Armenians Honor USC President for Championing USC Armenian Institute

The University of Southern California Institute of Armenian Studies Leadership Council marked its 10th year with a gala celebration in the presence of 600 guests and supporters, at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on Sunday, September 28.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

October 3, 2014

USC INSTITUTE OF ARMENIAN STUDIES

Contact: Clara Gharibian

Armenian@Dornsife.usc.edu

213.821.3943

Armenians Honor USC President for Championing USC Armenian Institute        

The University of Southern California Institute of Armenian Studies Leadership Council marked its 10th year with a gala celebration in the presence of 600 guests and supporters, at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on Sunday, September 28.

The 10th anniversary gala honored USC President C. L. Max Nikias for championing the Institute. President Nikias, born in Cyprus, was USC Provost when the Institute was established. “He recognized and supported the Institute both as an idea and as a university program, and for that we’re grateful,” said Charles Ghailian, chairman of the Institute Leadership Council and host of the banquet.

The Gala committee, headed by Diane Cabraloff and Lori Muncherian, raised nearly $2 million to support the Institute’s work.  In addition to generous donations by the Turpanjian Family Educational Foundation, there were several significant commitments by others who believe in supporting students through scholarships. The Kassabian brothers – Garo, Jiro and Diko – established a scholarship fund in their parents’ names.  International Jeweler and Collector Michael Kazanjianalso established a fund, as did Leadership Council member and Closet World CEO Frank and HooriMelkonian. The Tufenkian family generously established the Richard TufenkianMemorial Scholarship. Attorneys Mark Geragos and Brian Kabateckdirected some of the proceeds of the AXA Insurance Settlement case in support of the Institute’s programming fund.

Several dignitaries were present to join in honoring President Nikias.  The Carnegie Corporation’s president, Vartan Gregorian joined the guests, as did Haigazian University’s president, Paul Haidostian, from Beirut.  Paul Ignatius, former Secretary of the Navy, and Ambassador John Evans, who served in Armenia as ambassador, both members of the USC Institute’s Honorary Council, were also present. Also in attendance were Paul Krekorian, a member of Los Angeles City Council, and Sam Simonian, founder of Yerevan’s Tumo Center.

Several members of the USC Board of Trustees were among the attendees, including Ron Tutor, who introduced the president.  President Nikias spoke about the importance of scholarship for development, and reiterated the importance of the Institute to the university.

The Institute falls within the USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences. Dornsife Dean Steve Kay expanded on the Institute’s mission, and expressed appreciation for the generous support of donors. He acknowledged the three new appointments made in the Armenian Studies program and repeated the College’s commitment to helping the program grow. Professor Richard Antaramian is the inaugural holder of the Turpanjian Chair in Contemporary Armenian Studies.  SalpiGhazarian will head the Institute of Armenian Studies.  Professor Richard Hovannisian will work with the USC Shoah Foundation Institute to develop the cataloging and indexing of the Armenian Film Foundation’s collection of survivor testimonies.

Institute Director SalpiGhazarian addressed the audience by acknowledging both the seriousness of their commitment to the role of scholarship in problem solving, and the seriousness of the questions and problems facing the Armenian nation and the Armenian state.

The evening’s program included a musical medley, generously supported by Sara ZaruhiChitjian, and performed by the Armenian Pops Orchestra, led by Greg Hosharian.

ABOUT THE INSTITUTE:

The USC Institute of Armenian Studies (established 2005) supports multidisciplinary scholarship to re-define, explore and study the complex issues that make up the contemporary Armenian experience -- from post-Genocide to the developing Republic of Armenia to the evolving Diaspora. The Institute encourages research, publications and public service, and benefits from communication technologies to link together the global academic and Armenian communities. Donations to the USC Institute of Armenian Studies are tax-deductible.

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Posted by: Clara Gharibian <cgharib@usc.edu>

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