Tiryakian, Edward A

Sociologist Edward Ashod Tiryakian (1929- ) graduated from Princeton University (B.A., 1952) and Harvard University (M.A., 1954, Ph.D. 1956) where his mentors included Talcott Parsons and Pitirim Sorokin. He taught at Princeton (1956-1962), Harvard (1962-1965), and Duke (1965-2004) universities.

Edward A. Tiryakian was born August 6, 1929 in Bronxville, NY to Armenian-born parents. Educated in the United States and in France, he received his B. A. in sociology from Princeton University where he was awarded a Phi Beta Kappa key. He earned both his M. A. and his Ph.D. at Harvard University, in 1954 and 1956 respectively. He also held a Fulbright grant at the University of the Philippines during 1954-1955.

In 1965, Dr. Tiryakian came to Duke University as an Associate Professor and was made a full Professor in 1967. From 1969-1971, he served as Chair of Duke's Department of Sociology and Anthropology. He also served as associate director of Ecole Pratique des Hautes Etudes, 6e Section at the University of Paris from 1971-1972. Additionally, he served as visiting professor at U.E.R. de Sciences Sociales at the Universite Rene Descartes in Paris in 1985 and visiting professor at Laval University in Quebec and adjunct professor at Concordia University in Quebec in 1978.

In 1988, Dr. Tiryakian was appointed Director of International Studies and served in this post until 1991. He continued to research and teach until his retirement as Professor Emeritus in 2004. His publications include the books The Global Crisis: Sociological Analyses and Responses and New Nationalism of the Developed West .