Mirjanian follows in his professor’s footsteps

Today, Mirjanian is a political science instructor at the College of Southern Nevada teaching political science classes (including PSC 101) in room 1059 on the Cheyenne campus. He owes much of the coincidence and success to Monkman, who died of a sudden heart attack in 2010 at the age of 47.

“When I was student at CSN, I was studying political science, English and film and unsure which major I was going to pursue,” said Mirjanian. “That all changed after Sept. 11. That day had a great impact on me as I realized government was about to take a new focus on governing. At the same time, Prof. Monkman was lighting a spark in me. He inspired me both intellectually and academically and I became intently interested in the political process and how policy is made.”

That same spark has been ignited in Ian Davis, one of Mirjanian’s students who will be graduating with an Associate of Arts degree in the spring before transferring to the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, where he will pursue an undergraduate degree in political science. Like many of his fellow students, Davis worked for 10 years after high school and later served in the Navy before returning to school. That’s when he discovered Mirjanian.

“Mr. Mirjanian is a great professor but what I admire most is that he teaches me how to think rather than what to think,” said the 37-year-old Davis. “He refocused my head and has been the guiding force in my pursuing political science, with an emphasis in political theory and political philosophers. I want to understand the many attributes of Western civilization that incorporate human rights and also better understand the values that we have in this country. That’s what I have learned from Mr. Mirjanian.”

Was it the same for Mirjanian when he attended Monkman’s classes?

“Prof. Monkman introduced me to the academic approach to college and its intellectual discipline,” Mirjanian said. “He influenced my way of teaching, which is focused on project-based learning exercises rather than lecture with an emphasis on a holistic approach to politics. This holistic approach captures all students, no matter what their political leanings. I want my students to open their eyes so they might have a different view of the world.

“I know I’m succeeding because 90 percent walk into class saying they hate politics. By end of the semester, that same 90 percent walk out and tell me that even though they still don’t like politics, they’re willing and able to participate. That’s extremely encouraging because I want them to move from spectator to participator.”

Mark Peplowski, professor of political science at CSN, agrees. “Each CSN professor is diverse, but we all teach our students that there is more to political science that just the three branches of federal government,” he explained. “One of the things Don learned from professor Monkman, who was half Argentina and half British, is that even though all politics is local, it must be applied with a global view. He understands that we cannot ignore the rest of the world and have to realize our appropriate place in it.”

The Las Vegas-born Mirjanian, 38, is in the second year of tenure track for full time at CSN. He attended elementary school in Las Vegas, but graduated from high school in Arizona. Eight years later, he returned to college but by then was married with four children and working full time.

“After returning to school, my wife and I had another child,” said Mirjanian, smiling. “Raising the family, working and going to school is no different than many other students at CSN. That’s why the school is so popular. I worked in a hotel and my boss didn’t suggest that I work my school hours around work. It was the other way around. There was no way I was going to complete my education without CSN’s commitment to accessibility.”

Peplowski said Mirjanian’s experience at CSN has made him a caring and compassionate advocate for students.

“Much of what shaped Don came from his relationship with Prof. Monkman,” Peplowski explained. “Just like Guillermo, Don has come to love teaching here because CSN is so focused on its students. We follow our curriculum, but can expand upon it and teach a variety of political science electives to give students a real flavor or what it’s really like out there.”