Dickran Kouymjian ( hy, Տիգրան Գույումճեան; born 6 June 1934) is an Armenian-American writer, publisher, editor, historian and professor.
Life
Kouymjian was born to
Armenian
Armenian may refer to:
* Something of, from, or related to Armenia, a country in the South Caucasus region of Eurasia
* Armenians, the national people of Armenia, or people of Armenian descent
** Armenian Diaspora, Armenian communities across the ...
parents in
Romania
Romania ( ; ro, România ) is a country located at the crossroads of Central, Eastern, and Southeastern Europe. It borders Bulgaria to the south, Ukraine to the north, Hungary to the west, Serbia to the southwest, Moldova to the east, and ...
on June 6, 1934. At the time of his birth, his parents already had U.S. citizenship.
Kouymjian went on to study European cultural history from the
University of Wisconsin
A university () is an institution of higher (or tertiary) education and research which awards academic degrees in several academic disciplines. Universities typically offer both undergraduate and postgraduate programs. In the United States, ...
.
He attained his master's degree in Arabic studies at the
American University of Beirut.
He gained his PhD in Armenian Studies from
Columbia University
Columbia University (also known as Columbia, and officially as Columbia University in the City of New York) is a private research university in New York City. Established in 1754 as King's College on the grounds of Trinity Church in Manhatt ...
in 1969 becoming the first person to ever do so.
In 1977 he was invited to
Fresno
Fresno () is a major city in the San Joaquin Valley of California, United States. It is the county seat of Fresno County and the largest city in the greater Central Valley region. It covers about and had a population of 542,107 in 2020, maki ...
to establish an Armenian Studies program at the
Cal State University of Fresno. While at CSUF, Kouymjian founded ''Hye Sharzhoom'', an Armenian student newspaper which continues to function till this day.
Dr. Kouymjian is the Haig and Isabel Berberian Professor of Armenian Studies at the
California State University, Fresno
California State University, Fresno (Fresno State) is a public university in Fresno, California. It is one of 23 campuses in the California State University system. The university had a fall 2020 enrollment of 25,341 students. It offers bache ...
. He has taught at many universities including Columbia, the American University in Cairo,
Haigazian University
Haigazian University ( hy, Հայկազեան Համալսարան, pronounced ''Haygazyan Hamalsaran''; ar, جامعة هايكازيان) is a higher education institution founded in 1955 in Beirut, Lebanon as Haigazian College. For a brief pe ...
in
Beirut
Beirut, french: Beyrouth is the capital and largest city of Lebanon. , Greater Beirut has a population of 2.5 million, which makes it the third-largest city in the Levant region. The city is situated on a peninsula at the midpoint o ...
, the
Sorbonne
Sorbonne may refer to:
* Sorbonne (building), historic building in Paris, which housed the University of Paris and is now shared among multiple universities.
*the University of Paris (c. 1150 – 1970)
*one of its components or linked institution, ...
in Paris, and served as the William Saroyan Visiting Professor of Armenian Studies at the University of California at Berkeley in 1996.
In 1987 he was a senior lecturer of foreign languages and literature at the
Yerevan State University
Yerevan State University (YSU; hy, Երևանի Պետական Համալսարան, ԵՊՀ, ''Yerevani Petakan Hamalsaran''), also simply University of Yerevan, is the oldest continuously operating public university in Armenia. Founded in 1919 ...
in
Armenia
Armenia (), , group=pron officially the Republic of Armenia,, is a landlocked country in the Armenian Highlands of Western Asia.The UNbr>classification of world regions places Armenia in Western Asia; the CIA World Factbook , , and ' ...
. Kouymjian is a foreign member of the
Armenian National Academy of Sciences
The National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Armenia (NAS RA) ( hy, Հայաստանի Հանրապետության գիտությունների ազգային ակադեմիա, ՀՀ ԳԱԱ, ''Hayastani Hanrapetut’yan gitut’yunneri az ...
. He has also served as a consultant to
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) aimed at promoting world peace and security through international cooperation in education, arts, sciences and culture. It ...
.
He has published more than three hundred articles and several books.
He is married to Angèle Kapoïan who is also a scholar and teacher.
He announced his retirement in 2008 after 31 years of service to
California State University, Fresno
California State University, Fresno (Fresno State) is a public university in Fresno, California. It is one of 23 campuses in the California State University system. The university had a fall 2020 enrollment of 25,341 students. It offers bache ...
.
Awards and honors
*
Catholicos of All Armenians
The Catholicos of All Armenians (plural Catholicoi) ( hy, Ամենայն Հայոց Կաթողիկոս; see #Other names), is the chief bishop and spiritual leader of Armenia's national church, the Armenian Apostolic Church, and the worldwide Arme ...
Karekin II
Catholicos Karekin II ( hy, Գարեգին Բ, also spelled Garegin; born 21 August 1951) is the current Catholicos of All Armenians, the supreme head of the Armenian Apostolic Church. In 2013 he was unanimously elected the Oriental Orthodox he ...
honored Kouymjian with the St. Sahag and St.
Mesrob Mashtots Medal
The Order of St. Mesrop Mashtots () is awarded for significant achievements in economic development of Armenia, natural and social sciences, inventions, culture, education, healthcare, and public service, as well as for activities promoting scient ...
.
*1986 –
California State University, Fresno
California State University, Fresno (Fresno State) is a public university in Fresno, California. It is one of 23 campuses in the California State University system. The university had a fall 2020 enrollment of 25,341 students. It offers bache ...
– Most Outstanding Professor Award.
*1998 – Provost's Award for Excellence in Research.
*1999–2000 – Armenian National Committee Central Valley – Man of the Year Award.
*1999 – Phi Kappa Phi – University Scholar of the Year.
*2003 – Armenian Students Association of America – Arthur H. Dadian Armenian Heritage Award.
*A Festschrift
"Between Paris and Fresno: Armenian Studies in Honor of Dickran Kouymjian,"edited by
Barlow Der Mugrdechian
Barlow Der Mugrdechian ( hy, Պարլօ Տէր-Մկրտիչեան; born 1956) is a historian and lecturer in that California State University, Fresno, where he teaches Armenian language, art, literature, history, and culture courses. His main ar ...
, was published by Mazda Publishing in 2008, honoring the career of Dickran Kouymjian.
Notable works
*Artsakh: Garden of Armenian Arts and Traditions – Karabagh (2012)
*Mxitar (Mekhithar) of Ani on the rise of the Seljuqs (1969)
*Chinese elements in Armenian miniature painting in the Mongol period (1986)
*The Arts of Armenia (1992)
*Armenian Architecture: An Exhibition (1981)
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kouymjian, Dickran
21st-century American historians
21st-century American male writers
Writers from Fresno, California
1934 births
California State University, Fresno faculty
Living people
Romanian people of Armenian descent
American people of Armenian descent
American male non-fiction writers
Arabists
Armenian studies scholars
Ethnic Armenian historians
University of Wisconsin–Madison College of Letters and Science alumni
American University of Beirut alumni
Columbia University alumni
Historians from California