Program

Panelists

AUA Breaks Ground:
From a Strong Foundation to Newer Heights in Education

Valina Agbabian, Moderator
Member of the National Board of Trustees, Armenian Assembly of America

Read more

 

Dr. Haroutune K. Armenian, MD, DrPH
President Emeritus, American University of Armenia (1997 - 2010)

Read more

 

Dr. Bruce M. Boghosian
President Emeritus, American University of Armenia (2010 - 2014)

Read more

 

Dr. Armen Der Kiureghian
Co-Founder, American University of Armenia
President Emeritus, American University of Armenia (2014 - 2019)
Read more

 

Dr. Karin Markides
President, American University of Armenia (2019 - present)

Read more

Investing in Armenia's Growing Tech Sector:
AUA's Role in Preparing the Workforce

Lusine Yeghiazaryan, Moderator
Chief Financial Officer, SADA Systems

Read more

 

Susan Jerian, MD
President, ONCORD, Inc.

Read more

 

Dr. Margarit Khachatryan (MS in Industrial Engineering ‘97)
Director of Data Science, Cooler Screens
Founder, MagAnalytics

Read more

 

Vahe Kuzoyan
Co-Founder/President, ServiceTitan

Read more

 

Hovig Safoian
Co-Founder/Chairman, SADA Systems

Read more

 

Sam Simonian
Founder, TUMO Center for Creative Technologies

Read more

Special Guests

Shantal Adajian
B.S. in Engineering Sciences ‘22, AUA

Read more

Armine Galstyan
B.A. in Business ‘18, AUA

Read more

Grigor Tukharyan
B.S. in Engineering Sciences ‘22, AUA

Read more

Valina Agbabian, Moderator
CA State Chair, Armenian Assembly of America, AUA Pillar

Valina Agbabian is the CA State Chair of the Armenian Assembly of America. She is a board member of the Mount Davidson Cross Armenian Council, serves on the San Francisco Bay Area Artsakh Task Force, and is an active member of Service Corp San Francisco, St. John Armenian Apostolic Church, and Calvary Armenian Congregational Church. Valina has also served as Chairperson of the AGBU Young Professionals (YP) of Los Angeles, board member of the AGBU Generation Next mentorship program in Glendale, and board member of the AGBU-YP of Northern California. She has worked as a consultant for the State of CA helping Workforce Investment Boards with economic development and job creation initiatives, and has also worked on cutting-edge laser technologies in medical applications at the Cedar-Sinai Laser Research and Development Laboratory. She holds a BS in Chemical Engineering from UCLA and a MS in Biomedical Engineering from USC, and is a recipient of the U.S. Presidential Volunteer Service Award from President Joe Biden​​. Valina lives in San Francisco with her husband Bryan and children, Lori and Arman. 

Valina Agbabian, Moderator
Member of the National Board of Trustees, Armenian Assembly of America, AUA Pillar

Valina Agbabian is a member of the National Board of Trustees and the former CA State Chair of the Armenian Assembly of America. She is a board member of the Mount Davidson Cross Armenian Council, serves on the San Francisco Bay Area Artsakh Task Force, and is an active member of Service Corp San Francisco, St. John Armenian Apostolic Church, and Calvary Armenian Congregational Church. Valina has also served as Chairperson of the AGBU Young Professionals (YP) of Los Angeles, board member of the AGBU Generation Next mentorship program in Glendale, and board member of the AGBU-YP of Northern California. She has worked as a consultant for the State of CA helping Workforce Investment Boards with economic development and job creation initiatives, and has also worked on cutting-edge laser technologies in medical applications at the Cedar-Sinai Laser Research and Development Laboratory. She holds a BS in Chemical Engineering from UCLA and a MS in Biomedical Engineering from USC, and is a recipient of the U.S. Presidential Volunteer Service Award from President Joe Biden​​. Valina lives in San Francisco with her husband Bryan and children, Lori and Arman.

