Dr. Hagop Yacoubian Appointed Dean of CHSS

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YEREVAN, Armenia — The American University of Armenia (AUA) is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Hagop Yacoubian as Dean of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences (CHSS). Dr. Yacoubian joins AUA from the Lebanese American University, where he was tenured Associate Professor of Education as well as the Director of the Education Program in the School of Arts and Sciences. Effective July 1, Dr. Yacoubian will serve as the chief academic and administrative officer of CHSS, providing leadership for all academic programs and research centers within the College, building collaborative synergies among the academic and research programs of the College, and leading recruitment.

“I am honored to be appointed to this position and grateful for the opportunity to serve CHSS and AUA,” says Dr. Yacoubian. “The University’s vision is impressive, and people are highly committed. I look forward to working collaboratively with colleagues, students, and the community as we continue to advance the mission of CHSS and grow and sustain its impact.” 

Previously, he has served as the Chair of the Faculty of Social and Behavioral Sciences at Haigazian University. Dr. Yacoubian received his Ph.D. from the Department of Secondary Education at the University of Alberta, Canada. He has an MA in Education, a Teaching Diploma, and a BS in Health Sciences from the American University of Beirut.

Dr. Yacoubian’s research is interdisciplinary in nature. He explores how future citizens can be empowered to develop a critical mindset, engage in democratic decision-making processes, and be advocates of social justice. One particular focus involves studying how history, philosophy, and sociology of science, within the context of precollege science education, can facilitate developing scientifically literate future citizens committed to social justice.

Throughout the years, Dr. Yacoubian has maintained an internally and externally funded active research agenda. His publications have appeared in high-ranking international peer-reviewed journals such as the International Journal of Science Education, Journal of Research in Science Teaching, and Science & Education, among others. He is the author of the book “Critical Thinking at the Armenian Schools in Lebanon” (2016), the co-editor of a special issue of the Canadian Journal of Science, Mathematics and Technology Education on “Rethinking Education for Citizenship” (2015), and the co-editor of the volume “Nature of Science for Social Justice” (2020), published under the Springer series Science: Philosophy, History and Education. 

Dr. Yacoubian is a member of the Editorial Board of Science & Education and on the International Editorial Advisory Board of McGill Journal of Education. He is a reviewer for a number of international journals in Education and is an active member of several worldwide research organizations. He has delivered more than 75 academic talks in 17 countries, within the context of international research conferences and other educational conventions. 

Dr. Yacoubian has consulted several schools and projects as well as trained teachers and school leaders in the Middle East, Europe, and North America. Before joining academia, he worked as a high school science teacher, head of the science department of an international school, and teacher educator in Lebanon and Canada. Dr. Yacoubian has created community-partnered programs that target professional development of in-service schoolteachers. He has secured external funding and created both short-term and long-term research and development programs.

Founded in 1991, the American University of Armenia (AUA) is a private, independent university located in Yerevan, Armenia, affiliated with the University of California, and accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission in the United States. AUA provides local and international students with Western-style education through top-quality undergraduate, graduate, and certificate programs, promotes research and innovation, encourages civic engagement and community service, and fosters democratic values.