News

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 ...

Hannah Paloutzian Staff Writer “Even if we sell our children, we could not afford to pay the taxes,” said one Armenian, cited from a primary source Dr. Talin Suciyan utilized in her study of the Tanzimat Era of the Ottoman Empire. According to Dr. Suciyan, the Tanzimat Era was intended to bring modernization and reform to the Empire, which had ...

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 ...