The
The Armenian Society of Fellows
The International Network of Scholars & Experts for Armenia
The Armenian Society of Fellows (ASOF) is an international network of many of the most accomplished scholars and experts, from Nobel Laureates to younger scholars in centers of excellence around the world, covering 298 specializations in the Sciences, Engineering, Social Sciences, and the Humanities.
ASOF was established in 2022 and is registered in the United States, France, and Armenia. The organization is governed by a 15-member Executive Board of scholars; the 349 members of the Society replace three Board members every year through voting during an annual conference.
Mission
❖ To help raise Armenia’s educational and research institutions to world-class levels, and to network them globally
❖ To contribute to the development of a modern, sophisticated, and internationally networked civil society in Armenia
Vision
❖ To help the Armenian Nation achieve its full potential as a key contributor to world culture and to the world’s collective effort to deal with the significant social challenges it faces
❖ To help safeguard Armenian culture in Armenia and abroad, and to expand its visibility and contributions
Strategy
❖ The creation of specific circumstances that encourage local scholars and specialists, together with the Armenian Diaspora experts, to collaborate and to share all or part of their work in Armenia
❖ Connecting individuals and institutions in Armenia with centers of research and education of high standing around the world
❖ Coordinating existing and new projects to multiply their impact; employing an approach that moves away from project ownership and instead focuses on building partnership and on institutionalizing transformative ideas
❖ Focusing on achieving excellence in education, engineering, the humanities, the natural and physical sciences, and the social sciences in Armenia
❖ Offering a platform for gatherings of academics and specialists from around the world interested in the advancement of Armenia in education, engineering, the humanities, the natural
Inaugural ASOF conference at San Lazzaro, Venice, June 2022
The Armenian Society of Fellows
Statistics & Key Achievements to Date
❖ Launching in 2025 the first research center, the Center for Intelligent Computing (CIC), funded by the Armenian government at $8.5 million, for the development of Artificial Intelligence in Armenia — the largest AI computer in the region
❖ Established the ETICA Center at AUA (Center for Ethics in Public Affairs, a Horizon Europe Widening Area project) with a grant of 2.5 million euros from the European Union
❖ Spun off of a new organization, the Armenian Legal Front, a network of international law experts and attorneys, to monitor threats to Armenians and Armenian Cultural Heritage internationally through levers of international law
295 of 349 ASOF members are faculty or researchers in universities and laboratories around the world
55 are professors in the top 100 universities worldwide
Governance Model & Operations
ArCH Council
❖ Assessment of needs
❖ Networking
❖ Program management
❖ Project quality control and assessment
❖ Project management for its own projects
❖ Grant preparation and submissions
❖ Training and education activities
❖ Legislative lobbying
❖ Coordination — with scientific task forces, projects, and fundraisers
❖ Promotion & public outreach Board and Director
Partners and Patrons Advisory Group
The ArCH Council, 2024-25
Appointed by the ASOF Executive Board Ar CH
Levon Abrahamian
Head of the Department of Contemporary Anthropological Studies, Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography, National Academy of Sciences of Armenia
Armenia
Eva Aroutunian
Head of the Geneva Music Conservatory, President of Association
Ensemble Paul Klee (Bern), Vice-president of Foundation SIGG (Geneva), Board Member of Geneva Music High School, Board Member of FODAC Foundation (Geneva)
Switzerland
Antonia Arslan
Writer Italy
Peter Balakian
Pulitzer prize winning poet
USA
Gaianè Casnati
Europa Nostra Council member, Centro Studi e Documentazione della Cultura Armena Board member, member of ICOMOS Armenia, Toramanyan gold medal recipient and Europa Nostra award winner
Italy
Levon Chookaszian
Director of the Chair of Art History and Theory at Yerevan State University
Armenia
Marina Djabbarzade
Heritage Management Consultant
USA
Jasmine Dum-Tragut
University of Salzburg, Armenian Studies Division (head); Center for the Study of the Christian East (director); Senior scientist in Biblical Studies and Church History; Docent in General and Applied Linguistics; Blue Shield Armenia & Austria; Adjunct Professor in Interdisciplinary Armenian Cultural Heritage Studies, Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography
Austria
Atom Egoyan
Oscar-nominated writer and director (Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences)
Canada
Talinn Grigor
Professor of Art History, University of California, Davis
USA
Nina Hovnanian (chair)
Hovnanian International, CEO Vahakni Residence; Founding Board Member, Yerevan Biennial Arts Foundation; A1 Gallery Board Member; Orran Children’s Center Board Member; Treasures of Armenia / Nina Hovnanian Couture: Founder/owner
