Rita Vorperian
Ռիթա Որբերեան
Born
Aleppo, Syria
CitizenshipAmerican
Alma materKaren Yeppe Armenian High School
UCLA
Occupation(s)Journalist, Writer, Translator, and Researcher
TitleExecutive Director of the Armenian Relief Society
Term1998 to 2005
AwardsMesrob Mashtots Medal (2011)
Woman of the Year award of the 27th Congressional district (2002)

Rita Vorperian (Armenian: Ռիթա Որբերեան) is a journalist, writer, translator, and researcher. She has served as teaching fellow and lecturer in Western Armenian at UCLA. She was the former executive director of the Armenian Relief Society in the Western United States from 1998 to 2005 and is currently the senior administrator.[1][2]

Life and works

Of Armenian descent, Rita Vorperian was born in Aleppo, Syria and graduated from the local Karen Yeppe Armenian High School.[3] She continued her studies at the St. Joseph University in Beirut where she studied Armenology.[3] After moving to the United States, Vorperian enrolled and graduated UCLA, where she received Bachelor of Arts degree in Near Eastern Studies, Master's degree in Near Eastern Languages and Cultures, and a Doctoral Degree in the field of Armenian literature and literary criticism.[3] Her dissertation is titled A Feminist Reading of Krikor Zohrab.[1] She has a strong interest in feminist topics, about which she made many presentations and contributed articles in Armenian publications in the United States and abroad.[1] She has been a senior lecturer in University of California, Los Angeles for seventeen years from 1983 to 2000.[4]

She has been an active journalist and has submitted to many Armenian newspapers such as Aztag (daily) in Beirut, Azat Or in Greece, Asbarez in Los Angeles, Artsakank in Cyprus, and Hairenik in Watertown, Massachusetts.[3][5][6] She has also contributed to Pakine in Beirut with literary works.

She was one of the moderators for the University of California, Los Angeles World Conference in Contemporary Armenian Literature on April 7–8, 2011.[7]

She speaks seven languages including Armenian, French, Arabic, Turkish, English, Spanish and Russian.[3] She is a translator of numerous Armenian books such as Javakhk: A World That Cares by Jennifer Salmassian.[8]

She is also one of the founding members of the Western United States branch of the Armenian Hamazkayin Cultural Organization.[4][9]

Recognition

On March 25, 2011, she was awarded the prestigious Mesrob Mashtots Medal, the highest award for culture in Armenia,[10] from the Archbishop of the Western Prelate of the Armenian church on behalf of Aram I, Catholicos of the Holy See of Cilicia for her literary accomplishments and dedication to the Armenian community.[11]

On March 20, 2002 during the second session of the 107th Congress of the House of Representatives, Representative Adam Schiff awarded Rita Vorperian with the Woman of the Year award of the 27th Congressional district for her accomplishments as a humanitarian and advocate for women's rights.[3][12][13]

Business Life magazine has recognized and honored her as a "Woman of Achievement".[4]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Hovannisian, Richard G., ed. (2004). Armenian Sebastia/Sivas and Lesser Armenia. Costa Mesa, Calif.: Mazda Publ. ISBN 1568591527.
  2. ↑ "ARS New Building's Donors Wall Unveiled". Asbarez. June 29, 2000. Retrieved 11 March 2013. Rita Vorperian–of the ARS Executive Director
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Schiff Names Dr. Rita Vorperian Glendale Woman of The Year". Asbarez. Retrieved 20 February 2013.
  4. 1 2 3 "Ասպարէզ" Կը Պատուէ. Asbarez (in Armenian). October 1, 2010. Retrieved 11 March 2013. Title translated from Armenian: Asbarez honors
  5. ↑ "ՀԱՄԱՑԱՆՑԷՆ ԱՌԱՋ ԵՒ ՀԱՄԱՑԱՆՑԷՆ ԵՏՔՀԱՄԱՑԱՆՑԷՆ ԵՏՔ ...ԵՒ ՀԱՅԵՐԷՆ ԳԻՐՔԻ ՃԱԿԱՏԱԳԻՐԸ...ՃԱԿԱՏԱԳԻՐԸ" (PDF). Artsakank. Oct 2012. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-06-16. Retrieved 5 March 2013.
  6. ↑ "Փիսօն Եւ Ես". Azat Or. Archived from the original on 12 April 2013. Retrieved 11 March 2013.
  7. ↑ "World Conference in Contemporary Armenian Literature Held at UCLA". Asbarez. April 16, 2001. Retrieved 11 March 2013.
  8. ↑ "Javakhk: A World That Cares". Abril Books. Archived from the original on 7 April 2013. Retrieved 20 February 2013.
  9. ↑ "HAMAZKAYIN IN THE WESTERN USA". Hamazkayin. Archived from the original on 5 October 2011. Retrieved 20 February 2013.
  10. ↑ "Alla Pugacheva left Yerevan with the St. Mashtots on his chest". Yerevan Reporter. Archived from the original on 10 April 2013. Retrieved 11 March 2013. President Serzh Sargsyan awarded Alla Pugacheva at the country's highest award - the Order of St. Mashtots.
  11. ↑ "Four ARS Members Were Presented Mesrob Mashdots Medals". Asbarez. Glendale. April 1, 2011. Retrieved 11 March 2013.
  12. ↑ "148 Cong. Rec. E409 - A TRIBUTE TO DR. RITA VORPERIAN, 27TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT WOMAN OF THE YEAR" (PDF). U.S. Government. March 21, 2002. Retrieved 11 March 2013.
  13. ↑ Kim, Karen S. Kim (March 27, 2002). "Giving back to giving women". Glendale Newspress. Retrieved 11 March 2013.
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