Joseph Tertzakian-Harris is a recipient of summer travel awards from both the Armenian Studies Program (ASP) and the Institute of Slavic, East European, and Eurasian Studies (ISEEES). We interviewed him to talk about himself, his experience this past summer in Armenia, and his involvement with the UC Berkeley Armenian Studies Program.
Joseph, a third-year student at UC Berkeley, describes himself as an “Armenian from Canada” who has long held a fascination with Armenian Studies, especially in regard to Ancient Anatolian History. Having family who had attended the University, and being drawn by the ASP's presence on campus, Joseph knew Berkeley would be a great fit for pursuing his interests.
Joseph is majoring in Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures with a focus on antiquity, as well as Greek and Latin. He also studies Armenian on campus, hoping eventually to “combine the two interests and study the landscape of ancient Armenia, which [he] finds to be understudied.”
“I’ve taken the Armenian Language courses with Prof. Douzjian, which have helped me gain a level of proficiency that helped me work in an Armenian-only environment over the summer.”
Since his arrival, Joseph has been deeply involved in the Armenian Studies Program on campus. From taking Dr. Douzjian’s Language classes, to being a research assistant and doing interviews in Western Armenian in Julianne Kapner’s Armenian Language in the Bay Area project. Additionally, he is the Vice-President of Berkeley’s chapter of the Hidden Roads Initiative (HRI) and a member of Zartonk, the student-run Traditional Armenian Dance Club.
“I’m an Armenian and I’ve wanted to go there [to Armenia] most of my life,” says Joseph. He explained that political developments in the region made his trip feel particularly urgent this summer. Additionally, he hoped that this trip would not only improve his Armenian but also allow him to gain experience and grow his network within the field of Ancient Armenian Studies.
With these sentiments, Joseph applied for the Armenian Assembly of America’s student internship program. After being selected, he explained how he was “excited but nervous,” considering his lack of practical experience with Eastern Armenian.
Joseph’s internship ran from June to August. His primary responsibilities included giving tours in English and French at the History Museum of Armenia, located in Yerevan’s Republic Square.
Although he enjoyed explaining the different artifacts on display or giving talks about Armenian History to tourists, it was the museum’s exhibit in collaboration with the Louvre in Paris that particularly impressed him. His fluency in French allowed him to serve as an interpreter for the French and Armenian teams, facilitating their joint efforts. Ultimately, the Franco-Armenian project resulted in the publication of a book titled “Sacred Dialogues,” to which Joseph contributed as a translator and proofreader.
In addition to his formal position at the museum, Joseph explained how on weekends, the Assembly would take him and other interns to different historical sites across the country. Among them, the Ethchmiadzin Cathedral, the Tatev Monastery, and the Carahunge Archeological site were Joseph’s favorites. He also had the opportunity to sit in on certain government sessions and meet various parliamentarians, including the High Commissioner of Diaspora Affairs of Armenia, Zareh Sinanyan.
“My experience at the museum not only taught me more about Armenian antiquity, but reaffirmed I’m on the right path career-wise,” Joseph said. He explained how he plans to pursue philology with a focus on Anatolian languages and Armenian, including the decipherment of Urartian and Hurrian inscriptions.
Overall, he said, using Armenian professionally and conversationally daily strengthened his commitment to preserving Western Armenian.
“There are Cuneiform stelae across Yerevan that would put me in a magical place,” Joseph recalls. He also appreciated access to the Matenadaran archives, manuscripts, and statues of figures such as Khorenatsi and Mashtots. “It was impressionable, as I aspire to make an impact like they did,” he says.
He also enjoyed the simple moments, especially the food: “I loved getting Shawarma at Pitstop in Yerevan. It was also nice speaking Western Armenian there with the workers,” as many restaurant workers are Armenians from Lebanon or Syria.
As for any advice for students who may want to travel to Armenia, Joseph strongly urged students to learn Armenian beforehand. “It makes a huge difference to communicate with locals and connect with the country. I’m grateful to ASP for giving me that foundation.”
He also boldly encouraged interested students to research different internships or summer programs online. “Don’t be afraid to cold-email organizations or ask around in your local community!”
He credits the support of ISEEES and the ASP for making these opportunities possible, remaining deeply grateful for their role in guiding and sustaining his academic journey.