Hye Sharzhoom Armenian Action
Staff Report
(Cambridge, MA) The Society for Armenian Studies (SAS) marked its 50th Anniversary with a three-day groundbreaking international conference at Harvard University and the National Association for Armenian Studies and Research (NAASR). Titled “Armenian Studies: Evolving Connections and Conversations,” the conference took place September 13-15, 2024, and was co-sponsored by the Mashtots Chair in Armenian Studies (Harvard University); the National Association for Armenian Studies and Research (Belmont, MA); the Promise Armenian Institute (University of California, Los Angeles); the Richard Hovannisian Endowed Chair in Modern Armenian History (University of California, Los Angeles); the Narekatsi Chair in Armenian Studies (University of California, Los Angeles); the Armenian Studies Program (Fresno State); the Institute for Armenian Studies (University of Southern California); the Robert Aram and Marianne Kaloosdian and Stephen and Marian Mugar Chair of Armenian Genocide Studies (Clark University); the Center for Armenian Studies (University of California, Irvine); the Center for Armenian Studies (University of Michigan, Ann Arbor); the Armenian Studies Program (University of California, Berkeley); and the Armenian Research Center (University of Michigan, Dearborn).
Over fifty scholars from Armenia, Turkey, Switzerland, Austria, Germany, England, Australia, and the United States participated in the three-day conference. The conference dealt with established and emerging areas of focus within Armenian Studies, making connections and conversations with related areas of research. They included – but were not limited to – the study of diaspora, migration, and forced displacement; collective violence, trauma, memory, and genocide; race and ethnicity; women, gender, and sexuality; environment; transnational and global mobility of people and ideas; art, architecture, and material culture; print and other established and emerging foci.
The first day of the conference opened on Friday afternoon, September 13, at the Sackler Lecture Hall at Harvard University, to a capacity crowd audience. The organizing committee chair, Bedross Der Matossian (University of Nebraska, Lincoln), delivered the welcoming remarks. He noted that the conference marked a significant milestone both in Armenian Studies as a field and the Society of Armenian Studies as an institution. Der Matossian thanked the Organizing Committee, the Academic Committee, and the co-sponsors and highlighted the collective efforts that brought the “momentous international conference” to fruition, adding, “This is a huge milestone in the history of SAS. The breadth, the scope, and the multidisciplinary approaches of the papers delivered at the conference demonstrate how SAS has evolved from a handful of scholars to become the most important academic society in the Western Hemisphere, with cutting-edge approaches to Armenian Studies.”
A complete listing of the conference panels and participants can be found here: https://societyforarmenianstudies.com/2024/08/01/society-for-armenian-studies-sas-50th-anniversary-conference-armenian-studies-evolving-connections-and-conversations-september-13-15-2024/.
Christina Maranci, Mashtots Chair in Armenian Studies (Harvard University), delivered the opening remarks by providing a brief overview of the history of the Society and its achievements. “This conference offers an opportunity to reflect on the achievements of the Society since its founding fifty years ago,” said Maranci. “Since its founding by eminent scholars Richard Hovannisian, Nina Garsoïan, Dickran Kouymjian, Robert Thomson, and Avedis Sanjian, the Society has grown and developed apace in both its membership (now close to 500), and in its profile. When one considers the multitude of webinars and podcasts, sponsored conference panels, lectures, the SAS website and social media, as well as awards for books and dissertations, grants, and the Journal for the Society of Armenian Studies, it is clear that SAS has achieved great things in its 50 years.”
The first day of the conference paid tribute to the contributions of eminent scholars who left an indelible mark on the field. These scholars, including Robert Thomson, Avedis Sanjian, Robert Hewsen, Nina Garsoïan, Sirarpie Der Nersessian, Lucy
Der Manuelian, George Bournoutian, Anahide Ter Minassian, Louise Nalbandian, Richard G. Hovannisian, Dennis Papazian, and Vahakn N. Dadrian, significantly shaped the development of Armenian Studies and paved the way for succeeding generations.
After the tribute panels, a reception was held in honor of the participants at the Harvard Museum of the Ancient Near East and featured Armenian folklore music by the prominent “Musaner” group. On the same evening, SAS President Maranci gave “The SAS Lifetime Achievement Award” to Stepan Astourian, Anny Bakalian, Levon Chorbajian, Roberta Ervine, Jirair Libaridian, Krikor Maksoudian, Levon Marashlian, Rubina Peroomian, and Abraham Terian, in recognition of and appreciation for their outstanding service and contribution to the field of Armenian Studies.
After the Saturday panels, a reception was held for the participants at the Armenian Museum of America in Watertown. Museum director Jason Sohigian welcomed the participants and presented the history of AMA and its valuable collections.
The conference’s third day was held at the National Association for Armenian Studies and Research (NAASR). Houri Berberian (University of California, Irvine) and Marc Mamigonian (NAASR) gave the introductory remarks. Berberian, who served as the Chair of the Academic Committee, explained the criteria by which the papers were chosen for the conference.
Mamigonian, who served on the Organizing Committee, welcomed everyone to NAASR. After briefly introducing the participants to the rich history of NAASR and the efforts that went into constructing the new building, he discussed the various dynamic programs carried out by NAASR.
The closing remarks were made by Barlow Der Mugrdechian (Fresno State). Der Mugrdechian spoke about the challenges SAS had to overcome since its foundation. He highlighted the strides that SAS has made in the past two decades. “In 1976, SAS had 81 members,” said Der Mugrdechian. “Today, the SAS has nearly 500 members, which is a testament to the growth of the Society. The field of Armenian Studies has grown in the past 50 years, and today the SAS is the leading organization in the field. The SAS has been at the forefront of Armenian Studies, bringing the field into the mainstream of academics.”
The Organizing Committee of the conference consisted of Bedross Der Matossian, chair (University of Nebraska, Lincoln), Christina Maranci (Harvard University), Barlow Der Mugrdechian (California State University, Fresno), Tsolin Nalbantian (Leiden University), Marc Mamigonian (NAASR), Lisa Gulesserian (Harvard University), and Executive Secretary, Flora Ghazaryan (Central European University)
The Academic Committee of the conference consisted of Houri Berberian, chair (UC, Irvine) and included Jesse Arlen (Zohrab Center, New York), Sebouh Aslanian (UCLA), Sossie Kasbarian (University of Stirling), Ümit Kurt (University of Newcastle), Helen Makhdoumian (Vanderbilt University), Hazal Özdemir (Northwestern University), Stephen Badalyan Riegg (Texas A&M University), and Hratch Tchilingirian (Oxford University).