Nina G. GarsoïanFBA (April 11, 1923 – August 14, 2022) was a French-born American historian specializing in Armenian and Byzantine history.[1][2][3] In 1969 she became the first female historian to get tenure at Columbia University and, subsequently, became the first holder of Gevork M. Avedissian Chair in Armenian History and Civilization at Columbia.[4] From 1977 to 1979, she served as dean of the Graduate School of Princeton University.[5][6][7]
Garsoïan began teaching at Smith College in 1956[6] and Columbia in 1962.[4] In 1969 she became the first female professor to receive tenure at Columbia's Department of History.[4] Garsoïan became the first female dean of the Princeton University Graduate School when she was appointed to the position in 1977.[10] She served in that position until 1979.[5][6]
In 1979, she became the first holder of Gevork M. Avedissian Chair in Armenian History and Civilization at Columbia University.[9] She retired in 1993 and was subsequently professor emerita of Armenian History and Civilization.[4]
Garsoïan died on August 14, 2022, at the age of 99.[12][13]
Publications
Garsoïan published numerous books and journal and encyclopedia articles on Armenian, Byzantine, and Sasanian history.[9] In her publications she emphasized the Iranian/Persian influence on Armenian history.[4][9]
^Avdoyan, Levon (2005). ""Magistra Studentorum per Armeniam et Byzantium"". In Chance, Jane (ed.). Women Medievalists and the Academy. University of Wisconsin Press. ISBN9780299207502.
^Toumanoff, Cyril (February 1969). "The Paulician Heresy: A Study of the Origin and Development of Paulicianism in Armenia and the Eastern Provinces of the Byzantine Empire. By Nina G. Garsoïan. [Publications in Near and Middle East Studies, Columbia University, Series A, Number 6.] (Paris: Mouton & Co. 1967. Pp. 293.)". The American Historical Review. doi:10.1086/ahr/74.3.961.
