News

  Angela Soghomonian Biochemistry Minor in Armenian Studies What encouraged you to take an Armenian Studies course? I enjoy history and wanted to learn about the historical events relevant to the Armenians. What was your favorite Armenian Studies class, activity, or event? I enjoyed the Armenian language classes, because it gave me an opportunity to practice speaking. What are your plans ...

Careen Derkalousdian Staff Writer On Friday, March 3, 2023, Dr. Taner Akçam, director of the Armenian Genocide Research Program at The UCLA Promise Institute, presented his new findings regarding the first decision to eradicate the Armenian population in the Ottoman Empire at the beginning of the twentieth century. The lecture, “The First Decision of the Armenian Genocide and the Role ...

Staff Report Dr. Christina Maranci, Mashtots Chair of Armenian Studies at Harvard University, gave the inaugural Grace and Paul Shahinian Armenian Christian Art Series on Saturday, April 15, 2023, at Fresno State. Her talk was on “Armenia Art: Current Directions and Future Goals” and was held at the Smittcamp Alumni House on the Fresno State campus. A reception took place ...

Staff Report It is common to hear the exciting announcement of students graduating from Fresno State with a degree in biology, business, engineering, or nursing. Andrew Hagopian, however, decided on a different path, becoming the first student at Fresno State to receive a Bachelor of Arts degree in Armenian and Middle Eastern Studies. With the help of advisor Prof. Barlow ...

Natalie Agazarian Editor Tasting grandpa’s fresh apricots and black plums, playing the tunes of childhood on grandma’s old piano, walking past the water fountain by an all too familiar route – “Back to Ashtarak” is a documentary film brimming with nostalgia. It is a compilation of archival and recent footage, with unique animation that captivates the audience through its depiction ...

Staff Report Award-winning journalist and director of the documentary film “Motherland,” Vic Gerami, was a guest of CineCulture and the Armenian Studies Program on Friday, April 14, 2023. Gerami interacted with a virtual audience of students and community members, who posed a variety of interesting questions regarding the movie. CineCulture Professor Mary Husain moderated the discussion, together with Prof. Barlow ...

Staff Report A team of USC Institute of Armenian Studies staff, including Dr. Lilit Keshishyan, Manuk Avedikyan, and Brandan Balayan, visited Fresno State on Monday, March 13, 2023 to speak to students and faculty about the Institute’s “My Armenian Story” oral history project. The two-year project involves conducting oral interview with Armenians throughout California, to “dis-cover and record individual journeys.” ...

Staff Report The Armenian Studies Program, Fresno State, the St. Apkar Armenian Apostolic Church of Scottsdale, Arizona, and Scottsdale Community College (SCC) hosted a one-day workshop “Teaching About Genocide-The Armenian Genocide: A Case Study,” on Saturday, April 22, 2023. Twenty-two teachers from the local area participated in the workshop which featured several presentations. SCC Professor of Anthropology Dr. Lisa Marsio ...

Natalie Agazarian Editor Armenian 148, Masterpieces of Armenian Culture, is a general education course taught by Dr. Hagop Ohanessian. The class is designed to delve into various forms of Armenian literature and art through distinct periods in Armenian history. It fulfills upper division Area IC of the Fresno State General Education requirements and is a required course for completing the ...

Christine Pambukyan Staff Writer On Sunday, March 26, 2023, the Armenian Studies Program held its 35th Annual Banquet at the Fort Washington Country Club in Fresno. The evening was dedicated to the establishment of the Ralph Shabazian Endowment in Armenian Studies and the Florence Elaine Hamparson Endowment in Armenian Studies. Banquet sponsors, donors, scholarship recipients, faculty, university administrators, and family ...