Powered by
Dr. Haroutune K. Armenian, MD, DrPH
President Emeritus, American University of Armenia (1997 - 2010)

Haroutune K. Armenian was trained at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, MPH, DrPH, and earlier at the American University of Beirut, MD specializing in internal medicine. His leadership accomplishments include: systems and services development at the Ministry of Health in Bahrain, Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences at the American University of Beirut, Director of the MPH Program at the Johns Hopkins University, Dean of the American University of Armenia (AUA) College of Health Sciences (1993-1994), and AUA President (1997-2010). Among his awards are the Ernest Lyman Stebbins Medal for Excellence in Education, the Golden Apple Award for Excellence in Teaching from Johns Hopkins, the Movses Khorenatsi Presidential Medal of Service from the Republic of Armenia, Presidential Medal of the Order of Cedars from the Republic of Lebanon, and membership in the Alpha Omega Alpha Medical and Delta Omega Public Health Honorary societies. He is also a fellow of the Royal College of Physicians in London, and a member of the American Epidemiological Society. He has edited or published 20 books, authored over 100 scientific papers and book chapters, has served as Editor-in-Chief of Epidemiologic Reviews and as editorial board member of a number of professional journals and publications.

Dr. Haroutune K. Armenian, MD, DrPH
AUA President, 1997 - 2010

Haroutune K. Armenian was trained at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, MPH, DrPH, and earlier at the American University of Beirut, MD specializing in internal medicine. His leadership accomplishments include: systems and services development at the Ministry of Health in Bahrain, Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences at the American University of Beirut, Director of the MPH Program at the Johns Hopkins University, Dean of the American University of Armenia (AUA) College of Health Sciences (1993-1994), and AUA President (1997-2010). Among his awards are the Ernest Lyman Stebbins Medal for Excellence in Education, the Golden Apple Award for Excellence in Teaching from Johns Hopkins, the Movses Khorenatsi Presidential Medal of Service from the Republic of Armenia, Presidential Medal of the Order of Cedars from the Republic of Lebanon, and membership in the Alpha Omega Alpha Medical and Delta Omega Public Health Honorary societies. He is also a fellow of the Royal College of Physicians in London, and a member of the American Epidemiological Society. He has edited or published 20 books, authored over 100 scientific papers and book chapters, has served as Editor-in-Chief of Epidemiologic Reviews and as editorial board member of a number of professional journals and publications.

Dr. Bruce M. Boghosian
President Emeritus, American University of Armenia (2010 - 2014)

Bruce M. Boghosian has been a Professor of Mathematics at Tufts University since 2000, and served as chair of Mathematics (2006-2010). He also holds secondary faculty appointments in Tufts University’s Departments of Physics and Computer Science, and served as a co-chair of its Data Analytics program. He is a fellow of the American Physical Society, a recipient of Tufts University’s Distinguished Scholar Award, a foreign member of the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Armenia (RA), a recipient of the “Order of the Republic of Armenia” from the RA Prime Minister, a recipient of the “Gold Medal” from the RA Ministry of Education and Science, and a Fellow of the Tufts University’s Data Intensive Studies Center. Dr. Boghosian served as the third president of the American University of Armenia (AUA) from 2010-2014, during which time he led the creation and accreditation of AUA’s inaugural undergraduate program. He is a member of the editorial boards of three scientific journals and maintains a strong interest in international education having held visiting positions at various universities in France, the UK, China, and Italy.

Dr. Bruce M. Boghosian 
President Emeritus, American University of Armenia (2010 - 2014)

Bruce M. Boghosian has been a Professor of Mathematics at Tufts University since 2000, and served as chair of Mathematics (2006-2010). He also holds secondary faculty appointments in Tufts University’s Departments of Physics and Computer Science, and served as a co-chair of its Data Analytics program. He is a fellow of the American Physical Society, a recipient of Tufts University’s Distinguished Scholar Award, a foreign member of the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Armenia (RA), a recipient of the “Order of the Republic of Armenia” from the RA Prime Minister, a recipient of the “Gold Medal” from the RA Ministry of Education and Science, and a Fellow of the Tufts University’s Data Intensive Studies Center. Dr. Boghosian served as the third president of the American University of Armenia (AUA) from 2010-2014, during which time he led the creation and accreditation of AUA’s inaugural undergraduate program. He is a member of the editorial boards of three scientific journals and maintains a strong interest in international education having held visiting positions at various universities in France, the UK, China, and Italy.

