Dr. Talar Chahinian is the recipient of the Unit 18 Faculty Teaching Excellence Award for 2024-2025! This award recognizes a Unit 18 Faculty member who has consistently excelled in teaching, with a positive impact on students while maintaining standards and fostering an inclusive learning environment.
Dr. Chahinian has led the UC Irvine Armenian language program since its inauguration in 2018, developing an entirely new curriculum for two series, both taught annually (Elementary Armenian 1A-1C and Intermediate Armenian 2A-2C), and doing so with innovative and effective pedagogy. As a result of her leadership and effective pedagogy, the UCI Armenian Studies language program is now flourishing. Her thoughtful syllabi, course materials, reflections, and student evaluations point to an outstanding and effective teacher in the classroom. In addition to her language teaching, Dr. Chahinian has also taught both lower- and upper-division courses for the Department of Comparative Literature. The award recognizes her excellence in teaching and her pedagogical leadership with a particular focus on her contributions to the UCI Armenian Studies Program.