Armenia
Christina Maranci
Mashtots Professor of Armenian Studies, Department of Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations, Harvard University
USA
The ArCH Council, 2024-25 (continued)
Appointed by the ASOF Executive Board
Charles Personnaz Representatives from the Armenian Government
Center for the Study, Preservation and Enhancement of the Armenian Heritage
Governance
Board of Directors
Peter Balakian
Pulitzer prize winning poet
Emma Harutyunyan
Professor, NUACA; Chair of Theory and History of Architecture and Heritage
Lucineh Kassarjian
ASOF Armenia Executive Director
Haroutioun Khatchadourian
IT and Project Management expert; independent researcher and expert on khachkars
Anna Sirinian
Professor, Università di Bologna, Department of History and Cultures; Director of First Cycle Degree in Anthropology, Religions, Oriental Civilizations
Main tasks for 2024-2025
Executive Director
Gaianè Casnati
Europa Nostra Council member, Centro Studi e Documentazione della Cultura Armena board member, 30 + years of experience in promoting the safeguard of Armenian and European monuments
❖ Supporting the implementation of ArCH projects
❖ Promoting education and training initiatives
❖ Grant writing and networking with international institutions and foundations, supporting the involvement of Armenian experts in international projects
❖ Advocating for legislation that aligns local cultural heritage practices with international norms
❖ Promoting Armenian Cultural Heritage at international events, meetings and conferences
❖ Creating the framework for future communication and public outreach activities
A Hub for Armenia
ArCH was recently invited to become the Armenian Heritage Hub in the context of the European Heritage Hub project lead by Europa Nostra. Europa Nostra is an umbrella association that puts together 250 heritage associations and foundations from all over Europe, with a combined membership of more than 5 million people. Covering over 40 countries, Europa Nostra is recognized as the largest and the most representative heritage network in Europe. It maintains close relations with the European Union, the Council of Europe, UNESCO and other international bodies.
The Centro Studi e Documentazione della Cultura Armena
Center for Study and Documentation of Armenian Culture
SIREH is a continuation of the 50 year old legacy of the Centro Studi e Documentazione della Cultura Armena (CSDCA), building on a tradition of excellence in the promotion and protection of Armenian cultural heritage.
A Historical Context
The CSDCA was established in the late 1960s by Adriano Alpago Novello together with prominent Italian and Armenian scholars, with the support of the Armenian Diaspora, especially the family of Onnik Manoukian who had contributed to the restoration of Surp Hripsimé Church as early as 1965.
The CSDCA has played a pioneering role in the study, documentation, and conservation of Armenian heritage. From its inception, the CSDCA has fostered meaningful collaborations with prestigious academic institutions such as the Politecnico di Milano and Università Cattolica, and has worked closely with the Academy of Sciences of Armenia. This Italian-Armenian synergy laid the groundwork for landmark projects, including exhibitions on Armenian architecture, the translation of seminal works like Toramanian's "Elements of Armenian Architecture", the publication of a series of richly illustrated monographs, Documenti di Architettura Armena, and the organization of international Symposia on
Armenian art that had a crucial role in presenting Armenia to Europe and vice versa.
Over the decades, the CSDCA has expanded its efforts to the restoration of significant Armenian monuments, such as the cathedral of Marmashen and Ererouyk Basilica. Its dedication to academic research, capacity building, and public awareness has connected experts from Italy, Armenia, France, and beyond, and earned recognition from institutions like Europa Nostra and the Armenian Ministry of Culture. Through training programs, like those at the National University of Architecture and Construction of Armenia (NUACA), the CSDCA has also been instrumental in fostering new generations of heritage professionals.
A Europa Nostra member since 2015, the CSDCA promoted the participation of Armenian experts in the Europa Nostra programs and initiatives.
To further improve the dialogue and collaboration with Armenian institutions and civil society, and to make its role more effective in promoting international cooperation in the preservation of Armenian cultural heritage, the CSDCA joined the ArCH initiative and cofounded with ASOF SIREH, Center for the Study, Preservation and Enhancement of Armenian Cultural Heritage to convey its expertise to ArCH.
Project details, including science content and detailed plans/budget, will be provided upon request
The Armenian Society of Fellows P. O. Box 60923, Pasadena, CA 91116
Société Savante Arménienne
Bibliothèque Nubar, 11 Sq. Alboni, 75016 Paris, France