YEREVAN — Earlier this August, the American University of Armenia (AUA) welcomed a representative delegation from California State Government, Los Angeles County Government and Arizona and Colorado State Legislatures sponsored by the Armenian National Committee (ANC) Western Region.
Led by California Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis, the delegation included Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger, Chief of Staff to Supervisor Barger Anna Mouradian, Arizona State Senator Paul Boyer, Arizona State Senator Otoniel Navarrete, Colorado State Senator Dominick Moreno, Colorado State Representative Daneya Esgar, as well as ANC Western Region members Nora Hovsepian, Chair, Sako Berberian and Lina Davidian, and Simon Maghakyan.
AUA President Dr. Karin Markides, Provost Dr. Randall Rhodes, Director of Admissions Arina Zohrabian and Director of Communications Narek Ghazaryan welcomed the delegates.
Rhodes briefed the guests on the history of the University and led them through a tour of the AUA campus with stops at the AGBU Papazian Library, the Large Auditorium, and the Student Union, and classrooms in the Paramaz Avedisian Building. A small reception followed at the Akian Art Gallery during which the group discussed a vision for future collaborations between the University and the states and counties represented.
Joining the delegation at the round table that followed were the Dean of Zaven and Sonia Akian College of Science & Engineering (CSE) Dr. Aram Hajian, dean of the Manoogian Simone College of Business and Economics (CBE) Dr. Vache Gabrielyan, dean of the Gerald and Patricia Turpanjian School of Public Health (SPH) Dr. Varduhi Petrosyan, dean of General Education Dr. Sharistan Melkonian, Director of AUA Acopian Center for the Environment Alen Amirkhanian; and Prof. Gregory Areshian representing the College of Humanities & Social Sciences (CHSS). During the round table, the attendees gave brief presentations on their respective programs and research centers and proposed points of mutual interest and collaborations.
One of the key topics of discussion was marketing AUA and Armenia as a study abroad destination for students in the US. “I hope we can find common goals and see how we can help this country develop further,” said Markides. She highlighted the importance of collaboration between AUA and the U.S. government to encourage students from the US to study at AUA and experience Armenia’s rich culture.
