Armenian Studies Program
Barlow Der Mugrdechian, Coordinator
5245 N. Backer Ave. PB4
Fresno CA 93740-8001
ASP Office: 559-278-2669
Office: 559-278-2669
FAX: 559-278-2129
Visit the ASP Website:
Photo caption:
SAS Conference in Washington, D.C. Seated, left to right: Dr. Rouben
Adalian, Khatchig Mouradian, Asya Darbinyan, and Umit Kurt.
Standing: SAS President Barlow Der Mugrdechian
PRESS RELEASE
Society for Armenian Studies Holds Elections
for Executive Council Officers for 2015
The Society for Armenian Studies (SAS) celebrated its 40th anniversary
at its Annual Membership meeting held in Washington, D.C., held on
Saturday, November 22.
A new Executive Council was elected with Barlow Der Mugrdechian
(California State University-Fresno) chosen as the new SAS
President. Also elected were Vice President Bedross Der Matossian
(University of Nebraska-Lincoln); Secretary Lilit Keshishyan (UCLA);
Treasurer Sergio La Porta (California State University, Fresno); and
advisors Tamar Boyajian (Michigan State University), Marc Mamigonian
(NAASR), and Jean Murachanian (University of New England).
On behalf of the SAS newly elected President Der Mugrdechian thanked
outgoing President Kevork Bardakjian (University of Michigan-Ann
Arbor) and outgoing Secretary Ani Kasparian (University of
Michigan-Dearborn) for their dedicated service to the Society.
`It is a privilege to be elected as the new President of Society for
Armenian Studies. The SAS plays an important role as a forum for
scholars to meet and exchange ideas. SAS members conduct research in
many different fields, but in each case this is related to the study
of Armenia and the Armenian people. This research is shared with other
academics and with the public at large, bringing greater awareness
about Armenian culture,’ stated Der Mugrdechian.
In 2014 SAS held several major activities to mark its 40th
anniversary, including an international Armenian Studies Workshop in
Yerevan, Armenia, October 3-5, with 44 scholars participating from
Armenia and abroad. In November the Society sponsored a two-day
conference in Washington, D.C. on =80=9C Armenians in the Ottoman
Empire in the 19-20th Centuries.’ This year the SAS planning several
activities in conjunction with the 100th Anniversary of the Armenian
Genocide, including co-sponsorship of a major international conference
` Crossing the Centennial: The Historiography of the Armenian Genocide
Re-Evaluated,’ March 19-20, with the Department of History and
Humanitarian Affairs Program at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln,
organized by SAS Vice-President Bedross Der Matossian.
The SAS annually publishes a peer-reviewed Journal of the Society for
Armenian Studies , edited by Sergio La Porta, and a Newsletter .
The SAS website, societyforarmenianstudies.com, provides information
about events and activities about the Society. The Society does
encourage supporting membership for those who wish to financially
support the SAS. The Secretariat of the SAS is based in the Armenian
Studies Program at California State University, Fresno. For more
information please call the SAS at 559-278-2669 or send an email to
[email protected].