Dr. Armen Der Kiureghian
Co-Founder, American University of Armenia; AUA President, 2014 - 2019

Armen Der Kiureghian is Taisei Chair and Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Civil Engineering at the University of California, Berkeley. He is a Co-founder of the American University of Armenia (AUA) and has served as its Founding Dean of Engineering (1991-2007), Interim Provost (2011-2012) and President (2014-2019). He continues his service to AUA as a Founding Member of its Board of Trustees and as Chair of its Development Committee. He has authored more than 400 publications, including two books and 134 papers in archival journals. Among other awards, he is a recipient of American Society of Civil Engineer’s Walter L. Huber Civil Engineering Research Prize, Alfred M. Freudenthal Medal, Thomas A. Middlebrooks Award, George Winter Medal, the Government of Armenia’s Movses Khorenatsi Medal, and the Saint Sahak-Saint Mesrop Medal from His Holiness Karekin II. He is an elected member of the US National Academy of Engineering and an elected foreign member of the National Academy of Sciences of Armenia. He is a Distinguished Alumnus of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where he received his Ph.D. in 1975.

Dr. Armen Der Kiureghian
Co-Founder, American University of Armenia; AUA President, 2014 - 2019

Armen Der Kiureghian is Taisei Chair and Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Civil Engineering at the University of California, Berkeley. He is a Co-founder of the American University of Armenia (AUA) and has served as its Founding Dean of Engineering (1991-2007), Interim Provost (2011-2012) and President (2014-2019). He continues his service to AUA as a Founding Member of its Board of Trustees and as Chair of its Development Committee. He has authored more than 400 publications, including two books and 134 papers in archival journals. Among other awards, he is a recipient of American Society of Civil Engineer’s Walter L. Huber Civil Engineering Research Prize, Alfred M. Freudenthal Medal, Thomas A. Middlebrooks Award, George Winter Medal, the Government of Armenia’s Movses Khorenatsi Medal, and the Saint Sahak-Saint Mesrop Medal from His Holiness Karekin II. He is an elected member of the US National Academy of Engineering and an elected foreign member of the National Academy of Sciences of Armenia. He is a Distinguished Alumnus of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where he received his Ph.D. in 1975.

Powered by
Dr. Karin Markides
President, American University of Armenia (2019 - present)

Karin Markides is the fifth president of American University of Armenia (AUA). She has served as Vice Director General of Vinnova, the Swedish innovation agency (2004-2006), President of Chalmers University of Technology (2006-2015), followed by developing and leading the Swedish Scientific Council for Sustainable Development as a higher education advisory body to the Swedish Government. After completing her doctorate in analytical chemistry at Stockholm University in 1984, she started her research career at Brigham Young University in Utah. In May 1990, she returned to Sweden as Chair Professor and Dean of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering at Uppsala University. She also served as visiting professor at Stanford University. Markides is the author of 290 peer-reviewed scientific articles and 7 patents. Markides is an elected member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Science, since 1992, and the Royal Swedish Academy of Science, since 1999, selecting the Nobel Prize in Chemistry. She is the elected president of the Black Sea Universities Network (BSUN) since October, 2021.

Powered by
Dr. Karin Markides
President, American University of Armenia (2019 - present)

Karin Markides is the fifth president of American University of Armenia (AUA). She has served as Vice Director General of Vinnova, the Swedish innovation agency (2004-2006), President of Chalmers University of Technology (2006-2015), followed by developing and leading the Swedish Scientific Council for Sustainable Development as a higher education advisory body to the Swedish Government. After completing her doctorate in analytical chemistry at Stockholm University in 1984, she started her research career at Brigham Young University in Utah. In May 1990, she returned to Sweden as Chair Professor and Dean of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering at Uppsala University. She also served as visiting professor at Stanford University. Markides is the author of 290 peer-reviewed scientific articles and 7 patents. Markides is an elected member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Science, since 1992, and the Royal Swedish Academy of Science, since 1999, selecting the Nobel Prize in Chemistry. She is the elected president of the Black Sea Universities Network (BSUN) since October, 2021.

