ABERDEEN, S.D. – Northern State University’s Dr. Steven Usitalo is part of an organization planning a commemorative event, Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day, at the Minnesota History Center in St. Paul this month.

The event, set for 1-4 p.m. April 23, marks the anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, which began on April 24, 1915. The Remembrance Day will include presentations on Armenian history, culture, architecture, poetry, music and food, as well as on the Armenian Genocide.

The event, which is free and open to the public, is sponsored by the Armenian Cultural Organization of Minnesota (ACOM), which also includes South Dakota, North Dakota and Wisconsin. Usitalo, Professor of History at NSU, is serving as President of ACOM through 2024. Several political leaders in Minnesota, including Gov. Tim Walz, have been invited to the event.

Usitalo spent a year at Yerevan State University in Armenia (2011-12) on a Fulbright Grant. Most of his time was spent researching Armenian film, though he also taught a graduate seminar on the History of Modern Genocide—a course he now teaches at NSU.

Usitalo has worked at Northern for 18 years. He earned his bachelor’s degree in history from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor; his master’s certificate in political history at the University of Helsinki; his M.A. in Soviet and East European Studies from Carleton University in Ottawa; and his Ph.D. in history from McGill University in Quebec.

About Northern State University  

Northern State University is a student-centered institution that provides an outstanding educational experience, preparing students through the liberal arts and professional education for their future endeavors. A regional university, Northern offers rigorous academics; diverse civic, social and cultural opportunities; and a commitment to building an inclusive environment for all points of view. Northern also offers a broad-based athletics program, sponsoring 15 NCAA Division II intercollegiate varsity sports that compete in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (NSIC). The university strives to enrich the community through partnerships such as its Educational Impact Campaign, which opened a new South Dakota School for the Blind and Visually Impaired; new athletic and recreation fields; and an on-campus regional sports complex. With the $55 million campaign, NSU has been the recipient of more than $150 million in privately funded building projects and scholarships within a decade. To learn more, visit NSU Admissions.