Society for Armenian Studies Holds Elections for Executive Council Officers for 2015

FRESNO — 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 “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.
T
he 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 barlowd@csufresno.edu.