AUA Office of Advancement

09/04/2026

Drs. Ara and Alice Apkarian have established an endowed visiting professorship at AUA, creating a permanent source of support to bring leading scholars to Armenia.

For two lifelong academics who experienced firsthand what a visiting professor can do for a young researcher, the gift is both institutional and deeply personal.

Read the full story here: https://newsroom.aua.am/2026/08/24/ara-alice-apkarian-consider-aua-armenia-greatest-success/

09/03/2026

The AUA 35th Anniversary Gala will bring together alumni, supporters, and friends from across the Armenian diaspora to celebrate AUA's achievements, honor the visionary individuals who helped bring the University to life, and invest in its continued growth and impact.

We are also excited to welcome Le Brand Band featuring Hovsep Gomidas Emma Asatryan & Nars Taylor who will keep the celebration going throughout the evening. Watch their special invitation and get ready for a memorable night!

📍 The Beverly Hilton, Los Angeles
📅 November 7, 2026
🎟️Tickets and sponsorships: https://philanthropy.aua.am/aua35/tickets-sponsorships/

09/02/2026

Celebrating the Vahé and Lucie Creative Competition Winners!

We invite you to celebrate the winners of the 2026 Vahé and Lucie Creative Competition on September 15 at 4:30 p.m. in the Akian Art Gallery.

Organized by AUA's The Highlander Magazine and funded by the Vahe & Lucie Foundation, this year’s competition consisted of seven categories, with first and second place prizes awarded in each.

Event details: https://newsroom.aua.am/event/celebrating-vahe-lucie-creative-competition-winners/

08/28/2026

Armenia will host CBD in Yerevan in October 2026, bringing the global biodiversity community together for a landmark international conference. 🌿

The Acopian Center for the Environment is a key partner of the ՀՀ շրջակա միջավայրի նախարարություն Ministry of Environment of Armenia and the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity, helping prepare the country through the year-long Road to COP17 Initiative.

From international conferences and professional workshops to the Biodiversity Ambassadors Program, Biodiversity4All, and LBSAP Studios, AUA is connecting research, education, policy, and community engagement to strengthen Armenia’s capacity to advance biodiversity conservation.

“The fact that the host government of COP17 chose to partner with the university for this inaugural event speaks volumes,” - Astrid Schomaker, Executive Secretary, Convention on Biological Diversity.

Through these efforts, AUA is helping translate global biodiversity goals into local action and lasting impact for Armenia.

🔗 Learn more about AUA’s role on the road to COP17: ace.aua.am/projects/road-to-cop17

08/26/2026

Magdalena Yesil is a serial entrepreneur, an author, a technology pioneer, and a founding board member of Salesforce. Born in Istanbul and of Armenian heritage, she holds an M.S. in Electrical Engineering from Stanford University.

She is also a committed supporter of AUA, having established the Magdalena Yesil Endowed Visiting Professorship at Zaven P. and Sonia Akian College of Science and Engineering, as well as the Troy Kevork Wickett and Justin Yeshil Wickett Endowed Scholarship Fund.

On November 7, Magdalena will take the stage as keynote speaker at AUA's 35th Anniversary Gala at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills.

📅 November 7, 2026 | Beverly Hills, California
🎟️ Event details: philanthropy.aua.am/aua35/

AUA Akian College of Science and Engineering

08/24/2026

"An endowment reflects that same philosophy applied to the development of human capital." Artin Der Minassians is a technology executive, engineer, innovator and lifelong musician whose work culminated in a $1.5 billion product acquisition.

Der Minassians recently established the Artin Der Minassians Endowed Scholarship Fund at AUA. Artin believes that if the goal is meaningful, long-term impact, higher education is one of the highest-leverage areas of contribution, and AUA is uniquely positioned within that space, combining international academic standards with a mission deeply connected to Armenia's development.

Read story at: https://bit.ly/4zCCJsO

08/20/2026

Dr. Habet Madoyan and Dr. Vahe Movsisyan of the Zaven P. and Sonia AUA Akian College of Science and Engineering have published new findings in Water, an MDPI peer-reviewed journal, examining chemical water quality across nine rivers flowing into Lake Sevan using 14 years of monitoring data.

This research was funded by the H. Hovnanian Family Foundation.

The study analyzes physicochemical parameters, nutrients, and trace elements to distinguish natural background concentrations.

08/20/2026

AUA welcomes Dr. L. Marvin Overby as the C. Judson King Endowed Visiting Professor at AUA College of Humanities and Social Sciences for fall 2026 - spring 2027 semesters. Dr. Overby is a professor of political science at Penn State University, Harrisburg with a distinguished record of scholarship, international teaching and academic leadership spanning four continents. His research on constitutional amendment, legislative processes and comparative politics brings timely and relevant expertise to AUA at a pivotal moment in Armenia's political development.

During his year at AUA, he will teach, research and mentor the next generation of scholars navigating some of the most consequential political questions of our era.

Learn more: https://bit.ly/4xPI4LR

08/17/2026

The Sarkisian Foundation for the Arts and Engineering has established an Endowed Scholarship Fund to support AUA students as they pursue their ambitions at the intersection of creativity, innovation, and technical excellence.

Rooted in family, heritage, and a belief in the power of education, the Sarkisian family is investing in Armenia’s future, one student at a time.

🔗 Read their story at https://bit.ly/3UDSRu5

The family’s decision to establish an endowment at AUA also reflects a deeply personal connection to Armenia.

08/15/2026

More than 120 AUA ChangeMakers have already joined the journey to 200.

The 200 ChangeMakers of AUA campaign brings together visionary philanthropists who believe in AUA’s mission and its role in building a stronger, more resilient, and globally competitive Armenia.

Join the 200. Become an AUA ChangeMaker at:
changemakers.aua.am