 

Powered by
Lusine Yeghiazaryan, Moderator
Chief Financial Officer, SADA Systems; AUA ChangeMaker & Trustee

Lusine Yeghiazaryan is the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) at SADA and served as a member of its Board of Directors before assuming her current position. She has also held leadership positions at GoPro, Inc., Deloitte & Touche, LLP, and on expatriate assignment in the U.K. with Diebold Nixdorf Corporation. She is currently serving on the AUA Board of Trustees, is an advisor at Berkeley SkyDeck Accelerator, and is the founding Vice President of the SF affiliate of the Armenian International Women Association (AIWA). Lusine holds an MBA in Finance and Strategy from the UC Berkeley Haas School of Business, and a BS in Finance/Accounting, with a minor in Information Technology, from Walsh University.

Lusine Yeghiazaryan, Moderator
Chief Financial Officer, SADA Systems; AUA ChangeMaker & Trustee

Lusine Yeghiazaryan is the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) at SADA and served as a member of its Board of Directors before assuming her current position. She has also held leadership positions at GoPro, Inc., Deloitte & Touche, LLP, and on expatriate assignment in the U.K. with Diebold Nixdorf Corporation. She is currently serving on the AUA Board of Trustees, is an advisor at Berkeley SkyDeck Accelerator, and is the founding Vice President of the SF affiliate of the Armenian International Women Association (AIWA). Lusine holds an MBA in Finance and Strategy from the UC Berkeley Haas School of Business, and a BS in Finance/Accounting, with a minor in Information Technology, from Walsh University.

Susan Jerian, MD
President, ONCORD, Inc.; AUA Pillar & Scholarship Program Supporter

Susan Jerian, MD is President of ONCORD, Inc., a clinical development and regulatory affairs consulting firm serving the global pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries since 2006.  She has 30 years of experience in developing new medicines for treating cancer. At ONCORD, she and her husband, David Essayan, MD, work as Co-principals and have served over 400 companies as consultants. Dr. Jerian is the recipient of numerous awards and has  previously served in leadership positions at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Amgen Inc. Her medical specialization is in Oncology (at the National Cancer Institute) and Internal Medicine (at the University of Arizona). She holds an MD from George Washington University and an undergraduate degree from Occidental College, and is a current Board member of the Max Foundation, former Board member of the Armenian Missionary Association of America (AMAA), and former board member and President of the Summer Science Program (SSP). Dr. Jerian and her husband have two sons, Gregory and Daniel, who also work in STEM fields. Most importantly, the Essayan-Jerian family is proud to be in the ranks of AUA supporters.

Susan Jerian, MD
President, ONCORD, Inc.; AUA Pillar & Scholarship Program Supporter

Susan Jerian, MD is President of ONCORD, Inc., a clinical development and regulatory affairs consulting firm serving the global pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries since 2006.  She has 30 years of experience in developing new medicines for treating cancer. At ONCORD, she and her husband, David Essayan, MD, work as Co-principals and have served over 400 companies as consultants. Dr. Jerian is the recipient of numerous awards and has  previously served in leadership positions at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Amgen Inc. Her medical specialization is in Oncology (at the National Cancer Institute) and Internal Medicine (at the University of Arizona). She holds an MD from George Washington University and an undergraduate degree from Occidental College, and is a current Board member of the Max Foundation, former Board member of the Armenian Missionary Association of America (AMAA), and former board member and President of the Summer Science Program (SSP). Dr. Jerian and her husband have two sons, Gregory and Daniel, who also work in STEM fields. Most importantly, the Essayan-Jerian family is proud to be in the ranks of AUA supporters.

Powered by
Dr. Margarit Khachatryan (AUA MS in Industrial Engineering ‘97)
Director of Data Science, Cooler Screens; Founder, MagAnalytics

Margarit (Maga) Khachatryan is a Director of Data Science at Cooler Screens and Founder of MagAnalytics, a data science and operations research consulting company. She serves on a SWARM Science Advisory Board. Throughout her career, she has led a number of analytics projects for Fortune 500 Companies and startups. From 2019-2021, she was President for Women in Operations Research and Management Science (WORMS) at the Institute for Operations Research and the Management Sciences (INFORMS) and is currently serving as regional ambassador for the 2022 Women in Data Science Conference co-organized by Stanford University and the University of Washington. Dr. Khachatryan earned a Ph.D. in Industrial Engineering from Georgia Institute of Technology and a Master of Science in Industrial Engineering from the American University of Armenia (AUA). Teaming up with four of her AUA classmates, she launched the Avatar Learning Center, a K-12 enrichment program designed to build a strong math foundation in children, along with developing their analytical abilities, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills. She has also taught courses in Statistics and Data Science at AUA in 2019. 

