By Kevork Keushkerian
Special to the Mirror-Spectator
LOS ANGELES — Haigazian College was founded in 1955 as a 4 year Liberal Arts College with 43 students. In 1992, it was elevated to Haigazian University.
Rev. Dr. John Markarian was the Founding President of the College. He served as President from 1955 to 1966 and later from 1971 to 1982, when he retired and settled in the United States with his second wife Inge. He had one daughter, Joanne.
My encounter with Dr. Markarian began in 1964, when I enrolled at the College as a Junior in the English Department. I had completed my Freshman and Sophomore years at Aleppo Junior College in Aleppo, Syria. I was fortunate to be given a full scholarship at Haigazian College.
I came to Beirut in the fall of 1964 and stayed with my aunt for a week to complete my enrollment. My aunt used to live with her family in the Ja’wtawi section of Beirut. During this time, I had to take 2 taxi services to get to the College, which was hard on me.