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CSUN ASP
CONTACT: Anna Menedjian
Telephone: (818) 331-2020
Email: [email protected]
Armenian studies program honors former professor and director
Program also celebrates 25th anniversary
By Anna Menedjian
Professor Hermine Mahseredjian (second from left) is given a lifetime
achievement award by professor Gagik Melikyan Sunday for her
dedication to the Armenian Studies Program.
Decades of dedication to her native language, history and culture led
former professor and director of the Armenian Studies Program Hermine
Mahseredjian to a lifetime achievement award Sunday from the
university’s Alumni and Friends of the Armenian Studies Program.
`The College of Humanities is proud to be the home of the Armenian
Studies Program,’ said Elizabeth Say, Ph.D., dean of the humanities
department. `We honor a program that strives to bring an understanding
of Armenian studies for the students here.’
Mahseredjian also received the coveted `Community Hero’ award from the
Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU) and a proclamation in honor
of her achievements from the State Assemblyman Paul Krikorian.
Over 150 alumni, faculty and students gathered at the Grand Salon on
campus to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of the Armenian Studies
Program. The evening was filled with Armenian representations,
including Armenian food, musicand even symbolic centerpieces, which
were made with tree branches and pomegranates.
Renowned Armenian folk singer Salbi Mailian performed four famous folk
songs, including `The Daughter’s Song,’ `A VoiceJust Rang,’ a song by
Sayat Nova and the unity circle dance. Award-winning author,
seven-time Pulitzer Prize nominee and former Los Angeles Times
reporter Mark Arax spoke at length about his Armenian roots and
heritage and the importance of having an Armenian Studies Program on
campus availableto the large population of Armenian students attending
the university.
The threat of technology could swallow you up and your culture,
said Arax. Programs like this are an example of the balance needed to
honor your heritage without committing treason, he added.
Mahseredjian joined the CSUN faculty in 1983 as a volunteer just to be
ableto teach an Armenian Culture class for the Armenian students
attending the university. Determined to pass her understanding and
knowledge of the Armenian culture to her students, she stayed on and
taught without taking a paycheck home for five years.
Chicano/a studies professor Jorge Garcia recalls Mahseredjian saying,
`If you don’t have the money, I will teach for free.’ This is `because
of her love, dedication and personal commitment that she has within
her,’ added Garcia.
Over the past 25 years, Mahseredjian worked diligently with the CSUN
administration, community leaders, philanthropists, alumni and
students in her mission to expand the Armenian learning experience on
campus, which resulted in the establishment of the Armenian Studies
Program in 1988, a minor degree program in 1991 and a student and
faculty exchange program in 2004 between CSUN and Yerevan State
University in Armenia.
`The Armenian Studies Program at CSUN is a very large brick in the
building of the Armenian language and culture in the U.S.,’ said
Gabriel Injejikian, former principal of the first Armenian school in
the UnitedStates, Ferrahian High School.
Mahseredjian was born and raised in Jerusalem (Palestine, under
British Mandate at the time). She received her Elementary Education at
the Saint Tarkmanchats Armenian School. She then went to Nicosia,
Cyprus for her secondary education at the Melkonian Educational
Institute. Upon immigrating to the USA, she continued her education
at CSUN and obtained a Bachelors Degree in French and a Masters Degree
in Educational Psychology. She continued her studies towards a
doctorate program at the University of Southern California. However,
she changed her educational direction and became a Licensed Marriage &
Family Psychotherapist (MFT).
She holds a variety of California Credentials, including teaching,
counseling, school psychologist, administrative for K-12 and for
community college. Throughout her adult life she has been an educator
and was employed as a teacher; counselor, Special Education Counselor,
psychologist (private and public school districts), Curriculum
Coordinator for Multicultural Studies at the Children’ s Hospital in
Los Angeles, a parochial school principal and 24 years of service to
CSUN as a Professor and the Founder & director of the Armenian Studies
Program.
`Being in the Diaspora it is very important for me to learn my
culture, history and language to pass it on to future generations as
well as to my children,’ said senior liberal studies major Ani
Demirjian.
Armenian philanthropist Alex Manoogian was an instrumental part of
Mahseredjian’s success in expanding the Armenian studies program by
donatingover $115,000 toward the studies’ fellowship and scholarship
programs. Varaz Shahmirian, an engineer has also contributed to the
expansion by donating tens of thousands of dollars to help establish
the minor program in Armenian Studies.
`My biggest wish is that one day we will all celebrate the
inauguration of the bachelor’s degree in Armenian,’ said Mahseredjian.
Last year, Mahseredjian retired from teaching and directing the
Armenian Studies program and passed the torch to professor Vahram
Shehmmassian, Ph.D., who now directs the program for over 3,500
students. Mahseredjian is currently serving as the executive director
for a newly opened Armenian Charter School in the Valley on an
entirely volunteer basis.
`She’s getting older, but not stepping back from doing things for the
community. I want to see myself in her shoes someday,’ said Armenian
Students Assocation president Lusine Harutyunyan.
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