[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 73 (Friday, April 28, 2017)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E563-E564]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       HONORING DR. MARY PAPAZIAN

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. ZOE LOFGREN

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, April 28, 2017

  Ms. LOFGREN. Mr. Speaker, I, along with my colleagues, Representative 
Anna Eshoo and Representative Ro Khanna, rise today to recognize Dr. 
Mary Papazian on her inauguration as the 30th President of San Jose 
State University (SJSU). Dr. Papazian is the first person of Armenian-
American descent and the third female to serve as SJSU's president in 
its 160-year history.
   Dr. Papazian was born, raised and attended schools in Southern 
California. She eventually followed in her parent's footsteps by 
matriculating at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), 
where she earned a Bachelor's,

[[Page E564]]

Master's and doctoral degrees in English literature.
   Dr. Papazian has gone on to enjoy a distinguished academic career 
spanning nearly three decades; She began her academic career at Oakland 
University in Rochester, Michigan, where she served as an assistant, 
associate and tenured professor of English and subsequently as 
Associate Dean of the College of Arts and Science.
   Dr. Papazian subsequently moved to Montclair State University in New 
Jersey, where she served as Dean of the College of Humanities and 
Social Sciences before transitioning to the position of Provost and 
Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs at Lehman College of The 
City University of New York (CUNY).
   In 2012, Dr. Papazian was appointed President of Southern 
Connecticut State University (SCSU) in New Haven, Connecticut, where 
she served with distinction for four and a half years before departing 
to assume the SJSU presidency in July 2016.
   Dr. Papazian's accomplishments at SCSU included strengthening 
programs supporting the successful transition of first-year and 
transfer students, engaging SCSU actively in its community, completing 
a comprehensive master facilities plan, and establishing a strategic 
vision for what will be SCSU's next decade, and for its first-ever 
comprehensive philanthropic campaign.
   Dr. Papazian and her husband, Dr. Dennis R. Papazian, professor 
emeritus of history and the founding director of the Armenian Research 
Center at the University of Michigan, Dearborn, have two adult 
daughters; Dr. Papazian has been and remains active in local and global 
Armenian affairs.
   In word and deed, Dr. Papazian demonstrates an abiding commitment to 
student success, the professional development of faculty and staff 
members, the intrinsic value of education, and the interests of the 
broader community.
   On behalf of the people of the 17th, 18th and 19th Congressional 
Districts of California, we extend our sincere congratulations to Dr. 
Mary Papazian of San Jose State University for this outstanding 
achievement.

                          ____________________