 

Dr. Margarit Khachatryan (AUA MS in Industrial Engineering ‘97)
Director of Data Science, Cooler Screens; Founder, MagAnalytics

Margarit (Maga) Khachatryan is a Director of Data Science at Cooler Screens and Founder of MagAnalytics, a data science and operations research consulting company. She serves on a SWARM Science Advisory Board. Throughout her career, she has led a number of analytics projects for Fortune 500 Companies and startups. From 2019-2021, she was President for Women in Operations Research and Management Science (WORMS) at the Institute for Operations Research and the Management Sciences (INFORMS) and is currently serving as regional ambassador for the 2022 Women in Data Science Conference co-organized by Stanford University and the University of Washington. Dr. Khachatryan earned a Ph.D. in Industrial Engineering from Georgia Institute of Technology and a Master of Science in Industrial Engineering from the American University of Armenia (AUA). Teaming up with four of her AUA classmates, she launched the Avatar Learning Center, a K-12 enrichment program designed to build a strong math foundation in children, along with developing their analytical abilities, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills. She has also taught courses in Statistics and Data Science at AUA in 2019.

Powered by
Vahe Kuzoyan 
Co-Founder/President, ServiceTitan; AUA ChangeMaker & Scholarship Program Supporter 

Vahe Kuzoyan is Co-Founder and President of ServiceTitan. In that role, he is responsible for setting the overall product strategy, overseeing the development and launch of new products, and enhancing the experience of platform users and data analytics. Vahe and Co-Founder/CEO Ara Mahdessian chose to forgo prestigious job opportunities with tech giants to create their own game-changing product at ServiceTitan. He holds a Bachelor of Science in computer science, neuroscience, and business administration from the University of Southern California (USC). Vahe is also involved in philanthropy and community service working with Children’s Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA) and underprivileged students in Armenia. 

Powered by
Vahe Kuzoyan
Co-Founder/President, ServiceTitan; AUA ChangeMaker & Scholarship Program Supporter

Vahe Kuzoyan is Co-Founder and President of ServiceTitan. In that role, he is responsible for setting the overall product strategy, overseeing the development and launch of new products, and enhancing the experience of platform users and data analytics. Vahe and Co-Founder/CEO Ara Mahdessian chose to forgo prestigious job opportunities with tech giants to create their own game-changing product at ServiceTitan. He holds a Bachelor of Science in computer science, neuroscience, and business administration from the University of Southern California (USC). Vahe is also involved in philanthropy and community service working with Children’s Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA) and underprivileged students in Armenia. 

Powered by
Hovig Safoian
Co-Founder/Chairman, SADA; AUA Scholarship Program Supporter

Hovig Safoian is Co-founder and Chairman of the Board at SADA, and a veteran IT professional with over 35 years of experience in leading IT teams, and developing innovative solutions for complex and challenging environments. After receiving a Master of Science degree in applied mathematics, he initially worked as a mainframe programmer and application developer. He subsequently launched his own IT consulting practice, where he began devising enterprise resource planning (ERP) solutions for business management firms. Under his direction, SADA operated as an IT services firm providing onsite and remote support, then grew to become a global provider of strategic IT solutions and cloud transformation services for leading cloud platform providers. Hovig was instrumental in leading the divestiture of one of SADA’s cloud practices to Core BTS, allowing the company to be fully dedicated to Google Cloud. In 2013, Hovig was named CIO of the Year by the Los Angeles Business Journal in the Emerging Business category. Hovig is also involved in various philanthropic and community services including with Children’s Hospital Los Angeles and California State University, Northridge.

