Major Gift to AUA From Turpanjian Family Sees Dr. Stephan Astourian Appointed Director of TCPA 

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YEREVAN, Armenia — The Turpanjian family has generously contributed a $1 million gift to expand the activities of the Turpanjian Center for Policy Analysis (TCPA) at the American University of Armenia (AUA). This donation has made it possible for the appointment of Dr. Stephan Astourian as the Center’s new director. In addition to his new role, Dr. Astourian will be joining the faculty of the AUA College of Humanities and Social Sciences (CHSS). 

TCPA was established in 1995 by the AUA Political Science and International Affairs (PSIA) program with the central mission of promoting knowledge and understanding through objective and independent research and policy analysis employing the latest methodologies. With Dr. Astourian’s recent appointment at AUA, he will “lead an effort through the TCPA to engage the faculty in multidisciplinary research in critical areas of international relations, regional studies, Diaspora and transnational studies, and related fields,” said previous AUA Interim President and co-founder Dr. Armen Der Kiureghian, adding, “I am very excited and optimistic that TCPA will become an important study center for Armenia in an area of dire need at the present time.” 

Recalling the first time he visited the University, Dr. Astourian says, “I have witnessed AUA’s remarkable growth since I visited it for the first time in 1999. It still has enormous potential for further growth and for the consolidation of its various academic programs.” Originally from France, Dr. Astourian received his Ph.D. from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) under the late Professor Dr. Richard Hovannisian. In 1998, he joined the faculty at the University of California (UC), Berkeley, and served as associate adjunct professor and William Saroyan director of the Armenian Studies program until his retirement in 2022. He has also taught at California State University, Long Beach; the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor; and UCLA. Highly regarded as a scholar, modern historian, and specialist of the Caucasus, Dr. Astourian has published works on the Armenian Genocide; Armenian, Ottoman/Turkish, and Azerbaijani history and politics; and current Armenian Diasporan issues. 

Having retired from the University of California, Berkeley, Dr. Astourian looks forward to his next chapter with AUA, eager to contribute his knowledge and expertise to areas that will advance Armenia’s future. “My vision for TCPA is to coordinate our work at AUA — mine and that of my relevant colleagues — with the knowledge, contacts, and advice of our best Diasporan minds working in three social scientific fields: international relations; ethics and governance; and Diaspora and migration. The goal is to optimize our capability,” says Dr. Astourian.

The substantial gift of $1 million by the Turpanjian Family Educational Foundation will foster excellence in policy analysis and evidence-based research and reinforce democratic ideals in Armenia. This partnership will strengthenTCPA’s capabilities and enable AUA to play a role in addressing critical issues in Armenia. When asked what spurred the family to increase TCPA’s capacity with this generous new donation, Gerald Turpanjian responds, “It is becoming increasingly evident that Armenia could use a more robust foreign policy, as it is a tool for achieving a nation’s strategic goals.” 

Adding to the family’s long list of support for AUA, this new gift will undoubtedly contribute to the development of new, informed policy decisions in Armenia. With great hope for the course of the nation, Turpanjian adds, “It is important that a nation’s foreign policy is well thought-out and realistically implemented and that it has clear objectives. Otherwise, it could be detrimental to a nation’s long-term goals and well-being.”

Dr. Astourian wishes to create synergy between TCPA’s activities and the newly approved degrees. For instance, TCPA’s focus on international relations will complement the new Master of Arts in International Relations and Diplomacy. “The goal is to train a generation of young people able to think about international relations dispassionately and rationally, that is, on the basis of data, valid analyses, and scenario-building, etc. In the same vein, the program on Ethics and Governance is meant to complement the new Master of Public Affairs,” Dr. Astourian says, adding that the involvement of students is crucial.

Under the supervision of CHSS, AUA students can take part in internships and other collaborative activities. “Graduate students, in particular, will also greatly benefit from the lectures and symposia we will organize online and on campus, as well as from their interactions with visiting scholars and specialists. Involvement in research projects under the guidance of relevant faculty may also provide them the opportunity to publish truly outstanding papers in TCPA’s forthcoming series of ‘Working Papers,’” Dr. Astourian expounds.   

With Dr. Astourian’s appointment and the Turpanjian family’s expanded support, AUA students and faculty will be better equipped to influence policy decisions that can positively impact Armenia and the regions. 

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 and graduate degree and certificate programs, promotes research and innovation, encourages civic engagement and community service, and fosters democratic values. AUA’s Office of Development stewards the University’s philanthropic efforts exclusively for educational purposes.