A gala banquet was held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on Sunday, September 29, 2019, celebrating the 15th anniversary of the USC Institute of Armenian Studies. The Diocesan Primate His Eminence Archbishop Hovnan Derderian was in attendance. The gala was hosted by the Institute’s Leadership Council to celebrate 15 years of championing education, innovation, and thoughtful change.

A special tribute was paid to the late Dr. Mihran Agbabian and John Berberian. Remarks were made by Gala Banquet committee co-chairs Diane Cabraloff and Lori Muncherian. The gala program also included recognition of endowment families, remarks by the Institute’s Leadership Council Chair Charles Ghailian, the Institute’s Director Salpi Ghazarian, and the Dean of the College of Letters, Arts, and Sciences Amber Miller, recognition of the Turpanjian Educational Foundation and of various foundation sponsors.

Established in 2005, the USC Institute of Armenian Studies supports multidisciplinary scholarship to re-define, explore and study the complex issues that make up the contemporary Armenian experience – from post-Genocide to the developing Republic of Armenia to the evolving Diaspora. The Institute encourages research, publications and public service, and promotes links among the global academic and Armenian communities.