Powered by
Hovig Safoian
Co-Founder/Chairman, SADA; AUA Scholarship Program Supporter

Hovig Safoian is Co-founder and Chairman of the Board at SADA, and a veteran IT professional with over 35 years of experience in leading IT teams, and developing innovative solutions for complex and challenging environments. After receiving a Master of Science degree in applied mathematics, he initially worked as a mainframe programmer and application developer. He subsequently launched his own IT consulting practice, where he began devising enterprise resource planning (ERP) solutions for business management firms. Under his direction, SADA operated as an IT services firm providing onsite and remote support, then grew to become a global provider of strategic IT solutions and cloud transformation services for leading cloud platform providers. Hovig was instrumental in leading the divestiture of one of SADA’s cloud practices to Core BTS, allowing the company to be fully dedicated to Google Cloud. In 2013, Hovig was named CIO of the Year by the Los Angeles Business Journal in the Emerging Business category. Hovig is also involved in various philanthropic and community services including with Children’s Hospital Los Angeles and California State University, Northridge.

Sam Simonian
Founder, TUMO Center for Creative Technologies; AUA Pillar & Trustee Emeritus

Sam Simonian is Co-founder of Inet Technologies Inc., a telecommunications company specializing in network management and business operational solutions. He was selected Entrepreneur of the Year in 1994 by Inc. magazine, Ernst & Young, and Merrill Lynch, and was also a recipient of the distinguished Ellis Island Medal of Honor in May 2000. Currently Mr. Simonian serves on the AGBU Council of Trustees, is a Trustee Emeritus of the American University of Armenia (AUA) and Chairman of the Board of Teach for Armenia. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from the University of Texas in Arlington. Born in Beirut, Lebanon, he currently resides in Dallas, Texas. Sam and his wife Sylva have sponsored the establishment of the AUA Master in Computer and Information Technology program in 2002. In 2011, they founded the TUMO Center for Creative Technologies, a free after-school program in technology and design currently serving more than 20,000 teenagers in Armenia and Artsakh. Internationally, TUMO centers were adopted by Paris, Berlin, Tirana, Moscow, Kyiv, Lyon, with many others coming soon. 

Sam Simonian
Founder, TUMO Center for Creative Technologies; AUA Pillar & Trustee Emeritus

Sam Simonian is Co-founder of Inet Technologies Inc., a telecommunications company specializing in network management and business operational solutions. He was selected Entrepreneur of the Year in 1994 by Inc. magazine, Ernst & Young, and Merrill Lynch, and was also a recipient of the distinguished Ellis Island Medal of Honor in May 2000. Currently Mr. Simonian serves on the AGBU Council of Trustees, is a Trustee Emeritus of the American University of Armenia (AUA) and Chairman of the Board of Teach for Armenia. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from the University of Texas in Arlington. Born in Beirut, Lebanon, he currently resides in Dallas, Texas. Sam and his wife Sylva have sponsored the establishment of the AUA Master in Computer and Information Technology program in 2002. In 2011, they founded the TUMO Center for Creative Technologies, a free after-school program in technology and design currently serving more than 20,000 teenagers in Armenia and Artsakh. Internationally, TUMO centers were adopted by Paris, Berlin, Tirana, Moscow, Kyiv, Lyon, with many others coming soon. 

Shantal Adajian
B.S. in Engineering Sciences ‘22, AUA 

Shantal Adajian was born in Anjar, Lebanon, a village near the Umayyad ruins in the Bekaa Valley. She attended the local Haratch Gulbengian School and served as a volunteer in environmental organizations such as the Lebanon Reforestation Initiative and the Association for Forests Development and Conservation. She moved to Armenia in the fall of 2018 to attend the American University of Armenia (AUA). During her undergraduate studies, she majored in Engineering Sciences and took a minor in Environmental Studies. She was involved in the ResponDrone project and was a mechatronics lab assistant in her senior year. She graduated in June 2022 with a Bachelor of Science degree and is currently enrolled at the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB) working toward a Ph.D. degree in Mechanical Engineering with a focus on fluid mechanics and thermal sciences, as well as micro and nanoscale engineering. Upon completion, she plans to return to Armenia to work on harnessing Armenia’s untapped wind power to become one of its main renewable energy sources.

