Introduced By: Senators Kelly Lenihan and Algiere
Date Introduced : May 21, 1997
Referred To: Senate Read and Passed
WHEREAS, Should anyone ever bring into doubt the validity of the American Dream, questioning whether it still exists, arguing that it has faded into the nation's past or that it only exists as an apocryphal part of our national folklore, he need only examine the remarkable life and accomplishments of Vartan Gregorian. The Iranian-born grandson of an innkeeper for camel caravans, Vartan Gregorian is an internationally respected author, scholar, university administrator and humanitarian, whose myriad achievements as the President of Brown University have earned him the unqualified admiration and respect of every member of this Senate; and
WHEREAS, Born in Tabriz, Iran, to Samuel B. and Shushanik G. (Mirzaian) Gregorian on April 8, 1934, Vartan Gregorian came to the United States in 1956. A 1955 graduate of Armenian College, he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1958, and his Ph.D in 1964, from Stanford University. His many outstanding achievements have led to Honorary degrees from: Boston University (1983); Brown University (1984); Johns Hopkins University (1987); New York University (1987); the University of Pennsylvania (1988); Dartmouth College (1989); CUNY (1990); and Tufts University (1994); and
WHEREAS, Vartan Gregorian's superb academic career carried him from Instructor to Assistant Professor to Associated Professor of History at San Francisco State College (1962-68). An Associated Professor at UCLA in 1968, he progressed from Associated Professor to Professor at the University of Texas (1968-72), where he was also the Director of Special Programs (1970-72); and
WHEREAS, the Tarzian Professor of Armenian and Caucasian History at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia (1972-80), Vartan Gregorian also served as the university's Dean of Faculty Arts and Sciences (1974-78) and as Provost (1978-80); and
WHEREAS, Vartan Gregorian was President of the New York Public Library (1981-88), while also serving as a professor at New York College's New School for Social Research (1984-89) and as Professor of History and Near Eastern Studies at New York University (1984-89). He became the President of Brown University later in 1989; and
WHEREAS, As the President of Rhode Island's Ivy League representative, Vartan Gregorian increased minority enrollment at Brown, raised the university's endowment, refurbished a number of its buildings and encouraged the hiring of a bright young faculty. Concerned that higher education should also mean enlightenment and a realization of one's social responsibilities, President Gregorian has always encouraged Brown students to strive toward developing greater empathy with society's struggling social and racial minorities; and
WHEREAS, The author of {ADD The Emergence of Modern Afghanistan, 1880-1946 ADD}, Vartan Gregorian's social consciousness has led him to serve on the Boards of Director of such important entities as: the Institute for Advanced Study at Boston University; the J. Paul Getty Trust; the Aaron Diamond Foundation; the Brookings Institutions; the Institute for International Education; and the International League of Human Rights; and
WHEREAS, A decorated Officier de l'Ordre des Arts et Lettres, Vartan Gregorian's distinguished career has also been recognized with the Danforth E.H. Harbison Teaching Award; the Cactus Teaching Award; Phi Lambda Theta and Phi Delta Kappa's Award of Distinction; the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs' Silver Cultural Medal; the Gold Medal of Honor of the City and Province of Vienna, Austria; the 1st Distinguished Humanist Award of the Pennsylvania Humanities Council; the Fellowship Committee of Philadelphia's National Fellowship Award; recognition by the John Simon Guggenheim Foundation, and too many additional honors to mention; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations hereby honors the long, celebrated and distinguished career of retiring Brown University President Vartan Gregorian. A Renaissance Man in every respect, this Senate salutes President Gregorian for all that he has accomplished at Brown University, and wishes him continued happiness, success and fulfillment as the President of New York's philanthropic Carnegie Corporation; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and he hereby is authorized and directed to transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to retiring Brown University President Vartan Gregorian.