Society for Armenian Studies Elects 2026 Executive Council Officers Barlow Der Mugrdechian Elected President
The Society for Armenian Studies (SAS) held its Annual Membership Meeting on November 15, followed by an Executive Council meeting on December 13, 2025. The Executive Council elected new officers for the upcoming year: President, Barlow Der Mugrdechian (Berberian Coordinator of the Armenian Studies Program, Fresno State); Vice-President, Asya Darbinyan (Executive Director of Chhange [Center for Holocaust, Human Rights & Genocide Education] at Brookdale Community College, New Jersey); Treasurer, Talar Chahinian (Program for Armenian Studies, University of California, Irvine); Secretary, David Zakarian (Berberian Professor of Armenian Studies, Fresno State); and advisors, Victoria Abrahamyan (Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the University of Geneva); Melanie Tanielian (Associate Professor of History, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor), and Bedros Torosian (UC Chancellor’s Postdoctoral Fellow at UC Davis [History Department)].
Journal of the Society for Armenian Studies co-editors Houri Berberian (Meghrouni Family Presidential Chair in Armenian Studies and Director of the Center for Armenian Studies, University of California, Irvine) and Talinn Grigor (Professor of Art and Architectural History, University of California, Davis will continue to serve as ex-officio officers of the SAS Executive Council.
“I am looking forward to my upcoming year as President of the Society for Armenian Studies and I look forward to working both with the continuing and new officers,” said Der Mugrdechian. “SAS plays a vital role in the field of Armenian Studies. Our members around the world are devoted to the study of Armenia and the Armenian people. This research, shared with the academic community and the public, helps raise awareness about Armenian culture.”
Der Mugrdechian thanked 2025 outgoing Executive Council members Elyse Semerdjian, Armen Marsoobian, and Helen Makhdoomian for their dedication and service to SAS.
Under Der Mugrdechian’s leadership, SAS will continue its commitment to the development of Armenian Studies and to working with scholars and organizations across the globe.
The Society for Armenian Studies (SAS) celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2024. Founded in 1974, the SAS is an international body, composed of scholars and students, whose aims are to promote the study of Armenian culture and society.
The SAS website, societyforarmenianstudies.com, provides information about events and activities. Readers who wish to financially support the SAS can become a member. The secretariat of the SAS is based in the Armenian Studies Program at California State University, Fresno. For more information contact President Barlow Der Mugrdechian by e-mail barlowd@csufresno.edu.
Photo caption:
Top row, left to right: Victoria Abrahamyan, Melanie Tanielian, Bedros Torosian
Middle row, left to right: Asya Darbinyan, Barlow Der Mugrdechian, David Zakarian
Bottom row, left to right: Talar Chahinian, Houri Berberian, Talinn Grigor
