About us

Hye Sharzhoom is a supplement of The Collegian and the newspaper of the Fresno State Armenian Students Organization and the Armenian Studies Program and is funded by the Associated Students. Articles may be reprinted provided Hye Sharzhoom is acknowledged. Hye Sharzhoom welcomes prose, poetry, articles and other material from its student readers.

For further information concerning the newspaper or the Armenian Studies Program:

Armenian Studies Program
5245 N. Backer Ave. PB4
Fresno, CA 93740-8001
Telephone (559) 278-2669

Hye Sharzhoom

Ambassador Kristina Kvien Visits Fresno State

By Natalie Agazarian, Editor

Dec 12, 2024

Barlow Der Mugrdechian

Seated, left to right: Dr. Scott Moore, Dr. David Zakarian, Ambassador Kristina Kvien, Harutyun Amirkhanyan. Standing, left to right: Dr. Hagop Ohanessian, Careen Derkalousdian, Natalie Agazarian, Ani Sargsyan, Mary Khalatyan, and Eddie West.

On Wednesday, November 20, the Armenian Studies Program hosted the United States Ambassador to Armenia, Kristina Kvien, on campus, to discuss U.S.-Armenian relations.

The event was attended by the Armenian Studies Program faculty, including Prof. Barlow Der Mugrdechian, Dr. David Zakarian, and Dr. Hagop Ohanessian. Special guests included Fresno State Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, Dr. Xuanning Fu; Dean of the Division of Continuing and Global Education, Dr. Scott Moore; and Assistant Vice-President for International Af-fairs, Eddie West. Executive officers of the Armenian Studies Organization, including President Harutyun Amirkhanyan and Vice-President Careen Derkalousdian, and Hye Sharzhoom staff also joined the gathering.

Ambassador Kvien shared insights into her political career, highlighting her interest in the former Soviet Union. While she had not previously traveled to Armenia before her appointment in December of 2022, her familiarity with its Soviet-era history fueled her enthusiasm to begin her service in Armenia – a role that she continues to find rewarding.

Kvien addressed questions regarding Armenia’s ongoing relations with Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Russia, providing an objective analysis on the United States’ military, social, and ideological involvement in the region.

The Armenian Studies Program, its students, and Fresno State faculty were honored to host Ambassador Kvien and greatly appreciated her valuable insights.