AUA Office of Advancement

10/12/2026

We are deeply grateful to our Gala Committee members and co-chairs, Liza Bagamian and Tanya Tsarukyan, for their outstanding leadership, dedication, and commitment to AUA.

Secure your AUA Anniversary Gala seats before October 19.

📅 November 7, 2026 | Beverly Hills, California
🎟️ More about the Gala at https://philanthropy.aua.am/aua35/tickets-sponsorships/"

10/08/2026

With less than a month left to the November 7 Gala, Levon Nazarian (LL.M. '26) and Mary Grigoryan (BSCS '27) sit down with Louisa Sharamatyan for a special podcast episode celebrating the American University of Armenia’s 35th anniversary!

Levon is a real estate entrepreneur, President and Regional Director of RE/MAX Armenia, and a 2026 graduate of AUA’s LL.M. program. Born and raised in Canada, he shares his journey of moving to Armenia to invest, contribute, and build a future in his homeland.

Mary is an AUA computer science undergraduate student and CEO and co-founder of Bleenk.ai, an AI startup helping clients develop websites. She shares how AUA and its EPIC startup incubator helped support her entrepreneurial journey.

Watch: https://youtu.be/WTLUGQ_RD1E?si=TpK8F41fubctgpsj

Tonight on Louisa LIVE, I’m joined by Levon Nazarian and Mary Grigo...

10/05/2026

On November 7, we will gather in Beverly Hills to celebrate 35 years of AUA and the people who have helped pave the way for Armenia’s future leaders.

An evening of music, stories, gratitude, and a look toward the next chapter of AUA’s journey.

🎶 AUA’s 35th Anniversary Gala
📅 November 7, 2026
📍 The Beverly Hilton, Beverly Hills

The countdown is on. See you in one month.
Secure your tickets at: https://philanthropy.aua.am/aua35/tickets-sponsorships/

10/02/2026

A graduate of AUA's first BS in Data Science cohort, Susie Avagyan (BSDS ’22) received the Hrant Khachatryan Memorial Scholarship during her studies. Today she is a Ph.D. student in biomedical data science at Stanford University. Her education connects Armenia to research at the frontier and opens the door for others to follow.

Susie invites you celebrate AUA's 35th Anniversary Gala together in Los Angeles.

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

10/01/2026

What happens when a love of music meets a commitment to giving back? On August 29, Raffi & The Rippers brought the community together at the legendary Troubadour in West Hollywood to raise more than $14,000 in support of AUA scholarships.

For Raffi Aharonian, this was the band’s third fundraiser for AUA, a tradition inspired by his family’s longstanding connection to the University and his own growing belief in the power of philanthropy. As Raffi puts it, supporting AUA is more than giving to a university. It is “investing in future leaders, innovators, and changemakers.”

We are grateful to Raffi, his family, the band, and everyone who helped turn an evening of music into an investment in students and Armenia’s future.

Read story:

The concert was free to attend, with merchandise proceeds directed entirely to AUA and a dedicated fundraising campaign open to supporters.

09/29/2026

AUA has appointed Dr. Randall Rhodes as Provost, a role he previously held from 2015 to 2020.

During his first term, AUA expanded its degree programs and student support services. He also secured competitive USAID ASHA grants for the Student Residence Facility, Triangle Park and Media Lab.

From 2020 to 2026, Rhodes served as President of the American University of Kurdistan in Duhok, where he secured U.S. Department of State grants and helped establish the university's endowment.

"We are delighted to welcome Dr. Rhodes back to AUA at this exciting juncture in its history," said AUA President Dr. Bruce Boghosian.

📃 Press release:

09/29/2026

AUA recently celebrated the winners of the 2026 Vahé and Lucie Creative Competition at a ceremony held in the Akian Art Gallery. The competition was made possible through the generous support of the Vahé and Lucie Foundation and organized by The Highlander Magazine.

Now in its third year, and with increased support from the Foundation, the competition expanded to seven categories with new awards for Poetry, Comic Strip and Journalistic Feature, and received a record 85 submissions, a 51% increase from last year.

Meet this year’s talented student winners and explore the work they created in response to the theme “Childhood Memories,” reflecting on the people, places, experiences, and traditions that shaped their early lives.

📰 Read the press release: https://bit.ly/4xOIUb9

🏆 Browse winning works: https://thehighlander.aua.am/vlcw2026/

09/28/2026

Vanane Ararktsyan (LL.M. ’11), Executive Director of Keron Development Foundation and featured alumna speaker at AUA's 35th Anniversary invites you celebrate this milestone together in Los Angeles.

The deadline to secure your sponsorship and have your company included in the official gala program booklet is October 5, 2026.

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

09/28/2026

Five students from AUA’s Master of Arts in Multiplatform Journalism program recently spent three weeks gaining hands-on experience at newsrooms across Spokane, putting their skills to work and learning firsthand how journalism is practiced in a different media environment.

Developed in partnership with Washington State University’s Edward R. Murrow College of Communication, the program prepares the next generation of journalists through practical, skills-based training across print, television, audio and digital platforms.

Read the full story in The Spokesman-Review and meet the students behind the stories.

Five journalism graduate students from the American University of Armenia are spending three weeks in four newsrooms in Spokane, exploring familiar fields and putting their training into practice in a new country.

09/25/2026

We are excited to announce Vanane Ararktsyan (LL.M. ’11) as a featured alumna speaker at AUA’s 35th Anniversary Gala.

A graduate of AUA’s Master of Laws program, Vanane today serves as Executive Director of the Keron Development Foundation, creating meaningful and lasting impact in Armenia.

Her connection to AUA has come full circle. As an alumna, she carries forward the opportunities an AUA education made possible for her. And through the Keron Development Foundation’s recent commitment to the 200 ChangeMakers of AUA, she is now helping create those opportunities for the next generation.

Join us in welcoming Vanane to the stage on November 7 at The Beverly Hilton as we celebrate 35 years of Paving the Way for Future Leaders.

Learn more about our Gala: https://philanthropy.aua.am/aua35/tickets-sponsorships/