By: Mark DeWitt
from the University Chronicle
Dr. Hagop S. Pambookian, emeritus professor of psychology at Shawnee State University (SSU), has been with the university 22 years and has accomplished more than most people do in a lifetime.
A first-generation immigrant from Lebanon and son of Armenian genocide survivors, Pambookian earned his undergraduate degree from the American University of Beirut and chose to come to the United States from Lebanon in Aug. 1961 to earn his advanced psychology degrees. He received his master’s degree from Columbia University Teachers College (New York City) and his doctorate degree from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.
When SSU became a four-year university in 1986, it did not have a proper psychology degree program. Pambookian helped establish and shape the psychology program following his association with the university in 1987, including designing new courses, which helped in the creation of SSU’s psychology degree.
Pambookian developed the annual “International Awareness Week” celebration, which had visiting scholars from Hungary, Romania, South Korea, China, Armenia and Russia as guest lecturers for the university and the people of Scioto County.
He received SSU’s first major grant from the Ohio Humanities Council to fund his “Perestroika, Changes and Developments in the USSR: What Next?” project. He also helped initiate internationalization programs at Shawnee State.
Pambookian, along with former SSU President Clive C. Veri, started a student exchange program with students from the University of Nizhny Novgorod in Russia in 1992.
“The exchange went very well,” Pambookian said. “We have had several more exchange programs with other universities since, with students coming from other countries.”
In May 1997, the Ohio Education Association honored him with the Paul Swaddling Award for his international involvement and his contributions to international understanding and peace.
While he was still teaching, Pambookian established the Dr. Hagop S. Pambookian Scholarship which is awarded to a senior student majoring in psychology and/or to an international student who come to Portsmouth to earn his or her degree at SSU.
“I wanted to encourage and help support deserving students financially in their academic and scholarly pursuits and endeavors,” Pambookian said. “I thought this would be a good way of encouraging psychology and international students to pursue their education following graduation from SSU. And hopefully my scholarships will excite other SSU faculty members so that they look into establishing similar scholarships to help SSU students.”
Pambookian’s love for helping others benefit in their academic careers does not just extend to SSU, but also to the Armenian Academy of Sciences in Yerevan, Armenia. He created the Pambookian Foundation at the academy’s Fundamental Library, which features more than 3,300 English language psychology books and various psychology journals, all of which were donated by Pambookian.
“There were very few English language psychology books in Armenia,” Pambookian said. “Just as I believe we learn from other cultures, I also believe people and social scientists in other countries can learn from the Western point of view.”
Pambookian has been a Senior Fulbright fellow, 1978-79, in the Soviet Union and taught psychology at Yerevan State University in Yerevan, Armenia. He was the first senior Fulbright scholar to receive a nine month long fellowship in the Soviet Union, and also the first Fulbright fellow to teach psychology in the republic of Armenia.
Pambookian has visited over 30 countries to give lectures at universities and psychology conventions. He has also been interviewed on live radio in Melbourne, Australia and Nizhny Novgorod, Russia. Recently he gave a keynote address on “Psychology around the World: The Asian Experience” at the second Asian Psychological Association convention in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
In June 2009, Pambookian was in Mexico City to give a keynote address on “Errors in Psychology Textbooks” at the International Council of Psychologists convention, of which he had been a board member.
A month later he attended the American Psychological Association’s convention, of which of which he is a Fellow, and gave a keynote lecture titled “Citation and Reference Inaccuracy in Psychology Publications.”
Last May, Pambookian was one of several first generation immigrants honored by Gov. Ted Strickland for making significant contributions to Ohio.
“Ted Strickland and I have known one another for years,” Pambookian said. “He taught Psychology here, and has always been a good friend and colleague.”
His most recent award was from the Ohio Psychological Association, which had its sixtieth anniversary convention in Columbus. He was awarded the Lifetime Achievement by a Psychologist Award for his years of contribution to the field of psychology. His plaque states “In recognition of your outstanding achievement to advance psychology as a science and profession by a lifetime of outstanding contributions to the field.”
“I do not do my work to win awards, I just want to see the field progress as much as possible,” Pambookian said. “It is, however, a truly humbling experience.”
Pambookian’s love for helping others benefit in their academic careers does not just extend to SSU, but also to the Armenian Academy of Sciences in Yerevan, Armenia. He created the Pambookian Foundation at the academy’s Fundamental Library, which features more than 3,300 English language psychology books and various psychology journals, all of which were donated by Pambookian.
“There were very few English language psychology books in Armenia,” Pambookian said. “Just as I believe we learn from other cultures, I also believe people and social scientists in other countries can learn from the Western point of view.”
Pambookian has been a Senior Fulbright fellow, 1978-79, in the Soviet Union and taught psychology at Yerevan State University in Yerevan, Armenia. He was the first senior Fulbright scholar to receive a nine month long fellowship in the Soviet Union, and also the first Fulbright fellow to teach psychology in the republic of Armenia.
Pambookian has visited over 30 countries to give lectures at universities and psychology conventions. He has also been interviewed on live radio in Melbourne, Australia and Nizhny Novgorod, Russia. Recently he gave a keynote address on “Psychology around the World: The Asian Experience” at the second Asian Psychological Association convention in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
In June 2009, Pambookian was in Mexico City to give a keynote address on “Errors in Psychology Textbooks” at the International Council of Psychologists convention, of which he had been a board member.
A month later he attended the American Psychological Association’s convention, of which of which he is a Fellow, and gave a keynote lecture titled “Citation and Reference Inaccuracy in Psychology Publications.”
Last May, Pambookian was one of several first generation immigrants honored by Gov. Ted Strickland for making significant contributions to Ohio.
“Ted Strickland and I have known one another for years,” Pambookian said. “He taught Psychology here, and has always been a good friend and colleague.”
His most recent award was from the Ohio Psychological Association, which had its sixtieth anniversary convention in Columbus. He was awarded the Lifetime Achievement by a Psychologist Award for his years of contribution to the
field of psychology. His plaque states “In recognition of your outstanding achievement to advance psychology as a science and profession by a lifetime of outstanding contributions to the field.”
“I do not do my work to win awards, I just want to see the field progress as much as possible,” Pambookian said. “It is, however, a truly humbling experience.”
Vartzget Gadar Baron Pambookian. You have set an excellent example for our future youth interested in psychology. May your passion and determination yield many more such humbling experiences. Well done!
My congratulations to Professor Emeritus Hagop Pambookian, the great citizen and psychologist!
jeshmarid@yahoo.com