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Armenian studies program honors former professor and director

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  • Armenian studies program honors former professor and director

    PRESS RELEASE
    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.

    ###

    http://sundial.csun.edu/armenia n_studies_program_honors_former_professor_and_dire cor
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