Keeping the painting on the easel

Dr. Hratch Tchilingirian is a sociologist, author and innovation executive. He currently serves as Director of Institutional Innovation at the Western Diocese of the Armenian Church. From 2012 to 2024, he taught and held academic positions at the University of Oxford, following a decade at the University of Cambridge (2002–2012). Since 2021, he has been Associate Professor of Armenian Studies (IMAS) at INALCO University in Paris. Dr. Tchilingirian’s research, teaching and publications focus on the sociology of identity, culture and religion; diaspora studies; and inter-ethnic conflicts in the Caucasus and Eurasia. He has authored numerous studies and lectured internationally, drawing particular attention in recent years to the plight of minorities and Christian communities in the Middle East, especially within academic and policy-making circles. From 2019 to 2024, he directed the Armenian Diaspora Survey, which conducted research in over 50 communities across 10 countries, engaging more than 13,000 diasporans. Beyond academia, Dr. Tchilingirian has held executive roles in charitable organizations and served in various community leadership positions in the United States and the United Kingdom. A frequent commentator on sociopolitical and cultural issues, his interviews and expert insights have appeared in international media, including BBC News, Al Jazeera, The New York Times, Financial Times, Fox News, Asia Times, RFE/RL, Radio Vaticana, Armenia Public TV and Armenian Public Radio, among others.