News

Rachel Yepremian Staff Writer Dr. David Zakarian is the new Haig & Isabel Berberian Endowed Professor in Armenian Studies at Fresno State. He is beginning his first semester and is teaching Armenian 1A-Elementary Armenian – speaking, reading, and writing. Students from different backgrounds, majors, and cultures, take Armenian courses at Fresno State for a variety of reasons. “The Armenian language ...

Careen Derkalousdian Staff Writer “[This book] investigates the international and internal security aspects of the Armenian and Macedonian Questions in the late Ottoman period,” said Dr. İlkay Yılmaz. “It analyzes how these two important political topics became issues of security for the Ottoman government.” On Friday, November 1, 2024, Dr. İlkay Yılmaz, a research associate in the department of Modern ...

Rachel Yepremian Staff Writer On Friday, October 11, Dr. Simon Maghakyan, Kazan Visiting Professor in Armenian Studies at Fresno State, continued his three-part lecture series. Dr. Maghakyan’s first lecture, presented on September 27, was entitled “The Past of the Past: Armenian Heritage in Ottoman and Republican Turkey,” and his second lecture, on October 11, was entitled “The Present of the ...

Sosse Baloian Yanez Special to Hye Sharzhoom The Armenian Studies Program Library has many books written by the 19th century Armenian author, Hakop Melik Hakobian, better known by his pen name, Raffi. Born in 1835 to a local nobleman in a Persian province, Raffi was instilled with a tremendous appreciation for learning (“Raffi: A Biographical Sketch,” Asbarez, April, 2023). Engulfing ...

Lori Agazarian Staff Writer The Fresno State Armenian Studies Program and the Armenian General Benevolent Union, Greater Fresno Chapter, hosted noted photographer Hrair Hawk Khatcherian on Thursday, November 14, to discuss his research on khatchkars and their connection to Armenian culture, art, and history. The lecture, “Khatchkars: Emblematic Art of Armenians,” was part of the Grace and Paul Shahinian Armenian ...

Staff Report Prof. Barlow Der Mugrdechian chaired a panel on “Remembering the Armenian Genocide” and gave a presentation on “The Armenian Genocide: Remembrance and Denial” at the 6th Annual International Conference on Genocide, held at Sacramento State University, November 14-16, 2024. The theme of the Conference was “Dimensions of Genocide: Persistence, Denial, Resistance and Justice,” and attracted a large number ...

Ani Sargsyan Staff Writer The Armenian Students Organization had a very successful semester, with four events held during the Fall 2024 semester, and one being planned for the month of December. On Friday, October 25, students gathered for the ASO Halloween Party, and students were encouraged to bring pumpkins for a painting/carving contest, as well as participating in a costume ...

Anahid Valencia Staff Writer  “My work attempts to build this narrative that we have another story, we have a real story, we have the original story that we could and should bring to the surface,” said Dr. David Zakarian in his lecture titled “The Portrayal of Women in Early Armenian Literature,” given on Thursday, October 17, 2024. Dr. Zakarian’s lecture ...

Natalie Agazarian Editor “I feel that I offer an interesting mix of forensic, theoretical, and political perspectives, as well as an appreciation of the agency of target groups,” remarked Dr. Simon Maghakyan, reflecting on his position as the 20th Kazan Visiting Professor in Armenian Studies at California State University, Fresno for the Fall 2024 semester. Born in Yerevan, Armenia, Dr. ...

Careen Derkalousdian Staff Writer “The 50th anniversary of the Armenian Students Organization is a significant milestone,” said Prof. Barlow Der Mugrdechian. “We are recognizing the efforts and dedication of hundreds of members who have served in the organization over the last fifty years.” On Saturday, May 4, 2024, the Armenian Students Organization (ASO) celebrated its 50th anniversary at the Holy ...