Dr. David Zakarian Reflects on His Appointment as Berberian Professor of Armenian Studies

Natalie Agazarian
Editor

The Armenian Studies Program is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. David Zakarian as the Haig and Isabel Berberian Professor of Armenian Studies.

Born in Armenia, Dr. Zakarian resided there for nineteen years before pursuing a degree at Aristotle University in Thessaloniki. After spending a decade in Greece, he dedicated the next fourteen years of his life to his work at Oxford University. Referring to himself as a “medievalist,” his academic expertise consists of a knowledge of classical Armenian, Greek, English, and Russian literature, as well as medieval history. Dr. Zakarian’s first monograph was dedicated to the portrayal of women in early Christian Armenian texts, Women, Too, Were Blessed: The Portrayal of Women in Early Christian Armenian Texts (Brill, 2021) and currently, he has been working on the colophons of ancient medieval manuscripts, exploring the daily life in Armenia at the time.

Transitioning from a smaller student cohort at Oxford, Dr. Zakarian is enthusiastic about making a significant impact not only on the larger student body at Fresno State, but also on the Fresno community as a whole.

“Fresno always stood out to me because of its long diasporan history and its prestige in the field of Armenian education,” noted Dr. Zakarian.

Dr. Zakarian expressed his desire to leverage his networking experience for the benefit of the Armenian community. He aims to establish stronger connections with local community organizations, seeking to elevate the Armenian Studies Program “to places we haven’t been.”

In addition, he intends to “expand general knowledge of the community by introducing Armenians into daily conversations.”

Rather than merely teaching information, Dr. Zakarian advocates for a proactive approach to “promote outreach” within churches, libraries, schools, and various ethnic and cultural communities. This could be in the form of “organized workshops,” fostering “collaboration between scholars of other fields,” and engaging community members in meaningful dialogue and activities.

Through these initiatives, he envisions creating a more inclusive environment that celebrates Armenian heritage, encourages intercultural exchange, and develops broader interest in the Armenian cause.

Dr. Zakarian aims to foster greater understanding and bridge cultural divides. Drawing upon his proficiency in multiple languages and his background in classical studies, he seeks to highlight traditional works that may otherwise remain obscure.

“There is a wealth of literature published in Armenian or during Soviet times,” said Dr. Zakarian. “However, this important research is not available in major European languages, thus remaining largely unutilized by scholars.”

By addressing these linguistic barriers, Dr. Zakarian aspires to make these important works more accessible to a wider audience. He feels he can facilitate a deep-er appreciation of Armenian heritage and its contributions to the global literary landscape.

This semester, Dr. Zakarian is teaching Armenian 1A, Elementary Armenian, and Armenian 148, Masterpieces of Armenian Culture. With his diverse background, he hopes to “plant a seed” at Fresno State in order to grow and strengthen its community.