YEREVAN, Armenia — The Spring 2025 semester at the American University of Armenia (AUA) featured an engaging scholarly dialogue through the Turpanjian Discussion Series (TDS). Coordinated by Assistant Professor Dr. Naira Sahakyan, TDS is an initiative of the Turpanjian Institute of Social Sciences led by Professor Stephan Astourian.
TDS aims to provide a platform for faculty to present works-in-progress, receive constructive feedback, and engage in meaningful discussions to advance their research toward publication. The Series features contributions from scholars across various disciplines within the College of Humanities and Social Sciences (CHSS) and abroad, fostering a collaborative academic environment.
The semester’s events were open to the public, attracting diverse audiences and encouraging intellectual exchange beyond the University community.
The Spring 2025 lineup included the following events:
- “Connecting the Two Armenias in the 1880s: Unpacking the Travel Diaries of Levon Sargsyants”
Presenter: Dr. Vahram Ter-Matevosyan - “The Soviet Legacy: Conceptualizing Continuity and Change in Societies”
Presenter: Dr. Alexander (Alex) Agadjanian - “ Book Discussion: The Inevitability of Federalism: Understanding Government in the United States”
Presenter: Dr. Brian A. Ellison - “Arakelots Monastery and Settlement — Behind the Scenes”
Presenter: Dr. Jasmine Dum-Tragut - “Face-Shaping Power of the Postfeminist Gaze, or Digital Rhetorical Lateral Surveillance in Armenia”
Presenter: Dr. Elitza Kotzeva - “Culture and Culture Maintenance: The Welsh Immigrant Community in Osage County, Kansas, USA, 1870–1920”
Presenter: Dr. Robert Llewellyn Tyler - “Knocking Up at Night: An Armenian Religious Rite of Church Calling and Its Social Dimensions in Late Ottoman Van”
Presenter: Dr. Tigran Matosyan - “Post-January 20, Which Security Architecture for Europe and Its Neighbors?”
Presenter: Dr. Cengiz Aktar - “Friend, Comrade: The Indexical Transition in Post-Soviet Armenian Education”
Presenter: Dr. Lilit Ghazaryan
As Professor Astourian emphasized during the concluding event of the Series: “Our goal is to create an academic environment where scholars can discuss their work and benefit from the feedback they receive to refine it and thus improve its publication prospects in a significant journal, as well as to socialize younger scholars in the appropriate way of discussing interpretations, including those one disagrees with. In a nutshell, TDS’s goal is to create an academic community. In this regard, I would be remiss if I did not mention Dr. Naira Sahakyan’s role in the organization of TDS, which she has assumed with utmost dedication and enthusiasm.”
Reflecting on the diversity of the sessions, Dr. Sahakyan noted: “Each event attracted a distinct audience, reflecting the diverse interests and expertise within the CHSS faculty. This inclusive nature of the Series facilitated interdisciplinary collaboration and enriched the academic discourse at AUA.”
The TDS organizers extend their sincere gratitude to all the presenters who generously shared their ongoing research and insights. Their openness to feedback and dialogue contributed significantly to the intellectual energy and collegial atmosphere of the Series. The organizers also thank the participants — faculty, students, and public guests — whose presence and engagement brought depth and vibrancy to each discussion.
TDS remains committed to fostering a thriving academic community by supporting faculty development and encouraging scholarly collaboration. Details about the Fall 2025 Series will be shared in due course.
Founded in 1991, the American University of Armenia (AUA) is a private, independent university located in Yerevan, Armenia, affiliated with the University of California, and accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission in the United States. AUA provides local and international students with Western-style education through top-quality undergraduate and graduate degree and certificate programs, promotes research and innovation, encourages civic engagement and community service, and fosters democratic values.
