News

  Natalie Agazarian Editor A new generation with ancient tunes, a fusion of fresh and familiar faces, an alluring ambiance – Kef Time Fresno returned for its third consecutive year on Saturday, January 27, at Holy Trinity Armenian Apostolic Church. With an astonishing sellout of tickets in one day, Kef Time serves as a testament to the strength of the ...

Staff Report Students at University High School on the Fresno State campus had the opportunity to enroll in a special Armenian Studies course as part of their Winter Intersession, from January 3-12, 2024. Taught by Fresno State Armenian Studies faculty Prof. Barlow Der Mugrdechian and Dr. Hagop Ohanessian, the students explored various aspects of Armenian culture including Armenian art, literature, ...

Careen Derkalousdian Staff Writer The Armenian Students Organization had a successful Fall semester, starting the school year off strong with a BBQ cookout in September, complete with kebab, Armenian music, and games. They continued their momentum with a Homecoming Tailgate in October and an annual Friendsgiving Potluck in November. From turkey to mac n’ cheese to pilaf, ASO members brought ...

Staff Report Audience members were transported across the globe by “Armenians in Film: Six Short Films by Armenian Filmmakers,” which screened as part of the CineCulture Film Series at Fresno State on Friday, February 16. The two hundred and fifty people in attendance were able to view six films, each of which was distinct and presented a unique point of ...

Staff Report Fresno State alumni Joel and Jill Mazmanian have established an annual scholarship in the Armenian Studies Program at Fresno State. Joel and Jill both attended Fresno State in the early 1990’s. Joel finished his college career at Boston University and Jill stayed on to earn her accounting degree from Fresno State’s Sid Craig School of Business. Her proudest ...

Careen Derkalousdian Staff Writer “Manuscripts are the living works of the Armenian people,” said Prof. Barlow Der Mugrdechian. On Thursday, November 9, 2023, Prof. Der Mugrdechian, Berberian Coordinator of the Armenian Studies Program at Fresno State, gave a presentation on “Armenian Manuscript Painting: The Early Tradition.” Prof. Der Mugrdechian has taught courses in Armenian art and architecture at Fresno State ...

Compiled by Sara Beberian Eddy Thurber Political Science Minor in Armenian Studies What encouraged you to take an Armenian Studies course? My grandparents did not teach my parents Armenian, hoping that they would fit into an English-speaking society and succeed. It worked and I grew up knowing my family’s history but wanting to learn our mother tongue. I decided to ...

Staff Report The Armenian Studies Program announces the publication of Hachig Kazarian’s Western Armenian Music: From Asia Minor to the United States, Volume 18 in the Armenian Series of The Press at California State University, Fresno. Western Armenian Music is a comprehensive overview of the history and development of the traditional music brought by immigrants to the United States,” said ...

Natalie Agazarian Editor “Many people I know who have been to Armenia express that they felt at home as soon as their plane touched down. While I did not feel that sentiment initially, I felt homesick after leaving,” reflected Careen Derkalousdian, a participant in the Armenia Summer Study Program 2023. Prof. Barlow Der Mugrdechian provided an informational presentation for the ...

Careen Derkalousdian Staff Writer “Denial is not only the reluctance to acknowledge the historical injustices of the past but it further aims at killing the dead and their memory over and over, inflicting pain on the survivors and their descendants, and demonstrating that future acts of violence are possible in a climate of deception and impunity,” stated Dr. Bedross Der ...