Powered by
Shantal Adajian
B.S. in Engineering Sciences ‘22, AUA 

Shantal Adajian was born in Anjar, Lebanon, a village near the Umayyad ruins in the Bekaa Valley. She attended the local Haratch Gulbengian School and served as a volunteer in environmental organizations such as the Lebanon Reforestation Initiative and the Association for Forests Development and Conservation. She moved to Armenia in the fall of 2018 to attend the American University of Armenia (AUA). During her undergraduate studies, she majored in Engineering Sciences and took a minor in Environmental Studies. She was involved in the ResponDrone project and was a mechatronics lab assistant in her senior year. She graduated in June 2022 with a Bachelor of Science degree and is currently enrolled at the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB) working toward a Ph.D. degree in Mechanical Engineering with a focus on fluid mechanics and thermal sciences, as well as micro and nanoscale engineering. Upon completion, she plans to return to Armenia to work on harnessing Armenia’s untapped wind power to become one of its main renewable energy sources.

Powered by
Armine Galstyan
B.A. in Business ‘18, AUA

Armine Galstyan is a Principal at SmartGateVC, a pre-seed, seed venture capital fund investing in deep tech companies with a primary focus on AI. As a Principal at the firm, she runs the U.S. operations and builds the Hero House in Los Angeles — a technology hub and community of entrepreneurs, investors, researchers, and tech professionals. Armine holds a BA in Business degree from the American University of Armenia.

Powered by
Armine Galstyan
B.A. in Business ‘18, AUA

Armine Galstyan is a Principal at SmartGateVC, a pre-seed, seed venture capital fund investing in deep tech companies with a primary focus on AI. As a Principal at the firm, she runs the U.S. operations and builds the Hero House in Los Angeles — a technology hub and community of entrepreneurs, investors, researchers, and tech professionals. Armine holds a BA in Business degree from the American University of Armenia.

Powered by
Grigor Tukharyan 
B.S. in Engineering Sciences ‘22, AUA 

Grigor Tukharyan was born in Yerevan, Armenia, but spent most of his childhood in northern California having moved there with his family as a child. At the age of 12, Grigor moved back to Armenia with his family and attended the Ananya Shirakatsy School. Grigor was part of the Armenian National Cycling Team, and was several-time triathlon champion in California and Armenia. After graduating from the International Baccalaureate program of Shirakatsy, he attended the American University of Armenia (AUA) starting in the fall of 2018 with a major in Engineering Sciences. During his undergraduate years at AUA, Grigor worked on an industrial caustic soda filtration system for Coca-Cola with fellow students from AUA’s engineering club, ArmSAT (Armenian Student Aerospace Team). He later worked at Instigate as a junior researcher for software defined radios, field-programmable gate arrays, and high level synthesis applications. He graduated from AUA in 2022 and is currently enrolled in the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) where he is studying for his Master’s degree in Nuclear Science and Engineering with a focus on nuclear security and policy, as well as nuclear reactors. After completing his graduate studies and gaining the required experiences, Grigor plans to return to Armenia to work on developing fast-neutron reactors that offer a more efficient use of radioactive fuel with the potential to significantly reduce the waste streams from nuclear power through burning.

Powered by
Grigor Tukharyan
B.S. in Engineering Sciences ‘22, AUA 

Grigor Tukharyan was born in Yerevan, Armenia, but spent most of his childhood in northern California having moved there with his family as a child. At the age of 12, Grigor moved back to Armenia with his family and attended the Ananya Shirakatsy School. Grigor was part of the Armenian National Cycling Team, and was several-time triathlon champion in California and Armenia. After graduating from the International Baccalaureate program of Shirakatsy, he attended the American University of Armenia (AUA) starting in the fall of 2018 with a major in Engineering Sciences. During his undergraduate years at AUA, Grigor worked on an industrial caustic soda filtration system for Coca-Cola with fellow students from AUA’s engineering club, ArmSAT (Armenian Student Aerospace Team). He later worked at Instigate as a junior researcher for software defined radios, field-programmable gate arrays, and high level synthesis applications. He graduated from AUA in 2022 and is currently enrolled in the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) where he is studying for his Master’s degree in Nuclear Science and Engineering with a focus on nuclear security and policy, as well as nuclear reactors. After completing his graduate studies and gaining the required experiences, Grigor plans to return to Armenia to work on developing fast-neutron reactors that offer a more efficient use of radioactive fuel with the potential to significantly reduce the waste streams from nuclear power through burning.

Powered by