Pre-Gala Gathering Hosted by AUA Alumni

LEXINGTON, Massachusetts — On October 4, alumni from the American University of Armenia (AUA) gathered at the home of fellow alumnus Tigran Avetisyan (MPH ’03) and his wife Sona Antonyan. Avetisyan and Antonyan, who both served on the planning committee for AUA’s Catalysts for Change: Honoring the Avedisian Family gala taking place the next day, were delighted to extend the invitation to their fellow event committee members as well, along with members of the University’s Office of Development and Executive Team.

“Both Sona and I attended AUA, and you all know how much it changed our lives. It gave us a solid foundation for our future lives and professional growth. It was a major part of our lives and contributed to many of the successes we have had,” Avetisyan commented. While enjoying delicious food and Armenian wine, along with live music from the Lexington High School Jazz Band, guests had the opportunity to meet AUA President Dr. Bruce Boghosian, who spoke about the importance of fostering a strong alumni network.

“It’s particularly encouraging to see alumni from various graduating classes throughout the years bonding and comparing their experiences at AUA. Tonight, I see alumni from the University’s very first graduating class, as well as much more recent classes, like last June’s. It’s important for these connections to be forged more and more frequently,” Dr. Boghosian said, also remarking on the importance of giving back to the University, which is something AUA strives to instill in all its graduates.

Vice President of Operations Ashot Ghazaryan also commented on the critical role of the alumni network, which extends from Armenia to the Diaspora, while Vice President of Development Gaiane Khachatrian emphasized the importance of nurturing a strong alumni community, as well as contributing to the AUA Alumni Scholarship Endowment Fund.

As attendees continued to network and enjoy the evening, an interactive game prompted alumni to share their fondest memories from AUA, after which they would select a fellow alum from the crowd to do the same. Both Alisa Chalakhyan (BAB ’19) and Lida Asilyan (BAEC ’24), two of the featured alumni in the following day’s gala, spoke fondly about their experiences at the University.

“I always consider AUA my biggest achievement. That first week of walking into the University and knowing I was now a part of this community was very exciting. That feeling of pride in being part of AUA’s fabric is something that persisted and I still carry with me to this day,” Chalakhyan commented, with Asilyan adding, “Anything connected to my department and my professors was my favorite part of my University experience, but the biggest highlight was my oral history exhibition. Through my degree, I learned to pay attention to little details and understand that everything carries stories. This led me to interview my grandma, who I didn’t know had so many stories to tell. These kinds of life lessons have stuck with me, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to be here and be part of AUA in general.”

Another recent graduate, Elizabeth Vickery (BSES ’24), shared how much she cherished her time as an engineering student in the Entrepreneurship and Product Innovation Center laboratory, where she carried out much of her engineering work. “That lab became my home. There were so many days where I would spend up to 18 hours in that lab, and it became everything for us. As a cohort, we faced some of the worst days in Armenian history, but everything that happened, we faced together as engineers, as colleagues, and as Armenians. I hope those traditions carry on.”

Several other alumni from AUA’s earliest classes discussed how the University served as a safe haven for them during the difficult years of the Republic of Armenia’s infancy, while Dr. Vahan Janjigian, one of AUA’s first finance professors, also shared his memories from those days. Event co-chair Katrina Menzigian chimed in from her perspective as one of the University’s first employees, working in the Oakland office alongside AUA’s co-founders, recalling the vision and faith they held in ensuring AUA became a successful institution for higher education in Armenia.

The alumni gathering set the tone for the next day’s gala event, reaffirming the strong bonds and shared vision that continue to drive the University forward.

Founded in 1991, the American University of Armenia (AUA) is a private, independent university located in Yerevan, Armenia, affiliated with the University of California, and accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission in the United States. AUA provides local and international students with Western-style education through top-quality undergraduate and graduate degree and certificate programs, promotes research and innovation, encourages civic engagement and community service, and fosters democratic values. AUA’s Office of Development stewards the University’s philanthropic efforts exclusively for educational purposes.