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USC Institute of Armenian Studies

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USC Institute of Armenian Studies

A hub of research and learning at USC that studies the contemporary Armenian diaspora and Republic of Armenia.

06/05/2026

📢New Language Therapy episode out now!

Did the invention of the alphabet mark the beginning of Armenian? Was there writing in Armenia before Mashtots? And what can the Armenian alphabet reveal about the deeper history of the Armenian language?

In this episode, Dr. K continues her conversation with historical and comparative linguist Dr. Hrach Martirosyan, one of the world’s leading specialists on the history of Armenian, to explore the origins and development of the Armenian alphabet. Drawing on linguistics, manuscript traditions, and the comparative study of writing systems, they examine the relationship between language and script, discuss the evidence for and against pre-Mashtotsian writing, and situate the Armenian alphabet within the broader context of early Christian literary cultures. The conversation also explores the origins of letter names, the principles behind the ordering of the alphabet, the later addition of letters such as Օ and Ֆ, and the use of Armenian letters as numerals.

🎧 Stream the episode on all platforms
🎥 Full video episode available on YouTube
🔗 Link in bio

This episode is part of a limited series filmed in Armenian with exclusive guest Dr. Hrach Martirosyan. Watch the two previous episodes on our YouTube channel or stream on your favorite podcast platform.

05/13/2026

POV: you find a community that shapes your future. ❤️🇦🇲

USC students share how the Institute of Armenian Studies has impacted their lives, strengthened their connection to Armenian identity, and influenced their academic and career journeys. From meaningful conversations to lifelong opportunities, the impact goes far beyond the classroom. ✨

05/12/2026

Recently, Institute team members, Dr. Shushan Karapetian, Dr. Lilit Keshishyan, and Gegham Mughnetsyan participated in the conference “New Diasporas for an Old Diaspora: Armenian Hybrid Communities in the 21st Century,” organized by the UCI Center for Armenian Studies.

Dr. Keshishyan and Mr. Mughnetsyan presented their research on the California History through Armenian Experiences Project, while Dr. Karapetian took part in the concluding discussion, reflecting on the evolving and layered formations of Armenian diaspora life that have emerged over recent decades. Our colleague Dr. Hrag Papazian, the Turpanjian Early Career Chair in Armenian Studies also participated in the discussion.

05/08/2026

On April 30, the Institute debuted The Ones Who Stayed, a photography exhibition about the Armenian community of Istanbul.

The product of a collaboration between Institute Managing Director Maral Tavitian and photographer Alexis Pazoumian, the exhibition featured interviews with a diverse group of Istanbul Armenians and images documenting their complex and vibrant reality.

The project was supported by the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation’s “արդ եւս / in view” Western Armenian Culture Grant Program, and the exhibition was produced with fiscal sponsorship from Los Angeles City Council District 13.

05/05/2026

Can a language carry the memory of thousands of years? What does it actually mean to ask how old a language is?

In this episode of Language Therapy with Dr.K, Dr. K continues her conversation with historical-comparative linguist Dr. Hrach Martirosyan, exploring one of the most frequently asked—and frequently misunderstood—questions about Armenian: how old it truly is. From Pre-Armenian to Proto-Armenian, they unpack how languages evolve, diverge, and carry history within everyday speech.

🎧 Stream the episode on all platforms
🎥 Full video episode available on YouTube
🔗 Links in comment section

This episode is part of a limited series filmed in Armenian with exclusive guest Dr. Hrach Martirosyan. Watch the two previous episodes on our YouTube channel or stream on your favorite podcast platform.

04/30/2026

✈️ Tufenkian Travel Scholarship – Applications Open!

Are you a USC undergraduate interested in exploring Armenia or engaging with Armenian communities around the world? The USC Dornsife Institute of Armenian Studies invites you to apply for the Tufenkian Travel Scholarship!
💡 What’s offered? Receive up to $5,000 to support travel, accommodations, meals, and more.

🌍 What can you do? ✔️ Conduct research in Armenian Studies (culture, history, politics, arts, and beyond) ✔️ Participate in programs like conferences, courses, internships, or workshops ✔️ Deepen your understanding of Armenia and the Armenian experience

📝 How to apply: Submit a 300–500 word statement of interest, budget, CV/resume, course summary, and one faculty recommendation letter.

🎓 Eligibility: Open to full-time USC undergraduates in good academic standing.

📅 Deadline: May 16, 2026 at 11:59 PM
🔗 Link in bio

Don’t miss this opportunity to turn your academic interests into real-world experience—apply now and take your learning beyond the classroom!

04/28/2026

What does it mean to live—and create—across languages? In this special live episode of Language Therapy with Dr. K, Dr. K sits down with Vahé Berberian—writer, artist, playwright, and stand-up comedian—to explore the role of language in shaping identity and artistic expression.

The conversation unfolds primarily in Armenian, with English woven in throughout.

🎧Now streaming on all platforms. Listen now.

04/28/2026

The USC Dornsife Institute of Armenian Studies presents 𝒯𝒽𝑒 𝒪𝓃𝑒𝓈 𝒲𝒽𝑜 𝒮𝓉𝒶𝓎𝑒𝒹, a photography exhibition about the Armenian community of Istanbul, debuting on Thursday, April 30 at 7:00 PM in Los Angeles.

Many in the Armenian diaspora regard present-day Turkey as a lost homeland—its Armenian towns and villages existing only in collective memory after generations of displacement. 𝒯𝒽𝑒 𝒪𝓃𝑒𝓈 𝒲𝒽𝑜 𝒮𝓉𝒶𝓎𝑒𝒹 turns its lens on the Armenians who continue to live, work, and sustain their culture in Istanbul today.

Through photographs and personal interviews, the exhibition reveals the nuanced realities of Istanbul Armenians, who navigate complex questions of identity, visibility, and belonging.

The event will include a Q&A with project founder Maral Tavitian and photographer Alexis Pazoumian, moderated by Manuk Avedikyan.

✨The Ones Who Stayed: An Exhibition on Contemporary Armenian Life in Istanbul
🗓 Thursday, April 30 | 7:00 PM
📍 3191 Casitas Avenue, No. 162, Los Angeles, CA 90039
🔗 RSVP link in bio

This project is supported by the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation’s արդ եւս / in view Western Armenian Culture Grant Program. The exhibition is presented by the USC Dornsife Institute of Armenian Studies, with additional fiscal sponsorship by Los Angeles City Council District 13. The event is co-sponsored by the Organization of Istanbul Armenians in Los Angeles.

04/17/2026

The Institute was at full capacity for Dr. Hrag Papazian’s first public lecture as Turpanjian Early Career Chair in Contemporary Armenian Studies.

In an engaging and compelling presentation, Dr. Papazian examined the histories and lived realities of descendants of Armenians who were forced to convert to Islam, critically addressing the politics of naming and the limitations of commonly used terms such as “Islamized” and “hidden/crypto-Armenians.”

The lecture prompted a thoughtful and substantive discussion, reflecting the depth and significance of this important topic.

Address

3518 Trousdale PKWY DMC 351
Los Angeles, CA
90089

Opening Hours

Monday	9am - 5pm
Tuesday	9am - 5pm
Wednesday	9am - 5pm
Thursday	9am - 5pm
Friday	9am - 5pm

Website

http://armenian.usc.edu/

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