekyan, is pleased to announce that the Saroyan House Museum, in cooperation with “The Interactive World” company, has recreated William Saroyan’s presence in the Museum. Visitors can now view an updated Saroyan Hologram, which includes the “Three Ages of Saroyan.” Months of research were conducted to ...

Staff Report Prof. Barlow Der Mugrdechian, Berberian Coordinator of the Armenian Studies Program, announced that Bedros Keljik’s Armenian-American Sketches has been published by the Armenian Series of The Press, at California State University, Fresno. “Keljik’s stories offer us a glimpse into the soul of the Armenian people, whether in their historic homeland or finding their way in America.” Bishop Daniel ...

Christine Pambukyan Staff Writer House of Hope – Mer Hooys, Inc. is a non-profit organization formed in December 2008 with the purpose of aiding young, disadvantaged girls in Armenia by providing housing, a family environment, education, life and job skills training, family rehabilitation, and other forms of aid. Since it opened its doors to fifteen teenaged girls in October 2012, ...

Staff Report Armenian Studies Program Coordinator Prof. Barlow Der Mugrdechian announced that the Leon S. Peters Foundation has made a generous donation of $30,000 to the Armenian Studies Program at Fresno State for 2020. This continues the generosity of the Peters Foundation which has directly supported the Armenian Studies Program since 2013. Leon S. Peters was born in Fowler, California, ...

Arshak Abelyan Staff Writer Shortly before the beginning of the Spring 2020 semester, the Armenian Studies Program announced that Dr. Ari Şekeryan was appointed as the 16th Kazan Visiting Professor in Armenian Studies for the Spring 2020 semester at Fresno State. As part of his assignment, Dr. Şekeryan is teaching a three-unit course entitled “Armenians in the Ottoman Empire after ...

Staff Report The Society for Armenian Studies held its 45th Annual Membership Meeting on Thursday, November 14 at the Sheraton New Orleans Hotel, in New Orleans, Louisiana.  SAS President Bedross Der Matossian opened the meeting and welcomed members. Der Matossian reported on SAS activities for 2019 and also presented plans for the future activities of the Society.  Among the highlights ...

Christine Pambukyan Staff Writer Dr. Michael Krikorian is a pianist, composer, and educator who has won countless top prizes all around the world and has performed and competed across the United States, Italy, France, China, and South Korea.  At 3:00PM on Sunday, October 20, the Los Angeles-based pianist and Fresno native, Dr. Krikorian performed in the Concert Hall at Fresno ...

Staff Report Armenian Studies Program Coordinator Prof. Barlow Der Mugrdechian participated in the celebratory activities marking the 100th anniversary of the founding of Yerevan State University, which were held in Yerevan, Armenia, September 26-27, 2019. Yerevan State University was established in 1919 and the first classes were held in Alexandropol (today’s Gyumri), Armenia, as sufficient facilities were not available in ...

Staff Report Armenian Studies Program Director Prof. Barlow Der Mugrdechian announced the appointment of Dr. Ari Şekeryan as the 16th Henry S. Khanzadian Kazan Visiting Professor in Armenian Studies for the Spring 2020 semester at Fresno State.  Dr. Şekeryan graduated from the Department of Oriental Studies at the University of Oxford, defending his dissertation entitled, “The Armenians in the Ottoman ...

Staff Report Armenian Studies Program Berberian Coordinator Prof. Barlow Der Mugrdechian announced that the Bertha and John Garabedian Foundation has made a generous donation of $25,000 to establish the Bertha and John Garabedian Foundation Armenian Studies Endowed Scholarship at Fresno State. Together with previous year’s donations, the Garabedian Foundation has awarded more than $140,000 in grants to the Armenian Studies ...