PRESS RELEASE
FEBRUARY 11, 2005
UCLA Armenian Graduate Students Association
Graduate Students Association
c/o Armenian Graduate Students Association
Kerckhoff Hall Room 316
308 Westwood Plaza
Los Angeles, CA 90024
Contact: Gevork Nazaryan
E-mail: [email protected]
Website:
THIRD ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL GRADUATE STUDENT COLLOQUIUM IN ARMENIAN STUDIES AT UCLA
The UCLA Armenian Graduate Students Association invites the public
to the third annual, international Graduate Student Colloquium in
Armenian Studies at UCLA on Friday, February 25, 2005. this day-long
academic event will begin at 9:15 AM and be held in the famous Royce
Hall, room 314.
This year the organizing committee has set out to continue the fine
tradition that began in 2003 with the launching of the first-ever
international colloquium in Armenian Studies developed specifically
for graduate students by graduate students. UCLA, a premier institution
for the growing field of Armenology and a leader in interdisciplinary
studies, is hosting this event to further foster the development of
Armenian Studies, facilitate interaction between graduate students and
faculty from various institutions, provide a medium for the exchange
of ideas, and contribute to the professional and academic advancement
of graduate students.
Studies from multiple fields will be presented, including history,
political science, law, linguistics, literature, architecture, and
art history. Topics to be presented are grouped within the following
sessions: Comparative Studies in Ancient and medieval Armenian Culture,
Modern Armenian History, Issues in Contemporary Armenian Politics, and
Modern Armenian Literature. . Presenters are graduate students coming
from universities and countries all around the world, including UCLA,
Cal State Northridge, Florida International University, University
of Chicago, University of Miami, Villanova University, University
of Michigan, Ca’ Foscari U. (Italy), Central European University
(Hungary), University of London (UK), and multiple institutes within
the Republic of Armenia. Also, these presenters will have post-event
publicity appearances on the television shows Student Reflections and
Grakan Eter, both of which will air on the Horizon channel on Saturday,
February 26th, 2005.
This year, the organizing committee was led by Talar Chahinian,
a graduate student in Comparative Literature. She was joined by a
number of graduate student veterans from the 2003 and 2004 GSCiAS,
as well as faculty advisor, Dr. Peter Cowe. Graduate students from
across many disciplines were responsible for the individual aspects of
developing the event. This ranged from financing to program scheduling,
facilities and refreshments to travel and accommodations, as well as
both academic and media public relations.
Armenian Studies at UCLA began in 1960. The discipline was augmented
in 1962 with the appointment of Dr. Richard G. Hovannisian, current
holder of the Armenian Educational Foundation Chair in Modern
Armenian History. In 1965, language and literature was established
on a permanent footing with the arrival of Dr. Avedis K. Sanjian,
who guided the expansion of this area over the next three decades.
The Narekatsi Chair, founded in 1969 through the efforts of National
Association for Armenian Studies and Research, has the distinction
of being the oldest endowed chair at UCLA. The first chair-holder
was Dr. Sanjian and in July 2000 Dr. S. Peter Cowe was appointed
as successor. Since 1997 regular instruction in East Armenian has
complemented teaching in West Armenian: currently Dr. Anahid Keshishian
is lecturer in the former and Dr. Hagop Kouloujian in the latter.
In 1998, Armenian Studies was officially recognized as an undergraduate
minor and currently proposals are underway to institute the major.
The Graduate Student Colloquium in Armenian Studies is yet another step
in the development of the rich tradition of Armenian Studies at UCLA.
Organized by graduate students, for graduate students, it provides
an opportunity for students to actively and significantly contribute
to the academic environment on campus.
The colloquium is made possible, in part, by the financial
contributions of a number of departments, programs, and centers at
UCLA including the departments of Near Eastern languages and Cultures,
Slavic Languages and Literatures and Art History, the Indo-European
Inter-departmental program, the Center of European and Eurasian
Studies, as well as Graduate Division of the UCLA administration.
The Society for Armenian Studies has also pledged its financial support
for the colloquium. Last, but by no means least, the committee also
received financial support from the campus fund, the Campus Programs
Committee.
The event is free of charge and open to the public.