Armenian Studies Program
Gloria Caudill, Administrator
1080 S. University, SSWB Ste. 2603
Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1106
734-763-0622 tel
734-763-4918 fax
UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN ANNOUNCES $1.2 MILLION GIFT FROM MANOOGIAN SIMONE
FOUNDATION TO ARMENIAN STUDIES PROGRAM
Ann Arbor, Michigan- Terrence J. McDonald, Dean of the College of
Literature, Science, and the Arts at the University of Michigan in Ann
Arbor, announced a $1.2 million gift from internationally known
benefactor Mrs. Louise Simone of New York to expand the Armenian Studies
Program (ASP) over the next two years.
The announcement was made at a reception held at the University on
September 21, 2007. Dean McDonald related the Manoogian family’s long
history of support, beginning almost 30 years ago with the first endowed
chair in Armenian history, followed by a second chair in language and
literature some years later. Both were established by Richard Manoogian
and Louise Simone’s father, the late Alex Manoogian.
Dean McDonald stressed the importance of Armenian Studies to the
University and the depth that UM centers in Russian and Middle Eastern
studies contribute to the program. "This gift will provide the
resources to move Armenian Studies to a higher level, so that the
program will be positioned to make a major contribution to the
recruitment and preparation of a new generation of scholars in the
field, a goal that is also shared by the Manoogian family and the
faculty of the program."
Dean McDonald praised Professor Kevork Bardakjian, former Director of
the ASP, for his long service to the University.
Professor Gerard Jirair Libaridian, the new Director of the program,
provided details regarding the purpose of the Manoogian Simone
Foundation’s gift. It will support five new graduate fellowships and
post doctoral fellowships, including two designated for candidates from
universities in Armenia, a Visiting Scholar program, an annual
international conference, a new Graduate Workshop, an expansion of the
Summer Institute held in Yerevan, and an Outreach Program that will
build a video library of lectures and conferences and provide live-feed
of major conferences held at UM that are related to Armenian Studies.
Professor Mark Tessler, Vice Provost for International Affairs and
Director of the International Institute, of which the ASP is one
component, presented information about the work of the Institute and
the close cooperation between the ASP and other centers. Professor
Tessler detailed the accomplishments of Professor Bardakjian and thanked
him for his long service.
Dean Kathryn Anderson-Levitt of the University’s Dearborn campus talked
about the Armenian Research Center at Dearborn and introduced Professor
Ara Sanjian, the Director of the Center. Dean Anderson-Levitt discussed
the close cooperation that has developed between the Armenian programs
at Ann Arbor and Dearborn.
Also attending the reception were 50 guests, including Cynthia Wilbanks,
Vice President for Government Affairs; Professor Mary Kelly, Chair of
the Department of History; Professor Michael Bonner, Chair of the
Department of Near Eastern Studies; Professor Michael Kennedy, Director
of the Center for Russian and East European Studies; Professor Gottfried
Hagen, Director of the Center for Middle East and North African Studies;
faculty members from the social sciences and humanities; Jessica
Stamboulian, President of the Armenian Students’ Cultural Association at
UM; graduate students; supporters of the program and community members.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
