University Advancement

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NEWS RELEASE

New Head of CSUN’s Armenian Studies Program Looks to the Future

(NORTHRIDGE, Calif., Sept. 11, 2006) -- The fall semester is barely underway and Vahram L. Shemmassian has no time to stop. As the new head of Cal State Northridge’s Armenian Studies Program, the assistant professor of modern and classical languages has a lot on his plate.

Among the many items on his seemingly endless to-do list--which includes ensuring there is adequate support for students and faculty in the program, teaching classes, fund raising and a variety of other university obligations--is to build upon the program’s already respected reputation and increase its presence on and off the campus.

"One of our priorities will be to make the Armenian Studies Program at CSUN more visible within the Armenian community in greater Los Angeles," Shemmassian said. "The community should become aware that the university strongly supports this program. The community, in turn, hopefully will embrace the program as its own, and commit to the program’s growth."

Armenian studies started out at Cal State Northridge as one class in the Department of Modern and Classical Languages in 1983. Since then, it has grown into one of the largest programs of its kind in the country, offering 14 different courses in a range of subjects--from Armenian languages to culture and contemporary issues--as well as a minor in Armenian studies and a concentration for students majoring in liberal studies.

Shemmassian replaces modern and classical languages lecturer Hermine Mahseredjian, who retired at the end of the summer after more than 20 years guiding the program.

"We are very pleased that professor Shemmassian is stepping into the leadership role for the Armenian Studies Program," said Elizabeth Say, dean of CSUN’s College of Humanities. "We have every confidence that he will continue the excellent work that has been done over the past 20 years."

Shemmassian, who has a Ph.D. in history from UCLA, has conducted extensive research on such topics as the Armenians of the Musa Dagh and the Sanjak of Alexandretta/Iskenderun as well as Armenian genocide survivors in the Middle East at the end of World War I. He has published several scholarly articles, delivered lectures in the community and at universities and participated in symposia and conferences. He has also served as the principal of three Armenian day schools in the greater Los Angeles area.

Shemmassian said he plans to draw on that experience as he leads CSUN’s Armenian Studies Program into the future. Among the things he would like to do are adding new courses, cultural programs and symposia.

"But we need to strengthen the financial basis of the Armenian Studies Program to do that," he said, adding that fund raising is among his priorities.

Shemmassian said the program also plans on inviting high-profile personalities of Armenian origin to campus with the intention of generating enthusiasm and interest among all CSUN students in Armenian academic and cultural programs. He would also like to promote understanding, tolerance and appreciation of diverse cultures by holding joint conferences with other programs and/or departments on and off campus.

"There’s a lot we’d like to do," he said. "And we’re only getting started."

For more information about the program, call CSUN’s Department of Modern and Classical Languages at (818) 677-3467.

California State University, Northridge has 33,000 full- and part-time students and offers 62 bachelor’s and 50 master’s degrees as well as 28 teaching credential programs. Founded in 1958, CSUN is among the largest single-campus universities in the nation and the only four-year public university in the San Fernando Valley. The university serves as the intellectual, economic and cultural heart of the Valley and beyond.