Word of the Year
Last December, we started a tradition with a group of friends of selecting a word that would define the upcoming year. I chose bold, imagining how it would influence my personal and professional domains. It’s a revealing exercise to reflect now on the Institute’s activities through that lens. How were we bold this past year?
Our biggest aim was to strategically combat the marginalization of Armenian voices and experiences. Every project, program, and event the Institute offered this year ensured that the Armenian story was made visible and relevant. In particular, our Artsakh Uprooted: Aftermaths of Displacement symposium centered the experiences of the Armenians of Artsakh while contributing to broader discourse on human rights, dispossession, and preservation of cultural heritage. By bringing the people of Artsakh—alongside world-renowned scholars, artists, and changemakers—to one of the biggest stages in California, the Institute created a unique platform to amplify voices that are otherwise sidelined in international discourse.
This theme also informed USC’s first-ever Armenian History Month, where the Institute, along with the Armenian Student Association, not only celebrated the rich history and cultural heritage of the global Armenian people, but highlighted the major local Armenian contributions to USC, Los Angeles, and our beloved state of California.
Our programming challenged traditional narratives, offering audiences fresh, unexpected lenses to understand the Armenian world. Whether it was giving platforms to new voices, introducing interdisciplinary approaches, or creating unprecedented immersive experiences, our goal remained constant—enrich global discourse through the Armenian experience.
Just this year, we hosted and co-sponsored more than 30 events, lectures, and conferences, attracting thousands of attendees. By creating a welcoming and stimulating environment where Armenian voices could be heard with clarity, power, and purpose, we impacted our local and global community in ways that will resonate for years to come.
Our Armenian Studies classes continued to attract a diverse body of students across USC, growing in both scope and influence. This year, two dozen new students joined our courses, further solidifying our role in shaping the next generation of scholars and leaders.
Our research initiatives garnered significant attention, with team members Dr. Lilit Keshisyan and Gegham Mughnetsyan contributing chapters to the highly regarded The Armenian Diaspora and Stateless Power: Collective Identity in the Transnational 20th Century, while my essay on diasporic resistance was published in the Brown Journal of World Affairs.
We expanded our podcast production and social media presence with a dedicated team developing dynamic content that has reached audiences far beyond USC’s geographic and demographic boundaries. Our Instagram reach nearly doubled while Language Therapy with Dr. K gained more than 7,000 new listeners from every corner of the globe.
Our work with students was a cornerstone of the year, as we collaborated with USC’s ASA on multiple initiatives, mentored students, and served on numerous dissertation committees. We also awarded $20,000 in scholarships and grants to deserving undergraduate and graduate students, empowering them to pursue their research interests and creative projects.
Finally, the Institute’s contributions to research and scholarship were formally recognized by LA City Council President Emeritus Paul Krekorian, who highlighted our work during a special session celebrating Armenian American Heritage Month. The Council’s acknowledgment of our “invaluable research exploring social, cultural, and political challenges” underscored the Institute’s growing visibility in the halls of governance.
Reflecting on this bold and transformative year, I also want to recognize my talented team who made it all happen, and the community of supporters and partners without whom none of this would be possible.
As we enter the holiday season, I am pondering my word for 2025. What do you think the Institute’s next word of the year should be?
Sincerely,
Dr. Shushan Karapetian
Director