News

Staff Report David Tataryan Computer Science Minor in Armenian Studies   What encouraged you to complete a Minor in Armenian Studies? I wanted to take Armenian Studies courses so I would better understand the history of my culture and people. What do you value most from your experiences in the Armenian Studies Program? The knowledge I have gained and the ...

Haverj Stanboulian Staff Writer Tro Karoghlanian Senior Major: Business I would describe Armenians as “religious.” Armenians have focused on religion more than anything. The majority of our art and architecture were created for a religious purpose. Our morals and customs have been drawn from the Christian faith. Our national identity as Christians dates back to 301 AD, when Armenia became ...

Benefactors Zarouhy Sara Chitjian Arnold & Dianne Gazarian Patrons Alice & Berge Bulbulian George Daoudian, Standard Truck & Trailer Sales Bob Der Mugrdechian Friends Varouj & Lena Altebarmakian Mr. & Mrs. Edward Aslanian Randy & Mary Baloian Nerces Leon Dermenjian Mr. & Mrs. John Ipjian Dr. Harry B. Moordigian Judge Ronald M. Sohigian Sponsors G. Franklin Antoyan Bedrosian Family, National ...

Staff Report Prof. Barlow Der Mugrdechian, Prof. Sergio La Porta, and the Armenian Studies Program would like to thank the donors, authors, and publishers for the following books, periodicals, videos, and archival gifts, either offered personally, or to the Program. Harutyun Aleksanyan, Yerevan, Armenia, for a copy of his book, World History 9 (Yerevan, 2004), 191pp., in Armenian, by Nigol ...

Marine Vardanyan Editor This summer, a group of nine students, led by the faculty of the Armenian Studies Program, travelled 7,024 miles to live two weeks in the ancient land of Armenia. The group, self-dubbed the “Yerevan Eleven,” was the class of Armenian Studies 120 T: Armenia Today. Prof. Barlow Der Mugrdechian and Prof. Sergio La Porta led nine students, ...

Michael Rettig Staff Writer As the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide approaches in 2015, the Armenian community of Fresno has come together to commemorate this solemn occasion. Although a century has passed since the Genocide took place, it continues to loom large in the Armenian conscious. With this in mind, Fresno’s Armenian community, under the auspices of the Armenian ...

Andrew Esguerra Staff Writer Fresno State welcomed Dr. Joseph I. Castro as its new University President in August of 2013, replacing retiring President Dr. John Welty, who had served for 22 years. Dr. Castro, a native of nearby Hanford, California, sat down with Hye Sharzhoom to discuss the role of the Armenian Studies Program and his reflections on the Armenian ...

Aramayis Orkusyan Staff Writer A haunting chill overtook the audience as the bitter words, written by Vahan Tekeyan three years after the purging of the Armenian people by the Ottoman Turkish Empire, echoed across the auditorium. “Send us to hell. Send us to hell again. You made us know it alas, all too well.” Tekeyan’s words came to life as ...

Staff Report Halfway into the Fall Semester, the Armenian Students Organization has already planned and executed a series of exciting events for the students and community. On Saturday, September 6, ASO members volunteered at the Kev Orkian Comedy Show, benefitting the Keyan Armenian School, assisting with the reception and ushering. ASO celebrated Armenian Independence Day on Monday, September 22, setting ...

Aramayis Orkusyan Staff Writer From Fresno State student to Fresno State professor, Dr. Zhanna Bagdasarov, now an assistant professor of Management, exemplifies what it truly means to be “Bulldog born, Bulldog bred!” “I love Fresno State,” said Dr. Bagdasarov, “I mean I genuinely love Fresno State, I always have, which is why I did my undergraduate degree and my masters ...