30th Event News

Inspiring Professionals Assembled to lead AUA’s 30th Anniversary Preparations

In preparation for the American University of Armenia’s (AUA) 30th Anniversary, the University’s Office of Development had recognized that it would take a very special group of experienced individuals to pull off the planning and orchestration of this milestone event.

Such an ambitious undertaking requires leaders to dedicate tremendous time and effort to steer the preparations and guide by example. For these significant roles, seasoned education professional Alice Petrossian and pharmacist Liza Bagamian were tapped to co-chair the 30th Anniversary Committee, subsequently complemented by a number of influential women from the Armenian community. The team has been working tirelessly to pull together the essential resources, paying attention to every detail for the 30th anniversary celebration to be an unprecedented success. The members of the Anniversary Committee recognize that paying tribute to three decades of accomplishments by the University is a hugely responsible task, which can be deemed victorious when crowned by the realization of the fundraising goal earmarked for the construction of the new Science & Engineering building.

The event scheduled for September 10, 2022 at the private residence of co-chair Liza Bagamian and her husband Vahan Bagamian, will be a meticulously curated event filled with special performances and two discussion panels that include several influential Armenian-American diasporans who are leading the way in the science and technology industries. The current and former presidents of the University will also join the discourse.

AUA is truly fortunate to have gained the support of so many visionary philanthropists who truly understand the power and impact of an AUA education and have come forth to lay yet another brick directly into building the future of Armenia. The combined strength of the brick wall they built is bound to withstand the complex new challenges of the country, producing more AUA graduates to deliver innovative solutions and discoveries to advance the country.

Liza Bagamian, Co-Chair,
30th Anniversary Committee

Having generously volunteered to host the event in her beautiful home in Hidden Hills, CA, Liza recounts how her family was first introduced to AUA. “On our family trip to Armenia four years ago, we toured AUA and met many of the remarkably dedicated community — a community committed to achieving the highest level of excellence with ‘no upper limit.’ We were excited by what we learned about the university, including what the university had accomplished over the past 30 years and what new aspirations it had for further advancement. We were impressed and wanted to contribute, especially considering that education has always been the primary focus for our family.”

Alice Petrossian, Co-Chair,
30th Anniversary Committee

Alice Petrossian, a retired professional whose 44-year career has included service in various administrative capacities in different school boards within the greater Los Angeles area, speaks of the tremendous growth she has witnessed at AUA since its founding and is proud to continue to support the University, rallying around many of its development initiatives. “Having attended AUA’s 30th Commencement this year, and compared to its very first graduation ceremony which I had the privilege to attend, the changes were obvious. AUA has grown and prospered in the past 30 years, providing the most outstanding education available in Armenia. Moreover, and most importantly for the future is the growing percentage of AUA graduates who remain in Armenia and reinvest their knowledge into the country. These are development milestones worth celebrating and supporting as we look forward to the next 30 years and the miracles that can happen.”

The Build a Better Future with AUA 30th anniversary celebration, which also is the namesake of the capital campaign, is designated for the construction of the new Science & Engineering building. Bagamian asserts that the new building will support a significant increase in the number of faculty and students and will accelerate collaborations with industry and government. The state of the art facility will provide a welcoming space where visiting professors and entrepreneurs can spend time on campus working closely with faculty and students. It will serve as a meeting place for bold ideas and be a focal point for scientific discoveries and technological advancement that will benefit not only Armenia but also the world around it.

The announcement for the construction of this new building comes at a critical time in Armenia’s history, given the hardships the country and its people endured during and subsequent to the 2020 Artsakh War and COVID-19 pandemic. This new undertaking provides for the realization of a strategic vision most critical to moving Armenia forward through augmented innovation and research. Petrossian adds, “Armenia has a critical shortage of scientists and engineers in this difficult time when the future is in the hands of highly qualified experts. We know we have the brain power, but we need the systems that will motivate and direct these bright minds to build their future and a better future for our Homeland. If we believe in a better future for Armenia, we must support this valiant undertaking. Each person must give what they can, no matter how small or large, having full trust and belief that the funds will be spent as pledged.”

With a campaign goal of $15,000,000, half of which has already been raised, the AUA Office of Development is confident that the global community and staunch AUA supporters will come through once again to help the University attain this goal and break ground to advance this important and historic initiative. Indeed, one more brick will build Armenia’s strong wall of global advancement!

Click here to learn more about the event and the various sponsorship opportunities.