Installation of endowed chair at USC Dornsife expands focus of Armenian studies
“What better place could there be for a chair in contemporary Armenian studies than USC?” remarked Hrag Papazian during his installation as the Turpanjian Early Career Chair in Contemporary Armenian Studies at the USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Science. Papazian’s appointment in March marked a critical moment in Armenian studies at USC, placing contemporary issues affecting Armenians, such as identity, culture, politics and global migration, at the center of research and teaching.
Papazian’s research explores the breadth of the Armenian diaspora and reflects on the nuanced ways Armenians adapt to and shape their communities. As a scholar who focuses on migration and transnationalism, he hopes to expand Armenian studies beyond preserving and sharing history, which he says has long defined the field. He instead aims to bring much-needed attention to the contemporary experiences of Armenians, a dimension that has been less explored compared to the field’s emphasis on preserving and sharing history, particularly the Armenian Genocide.
“The past is a bottomless resource, yet we are also a living people, not just surviving our past but actively living and shaping the present,” Papazian explained. “From Armenia to the numerous diasporic communities across the world, contemporary Armenian experiences, politics, society and culture invite study.”
Gerald Turpanjian’s commitment to USC and Armenian scholarship endures
The installation of the Turpanjian Early Career Chair also served as a tribute to the late Gerald “Jerry” Turpanjian ’87, whose visionary philanthropy made the establishment of the chair — and many other initiatives — possible. Members of Turpanjian’s family attended the ceremony, including his wife, Patricia Turpanjian, and their children Lori Muncherian, Gary Turpanjian, Deanna Nazarian and Paul Turpanjian.
A child of Armenian Genocide survivors, Turpanjian’s decades-long involvement with USC began during his time as an undergraduate studying international relations. Over the ensuing years, he consistently supported the growth and reach of the USC Dornsife Institute of Armenian Studies, and his enduring commitment has helped shape USC’s role as a leader in the field.
“His philosophy as an Armenian philanthropist was singular,” said institute Director Shushan Karapetian. “Mr. T, as we knew him, clearly saw the enduring benefits of investing in educational institutions that shape the minds and hearts of the leaders of tomorrow.”
Turpanjian’s legacy as a philanthropist and his deep connection to USC were key to the creation of the Early Career Chair in Contemporary Armenian Studies as well as the Turpanjian Chair in Civil Society and Social Change, held by Manuel Pastor, Distinguished Professor of Sociology and American Studies and Ethnicity at USC Dornsife.
In addition to creating a position for a junior scholar whose work centers the contemporary Armenian experience, the Early Career Chair deepened the integration of Armenian studies research and scholarship at USC.
“His exemplary legacy as an educational philanthropist was known to me even before I joined USC,” said Papazian. “Though I never had the privilege of meeting him, I am honored to hold the chair that bears his name and will strive to uphold his legacy through my work.”
Positioning USC as a global leader in Armenian studies
“Legacy is, in fact, what endowed chairs are all about,” said USC Dornsife Interim Dean Moh El-Naggar at the ceremony. “While an endowed chair is one of the academy’s highest individual honors, it also ensures that outstanding scholarship is supported for generations to come.”
The Turpanjian Early Career Chair deepens USC Dornsife’s ties to L.A.’s Armenian community and enables scholars like Papazian to explore, teach and publish groundbreaking work while fostering a new generation of Armenian studies scholars, extending Turpanjian’s legacy far beyond the University Park Campus.
In El-Naggar’s words: “The studies may be Armenian, but the lessons are global.”