Narod Arisian is a fourth-year student pursuing a major in History. She is writing a History Departmental Honors Thesis under the guidance of Dr. David N. Myers. Narod’s thesis centers around the urban history of Anjar, Lebanon, an Armenian village that became a refuge for displaced Musa Dagh Armenians in 1939. The research seeks to document Anjar’s unique urban development and explore the evolving roles of its residents within the extensive fabric of Lebanese society. Narod’s thesis challenges traditional trauma-centered narratives often associated with Armenian diasporic communities, instead emphasizing their resilience and influence in shaping urban landscapes. By reframing the Armenian diaspora as agents of change, Narod’s research calls for a broader reevaluation of how displaced communities are perceived in historical scholarship.