Kevork B. Bardakjian received his first degrees in Armenian Language and Literature from the University of Yerevan and his Ph.D. in Armenian Studies from Oxford University, England.  He was chairman of the Society for Armenian Studies in 1982 and 1983.  From 1984 to 1987, Dr. Bardakjian was at Harvard University supervising The Armenian Collection and teaching the Armenian language, literature, culture and history.  In 1987 he became the first holder of the newly established Marie Manoogian Chair of Armenian Language and Literature at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.  Dr. Bardakjian was the Director of the Armenian Studies Program and Armenian Summer Institute at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor from 1995 - 2007.  Dr. Bardakjian is the author of numerous books and articles in scholarly journals and publication, and has lectured extensively both in the United States and abroad.