The University of Michigan’s Armenian Studies Program hosted a conference titled, “Generations and Legacies: Louise Manoogian Simone’s Vision for Armenian Studies,” on September 13-14.
The conference honored the indispensable support that the late Mrs. Simone and her family have given to the field of Armenian Studies. With the creation of a chair in Modern Armenian History at the University of Michigan by Alex Manoogian, the Armenian Studies Program at Michigan became a leader in the field for four decades. Following the death of her father, Louise Manoogian Simone and her brother Richard continued to support the dynamic work of Armenian Studies at the University of Michigan.
Current program director Melanie Tanielian was joined by all four of the previous directors to reflect on the legacy of Mrs. Simone, who passed away earlier this year. They noted her work as the first woman on the Diocesan Council of the Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church of America, and her support of the St. Nersess Armenian Seminary.
The conference showcased the most up-to-date research in Armenian Studies and the lasting impact of Mrs. Simone’s support. Current Armenian Studies students described their projects, while graduates of the program and holders of the Manoogian Post-Doctoral Fellowship in Armenian Studies presented their research.
The director of the Eastern Diocese’s Krikor and Clara Zohrab Information Center, Dr. Christopher Sheklian, a former Manoogian Post-Doctoral Fellow, spoke during a panel titled “Introducing the Concept of Materiality to Armenian Studies.” Dr. Sheklian presented his paper, “‘A Single Nature of Two’: Armenian Christology and the Materiality of the Sign,” in which he deployed the unique theology of the Armenian Church to make arguments about social science methods and philosophical debates.
“I was thrilled to represent the Diocese in celebrating the legacy of Louise Manoogian Simone,” said Dr. Sheklian, calling her “a major supporter of the Armenian Studies Program at Michigan, and of the Eastern Diocese.”