1980_01 Hye Sharzhoom Newspaper January 1980

              January 11,1980
Hye Sharzhoom
Page 7
CSUF's Kouymjian presents prestigious lectureship
The following article was taken from The Fresno Bee, Dec. 17, 1979.
By Shirley Melikian Armbruster
Bee Staff Writer
There is always a flurry of activity around Dr. Dickran Kouymjian, an
energetic professor, lecturer and scholar who invariably has a handful of
projects going at one time.
As coordinator—and actually the only professor—of the Armenian
Studies Program at Fresno State University,Kouymjian'sfirst loyalty is his
students, both in the classroom and as adviser to the campus' active
Armenian Student Organization.
His spare moments are spent researching and writing on topics relating
to art and history. He has five books in print on Near Eastern and Armenian
art, architecture and coins. He also has published numerous articles in
academic journals in this country and abroad.
To top things off, Kouymjian travels extensively to speak to various
groups, and maintains a long-distance marriage with his wife, who lives in
Paris.
In recognition of his scholarly achievements, Kouymjian has been
named by New York University's Center for Near Eastern Studies to present
the 1979 Distinguished Lectureship in Near Eastern Art and Civilization.
He will be the first scholar from the United States to present the series of
four lectures, and his participation will mark the first time that an Armenian
authority or an Armenian topic has been chosen for the lectureship.
Previous participants were from Germany, France, Iran and Israel.
The lectures, the sixth annual series sponsored by the center, began last
week and continues this week. Kouymjian's topic will be "Continuity and
Diversity in Armenian Art: The Iconography of Pentacost."
The lecutres will be primarily concerned with a curious animal-headed
human figure which is a unique feature of the artistic rendering of the
scene of Pentacost in the Armenian tradition.
In attempting to clarify the historical evolution of this figure from the 11
to the 18th century, Kouymjian will examine neighboring Syrian Christian,
Byzantine and Islamic traditions. The series will be illustrated with slides,
and will be published in book form by New York University Press.
Now completing his fifth semester at Fresno State, Kouymjian has
reorganized the university's Armenian course offerings into a functioning
undergraduate program that offers students a degree minor in Armenian
studies.
But the reorganization and minor are only steps toward the goal
Kouymjian set when he joined the faculty: to create a bachelor's degree
program in Armenian studies.
Only four institutions offer doctoral degrees in Armenian studies, and
Kouymjian believes FSU can provide an important link between the
Armenian high schools springing up in this country and the highest in
degrees.
"Fresno has a very visible Armenian community," he noted. "Armenians
have a tremendous role in this community. I have consciously tried to
establish CSUF as the intellectual center of Armenian life in this
community."
Kouymjian said the Armenian studies program is important because,
"We need Armenians who have a clear sense of their past.. .a long and
rich past. This provides the Armenian student with a point of reference to
initiate himself into the rest of the world; it is his doorway to the human
experience."
He a'so lamented that nationwide, few Armenian students have taken
advantage of the courses. "They have been assimilated almost beyond
salvation. They are giving up an important aspect of their identity, when
everybody is searching for an identity." At FSU, however, the interest in
Armenian studies is "consuming" many of the 400 Armenian-American
students enrolled.
Textbooks are not the only learning tools, and Kouymjian participates in
events outside of the classroom with his students. "I want to get Armenian
students involved in all aspects of community work so when they leave (the
jniversity) they will be prepared to do the work."
Kouymjian, who was born in Romania, educated in this country and has
lived abroad most of his adult life, provides an international perspectiveto
the subjects he teaches. He said he is the first person in the United States to
receive a doctorate in Armenia., studies.
His thorough knowledge of the subjects, plus his enthusiasm and
dedication in the classroom and extracurricular activities, have made him a
popular and respected faculty member.
"Dr. Kouymjian brought a totally different approach to Armenian
studies," said student Mark Malkasian. "He has brought an intellectual
focus to the Armenian studies program and a lot of new ideas."
Malkasian, one of the editors of Hye Sharzhoom (Armenian Movement),
the newspaper of the FSU Armenian Students Organization, said
Kouymjian is responsible for "raising the level of Armenian consciousness
at Fresno State.
"We wouldn't have an organization (of Armenian students) if it weren't
for him," Malkasian said. "He's really been the catalyst as far as the ASO
goes."
Hye Sharzhoom is the only Armenian students' newspaper in the United
States; according to Kouymjian.
Dr. Robert Mikell, coordinator of FSU's Ethnic Studies Program, said
formation of the Armenian Studies Program in 1977 has resulted in "a lot of
positive things," and Kouymjian has helped the program improve. Student
interest and participation has markedly increased, he added.
Courses in the Armenian language, history and culture have been
offered by various FSU departments for the last 10 years.
In addition to his teaching duties, Kouymjian also has participated in
activities within the Fresno Armenian community, and frequently speaks to
various groups.
Because his French-born wife, Angele Kapoian, remains in Paris where
she teaches in a high school, Kouymjian "takes advantage" of living alone
to throw himself into his work. He does not own a television or radio and
works in his cramped, cluttered FSU office until midnight or later each day.
Although he complains that he is too busy, Kouymjian wouldn't give up
any of his activities, especially his research and I writing. They help to bring
an "international reputation" to Fresno State, he said, which enhancesthe
Armenian Studies Program.
Born To Armenian-American parents in Romania, Kouymjian grew up in
Chicago and in Racine, Wis. He earned a bachelor's degree in European
cultural history from the University of Wisconsin at Madison, and a
master's degree in Arab studies at American University of Beirut, Lebanon.
His Ph.D. in Armenian studies is from Columbia University in New York.
Kouymjian, 45, once owned a restaurant and a literary agency in New
York, but for the last 20 years he has been teaching Near Eastern and
Armenian art and history and western humanities.
He has taught at American University of Beirut, Columbia, American
University in Cairo, Haigazian College in Beirut and American College in
Paris. He also served in 1976 as a consultant to the United Nations
Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. UNESCO sent him to
advise its Department of Antiquities on the conservation, classification and
display of ancient coins.
Kouymjian's Index of Armenian Art, a systematic card index of all
representations of medieval and ancient Armenian art, is currently housed
in the Armenian Studies Program at FSU, and the second division of the
index on 11th century Armenian manuscript illustrations has just been
issued at Fresno State.
He also is editing for publication the papers of a symposium last year at
FSU on the Armenian'folk epic David of Sassoun, is preparing a memorial
volume for the late Haig Berberian, editor of the Revue des Etudes
Armeniennes, is working on a Critical Bibliography of Armenian Art and
Architecture and is finishing a collection of Armenian numismatics (coins
and money).
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