The Eastern Diocese is pleased to announce that scholar Jesse Arlen has been named as the first “Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Armenian Christian Studies, and Director at the Krikor and Clara Zohrab Information Center.”

Mr. Arlen was selected for the fellowship by a committee representing the Diocese and Fordham University, following a public call for applications. Earlier this year, the Eastern Diocese, under the auspices of Diocesan Primate Bishop Daniel, entered into an agreement with Fordham University, which reconfigured the director’s position of the Diocese’s Zohrab Information Center.

Under this arrangement, the Zohrab Center directorship is now a rotating position of two to three years’ duration, where each successive director will simultaneously hold a post-doctoral research fellowship at Fordham’s Orthodox Christian Studies Center. (Click here to learn more.)

“I am honored to have been selected as the first recipient of the newly formulated postdoctoral position of Zohrab Center director and Fordham University research fellow,” said Mr. Arlen. “I am grateful for those who gave me this opportunity, which will allow me to engage in research, teaching, and programming around the areas I have pursued in my graduate studies: Armenian Christian culture, theology, and history as well as language and literature.”

He added: “I look forward to continuing to deepen connections and work collaboratively with colleagues at the Diocese and for future opportunities at Fordham and St. Nersess.”

Since February, Mr. Arlen has been serving as the Zohrab Center’s interim director, while he completes his Ph.D. at UCLA in Near Eastern Languages and Cultures with a focus in Armenian studies. He is the author of numerous publications and papers, and has been a speaker at many academic workshops, panel discussions, and interviews.

“Jesse is a very promising scholar in the field of Armenian theology and early Christian studies,” said Bishop Daniel. “He brings to the Zohrab Center not only strong scholarly and teaching credentials, but also sincere dedication to the Armenian Church and its vital Christian witness and ministry.”