BY TERRI GRAVITT TIME TRAVEL TOUR GUIDE
Dr. Craig Nakashian
photo by Matt Cornelius
Imagine living in a time when castles, knights and chivalrous romance were the norm-a place of kings, lords, vassals and peasants… the Middle Ages.
If travel to such a time was possible, Dr. Craig Nakashian would be the perfect tour guide. He is a medieval historian and professor at Texas A&M University-Texarkana. “I had always enjoyed history, but as a kid I was mostly into the U.S. Civil War, and later, World War II,” he explained. “When I was a senior in high school, my stepfather set up a meeting with one of the historians at Western New England University (then College). When I went into his office, it was cluttered with maps of Medieval England, books, papers, a shield, etc.,” he shared. The disordered workspace of mappa mundi, tomes, papers and a shield birthed an interest in the Middle Ages that would grow into a lifelong passion and career of teaching. “While I gave some thought to becoming a lawyer, or joining the military, those were never particularly serious goals (to the benefit of both the legal profession and U.S. Armed Forces),” he jokingly continued. “I knew ultimately that I wanted to teach, and teaching college students seemed the best opportunity to really engage with a topic and discipline and to share it with students of all ages.” His goal of student engagement seems to have been very successful as Katheryn Hartshorn, colleague at TAMU-T shares, “Dr. Nakashian is very popular with students, not only
for the expertise that he brings to his subject, but for his engaging teaching style. Having earned his master’s degree in Medieval History at the University of Durham in England, Dr. Nakashian has fascinating stories related to their studies that make students want to learn more and do research of their own. He is known for his willingness to meet with students, whether they need direction in their coursework or just want to talk and share their interest in history.” Originally fromWilbraham, Massachusetts, “Home of Friendly’s Ice Cream,” Nakashian earned his undergraduate degrees in the neighboring town of Springfield and his master’s degree from the University of Durham in northeastern England. That is where he met his wife, Zoe. “She was pursuing a master’s degree in the conservation of historic objects, but ironically we met at a Christmas party at a flat shared by someone in her department and someone in mine.” Zoe moved to the United States after she and Craig got married, and Craig started his PhD at the University of Rochester. They lived in Rochester for five years and it was during this time their son, Meran, was born, followed by their daughter Pelin, who was born during their first year in Texarkana.
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