PRESS RELEASE
FEBRUARY 1, 2008
Armenian Graduate Students Association at UCLA
Graduate Students Association
c/o Armenian Graduate Students Association
Kerckhoff Hall Room 316
308 Westwood Plaza
Los Angeles, CA 90024
Contact: Lilit Keshishyan
E-mail: [email protected]
Website:
SIXTH ANNUAL GRADUATE STUDENT COLLOQUIUM IN ARMENIAN STUDIES AT UCLA,
FEBRURARY, 15, 2008
The Armenian Graduate Students Association at UCLA invites the public to the
sixth annual, Graduate Student Colloquium in Armenian Studies at UCLA on
Friday, February 15, 2008. This day-long academic event will begin at 9:30
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,
linguistics, literature, archeology, ethnology, anthropology and art
history. Topics to be presented are grouped within the following sessions:
Presenters are graduate students coming from universities and countries all
around the world, including UC Irvine, California State University
Northridge, University of Wisconsin, Central European University (Hungary),
Freie Universitaet Berlin, Sabanci University (Turkey) and multiple
institutes within the Republic of Armenia.**
This year, the organizing committee was led by Lilit Keshishyan, a graduate
student in Comparative Literature. She was joined by a number of graduate
student, 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
department of Slavic Languages and Literatures, the Center for Near-Eastern
Studies, the Center for Indo-European Studies, as well as the Graduate
Division of the UCLA administration. The committee also received financial
support from the Campus Programs Committee of the Program Activities Board.*
*
The event is free of charge and open to the public.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
