Dr. Henry C. Theriault Named Director of the ARS Norian Youth Connect Program

WATERTOWN — The Armenian Relief Society of Eastern USA announced the appointment of Henry C. Theriault, Ph.D., as the new Director of the ARS Norian Youth Connect Program.

“Over the years, Dr. Theriault has been a valued part of the ARS Norian Youth Connect Program, sharing his expertise as a workshop leader and engaging our students with thought-provoking discussions,” said Mimi Parseghian, Chairperson of the ARS Eastern USA Regional Executive Board.

“We are delighted that he is now stepping into the role of Program Director and are confident that under his leadership, the ARS Norian Youth Connect Program will continue to serve as a hub to engage with scholars and have critical dialogue,” she continued.

Henry C. Theriault, Ph.D., is Associate Provost at Worcester State University in the United States, after teaching in its Philosophy Department 1998 to 2017. In his current position, Theriault oversees the university’s library, international students and study program, faculty development center, human subjects research ethics board, general education program, first-year seminar program, and academic integrity process, as well as serving in various other leadership capacities, including as chair of the research advisory board and a member of the president’s cabinet. He coordinated WSU’s Human Rights Center 1999 to 2007.

With a background in radical social and political as well as continental philosophy, Theriault researches genocide denial, genocide prevention, post-genocide victim-perpetrator relations, reparations, and mass violence against women and girls. He has lectured around the world and published numerous journal articles and chapters.

He is lead author of the Armenian Genocide Reparations Study Group’s “2015 Resolution with Justice;” with Samuel Totten, co-authored “The United Nations Genocide Convention: An Introduction”(University of Toronto Press, 2019), and, with Chunhui Peng, coeditor of “Aftermath of Mass Violence: A Comprehensive Approach through Theory and Case Studies” (Bloomsbury, forthcoming).

Theriault’s work has appeared in English, Spanish, Armenian, Turkish, and other languages. Theriault served two terms as president of the International Association of Genocide Scholars, 2017 to 2019 and 2019 to 2021. He has been founding co-editor of Genocide Studies International since 2012 and co-edited Genocide Studies and Prevention 2007 to 2012. He currently serves as vice-chair of the executive committee of the board of directors of the National Association for Armenian Studies and Research and is a member of the Armenian Society of Fellows.

Originally established in 1971 as the ARS Summer Studies Institute, the program has evolved over the decades to meet the changing needs of Armenian youth while remaining true to its educational mission. Its continued success has been made possible through the generosity of the Norian Endowment Fund, established by sisters Alice Norian and Doris Norian-Lenz.

Over the years, the program has benefited from the dedicated leadership Dr. Asbed Kotchikian (2010 to 2014) and Dr. Khatchig Mouradian (2014 to 2026), whose vision and commitment helped shape the program.

The next ARS Norian Youth Connect Program will take place on October 24 in Belmont, MA, bringing together Armenian university students and young professionals. More details will be published soon on the ARS website and social media pages.