Alice K. Norian Lecture Series

In 2004, Alice K. Norian, an important member of the Connecticut Armenian community bequeathed more than $500,000 to restart Armenian studies at the University of Connecticut. The bequest included funds to be dedicated to an annual lecture on Armenia, which would be open to the public as well as the University community. The Alice K. Norian Lecture Series was inaugurated in 2004 by Dr. Arman J. Kirakossian, the Ambassador of the Republic of Armenia to the United States.

Past Lectures & Exhibitions

September 15, 2022:
The Missing Pages: The Modern Life of a Medieval Manuscript, from Genocide to Justice
Book discussion with Heghnar Zeitlian Watenpaugh, Associate Professor, Art History, UC Davis

March 30, 2019:
Discovering Your Armenian Roots: How to Research Genealogy & Ancestry
Panel discussion with George Aghjayan, Director of the Armenian Historical Archives; Marc Mamigonian, Director of Academic Affairs, National Association for Armenian Studies and Research (NAASR); Armen T. Marsoobian, Ph.D., Professor and Chair of Philosophy, Southern Connecticut State University; Catherine Masud, Documentarian and Lecturer, Digital Media & Design, University of Connecticut; Tsoleen Sarian, Executive Director, Project SAVE Armenian Photograph Archives
Moderated by Kathryn Libal, Ph.D., Director of the Human Rights Institute and Associate Professor of Social Work and Human Rights, University of Connecticut

September 23, 2017:
Filmmaking in Armenia
Armenian Harvest Festival lecture by Mr. Arsen Bagdasaryan, Film Commissioner of the Republic of Armenia

April 12, 2017:
Hand-in-Hand: Preventative Dentistry & Public Health in Armenia
A Lecture by Dr. Berdj Kiladjian, Board of Director for Hand-in-Hand and principal of Longwood Dental Group

September 17, 2016:
Grape Cultivation & Wine Production in Armenia
Armenian Harvest Festival lecture by Dr. Nelli Hovhannisyan, Chair, Department of Ecology & Nature Protection and Director, Center of Excellence in Applied Biosciences, Yerevan State University

April 28-September 30, 2016:
They Shall Not Perish: The Story of Near East Relief Exhibit

April 28, 2016:
Genocide Recognition or Quest for Justice?
A Lecture by Harut Sassounian, Publisher & Editor of the California Courier.

March 12-May 15, 2015:
Community Exhibition

March 24, 2015:
Remembering Armenia: A Journey through Historical Fiction & Memoir
A conversation with Chris Bohjalian, author of the Sandcastle Girls, and Professor Armen T. Marsoobian, Professor and Chair of Philosophy at Southern Connecticut State University.

April 22, 2014:
“Armenians in Connecticut Oral History Project”
Panel discussion moderated by Dr. Bruce Stave, Emeritus Board of Trustees Distinguished Professor of History & Director, Oral History Office, University of Connecticut, and Dr. Sondra Astor Stave, Co-Director, The Stave Group: Oral History Consultants.

May 9, 2013:
“The First Twenty Years: Post-Soviet Armenian Social Work”
Lecture by Dr. Lyudmila Harutyunyan, Professor and Chair of Applied Sociology, Yerevan State University, Armenia, and Dr. Mira Antonyan, Assistant Professor and Chair of Social Work and Social Technologies, Yerevan State University, Armenia.

April 16, 2012:
Film Discussion: “Credo,” Based Upon the Remnants of the 1919 Classic Film “Ravished Armenia”
Lecture by Alina and Zareh Tjeknavorian, Filmmakers. Download the Program

April 21, 2011:
“Piecing together the Past: Toward an Interdisciplinary History of Armenia”
Lecture by Dr. Gregory Areshian, Assistant Director UCLA Cotsen Institute of Archaeology. Download the Program

March 24, 2009:
“Armenia and the Future of Transcaucasia”
Lecture by Professor Aram Symonian, Rector, Yerevan State University, Armenia.

November 7, 2008:
“Powerful Geometry: Armenian Architecutre of the Seventh Century”
Lecture by Dr. Christina Maranci, Arthur and Ara Oztemel Associate Professor of Armenian Art, Department of Art and Art History, Tufts University.

April 4, 2008:
“One Nation, One Country, One Culture?  A Cursory Glance at Some Aspects of Modern Armenian Identity”
Lecture by Dr. Kevork Bardakjian, Marie Manoogian Professor of Armenian Language and Literature, University of Michigan.

March 23, 2006: 
“Nagorno-Karabakh Republic as a Factor of Peace and Stability in the Region of South Caucasus”
Lecture by Hon. Masis Mayilian, Deputy Foreign Minister of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic.

September 23, 2004:
“Armenian – American Relations”
Lecture by Dr. Arman J. Kirakossian, Armenian Ambassador to the United States.