Hye Sharzhoom Armenian Action
Marine Vardanyan
Special to Hye Sharzhoom
For more than 40 years, Armenian-American students have gone through Fresno State’s Armenian Studies Program, enrolling in courses, participating in activities, and building relationships with professors and peers. Since its inception, more than 12,000 students have taken courses offered by the ASP and more than 130 students have graduated with a Minor. Many alumni can testify to the great impact their time with the Program has had on their lives. However, the experiences of these students have never been formally explored and recorded. In fact, studies on Armenian-Americans in general are very limited, with author Anny P. Bakalian referring to the group as “hidden-minorities.”
Without research on Armenian-American students, colleges and universities cannot draw ethnic specific data to inform their practice and provide the best services to this population.
As an alumna of the Program, I decided to focus my graduate research in the field of Educational Leadership and Administration on Fresno State’s Armenian Studies Program and explore the role it plays in supporting Armenian-American student identity and sense of belonging.
Author and scholar Terrell Lamont Strayhorn describes sense of belonging as “the students’ perceived social support on campus, a feeling or sensation of connectedness, the experience of mattering or feeling cared about, accepted, respected, and valued by and important to the group and others on campus.” My qualitative study entailed a questionnaire and in-person interview of 11 students. These participants were non-first year Armenian-American college students enrolled full-time at Fresno State and involved with the Armenian Studies Program. Of the 11 participants, six identified as male, five as female, with ages ranging from 19 to 36. All of the students had different majors, but six were pursuing a Minor in Armenian Studies.
My research questions were:
How does the Armenian Studies Program shape the identity of Armenian-American college students?
What role does the Armenian Studies Program play in Armenian-American college students’ sense of belonging?
The study provided great insight into the experiences of Armenian-American college students at Fresno State. The main takeaways were:
Engagement with the Program evoked feelings of ethnic pride and a greater sense of ethnic group membership. These sentiments were a result of the classes, public lectures, Armenia study trips, and other services provided by the Program which allowed students to learn about their heritage and engage with their community.
The fostering of relationships and social networks with both peers and school entities plays a significant role in how welcomed, appreciated, and supported the students feel at Fresno State.
Participant Quotes:
“It [the Armenian Studies Program] has given me something to do. … I think it has given me something to do on my Friday nights, on my Tuesday nights, when there are lectures and events. … If I didn’t do it, then it would be ‘What am I doing? I’m just going to school and that’s it.’”
“My first semester, I wanted to leave, I did not want to be here. The closest friend I had at Fresno State left, and I was thinking, ‘I didn’t even want to come here in the first place.’ ASO definitely helped me feel more welcome. I was able to make friends… It has made me feel more comfortable at Fresno State. Now, I want to stay here and continue to grow with the ASO and continue with the Program.”
“I have gone to the banquets and met the President of Fresno State. If it weren’t for the Armenian Studies Program, the President wouldn’t have had any connection with me…. Now when we see each other, he recognizes me, and we greet each other.”
The findings from my study suggest Armenian-American student engagement with the Armenian Studies Program built greater awareness and ethnic pride, fostered ethnic membership, facilitated social and peer networks, and connected students to campus administrators.
This study highlights the supportive role of the Armenian Studies Program, expands on how it enhances Armenian-American college students’ experiences, and provides information needed to best understand and serve this group of students. I am excited to have contributed to the Armenian Studies Program, to the limited knowledge that exists on Armenian-American students, and to have given a voice to my Armenian-American peers at Fresno State.