Armenian Studies Program
Welcome to The Armenian Studies Program
The Armenian Studies Program was established in 1977 and the Center for Armenian Studies was founded in 1988. The Center provides an opportunity for students and faculty to interact and currently houses the Armenian Studies Program, the Sahatdjian Armenian Studies Library, the Avedian Armenian Studies Archives, the newspaper Hye Sharzhoom/Armenian Action, the Armenian Students Organization, and the Index of Armenian Art.
The Haig and Isabel Berberian Endowed Chair in Armenian Studies, established in the fall of 1988, is one of several Armenian Chairs in the United States and provides financial support for a distinguished Armenologist. The endowment honors Haig and Isabel Berberian and was established by their son-in-law and daughter, Dr. and Mrs. Arnold H. and Dianne Gazarian. Other friends of the Armenian Studies Program have made significant contributions to the endowment.
A Brief History of the Armenian Studies Program
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The Armenian Studies Lecture Series
An International Conference
"A New History-Writing on Late Ottoman-Turkish History:
The Impact of Memoirs"
Friday, October 17, 2025 • 6:00-7:00PM Reception
7:00PM Conference
Full program
University Business Center, Fresno State
5245 N. Backer Ave.
Keynote Speaker: Taner Akçam (UCLA)
Moderator: Ümit Kurt (University of Newcastle)
Janet Klein (University of Akron) • Michael Provence (UC, San Diego)
Saturday, October 18, 2025 • Panel 3-10:00AM-11:20AM
Smittcamp Alumni House, Fresno State • 2625 E. Matoian Way
Moderator: Barlow Der Mugrdechian
Ümit Kurt (University of Newcastle) • Yiğit Akın (Ohio State University) • Duygu Tasalp
(University of Louvain)
Saturday, October 18, 2025
Panel 3-11:30AM-12:50PM
Moderator: David Zakarian
Kent Schull (Binghamton University) • Merisa Sahin (Univ. of Michigan, Ann Arbor)
• Ekrem Yener (Bilgi University)
"Armenians in Film"
Six Short Films by Armenian Filmmakers
Friday, October 24, 2025
5:30PM
in conjunction with CineCulture
Free admission-Free parking
University Business Center,
5010 N Woodrow Ave (in the Student Rec Center)
Fresno State
"Medieval Book Curses: How Armenians Guarded Their Manuscripts"
Dr. David Zakarian
Haig & Isabel Berberian Professor of Armenian Studies
Friday, November 7, 2025
7:00PM
Grosse Industrial Technology Building, Room 101 Auditorium
2255 E. Barstow Ave., Fresno State
(S/E Corner of Barstow and Campus Drive)
Free admission and free parking. Permits not required. Park in Lot P23 or P20.
"Homeland vs. Home: When a Call to Return to the Homeland is Not Answered"
Kevork Oflazian
Friday, November 14, 2025
7:00PM
University Business Center
5245 N Backer Ave. - Fresno State
Free admission and free parking. Permits not required. Park in Lot P6 or P5.
Ralph Shabazian Endowed Armenian Memorial Fund Established with Gift of $700,000
Florence Elaine Hamparson Endowed Armenian Memorial Fund Established with Gift of $450,000
Armenian Genocide Monument Unveiled at Historic Ceremony
4,000 plus attended on Thursday, April 23, 2015 at Fresno State's Maple Mall
Photo by Paul Schlesinger, The Collegian
On Sunday, November 2, 2014 the Armenian Community of the San Joaquin Valley broke
ground on a Monument dedicated to the 100th Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.
The event began at 2:30 p.m. and took place at the Fresno State Maple Mall, located
south of the Satellite Student Union.
For more information, go to Armenian Genocide Centennial Committee-Fresno.