Anahit Melkonyan (BAB ’23) To Pursue Graduate Studies at Harvard Law School

4 min read

YEREVAN, Armenia — From the Entrepreneurship Product and Innovation Center’s (EPIC) Incubation Program to the Policy Debate Club, American University of Armenia (AUA) alumna Anahit Melkonyan (BAB ’23) spent her time at AUA diving into a wide range of academic opportunities and subjects in pursuit of her goal to challenge the status quo. Her journey of academic exploration has now led her to Harvard Law School (HLS), where she will matriculate this fall. We asked her to share about her road to AUA, her career aspirations, and more. 

What motivated you to apply to AUA?

I knew that AUA offers a high-quality and Western-style education, and it’s also a liberal arts institution, where students don’t need to only study their major, but they can also dive into other disciplines as well. I wanted to receive that multidimensional approach to education. I also liked the relationship between students and professors at the University. I think that in other universities, there is more of a lecture-style relationship, where the professor reads the lecture, and the students simply take notes or listen. At AUA, however, there is a high level of engagement between students and professors. Of course, professors were an important motivating factor behind my decision to apply to AUA. They hail from different countries, boasting different experiences and knowledge to share with us.

What is your most memorable memory from AUA?

During one of our final exam seasons, my Introduction to Management professor decided to forgo a paper-based final exam. Instead, he took us to Cascade for a scavenger hunt, where we could implement our knowledge of management that we had acquired through the course and use it to work in a group setting. I think that was a memorable experience because it taught us that we can learn outside the four walls of the classroom.

How did you choose to study in the Bachelor of Arts in Business program at AUA?

After graduating from high school, I crafted two career paths for myself. One was entrepreneurship, and the other policymaking. Although they may sound different at first glance, they share one thing in common: they both seek to challenge the status quo. At AUA, I initially tried to achieve this by majoring in business and pursuing a track in economics. Later, I also minored in the Philosophy, Politics, and Economics program to learn a bit about public policy.

Can you please reflect on your experience at AUA?

I would say my experience at AUA was quite unique and tough, because we faced the Covid-19 pandemic and the 2020 Artsakh War. However, people in my cohort managed to remain resilient; we were motivated by both our faculty and each other. Despite these obstacles, I managed to remain engaged and have a fulfilling academic experience. I participated in several campus activities. I served as a Student Ambassador for the University and, for some time, as the president of the University’s Policy Debate Club. I also took part in EPIC’s Incubation Program with my startup in spring 2021. We approached EPIC with our startup, Grandma, completed the incubation process, and were one of the winners of the Program. Grandma used a machine learning model to detect hate speech online.

What lessons have you learned at AUA that you will carry with you moving forward?

One major lesson I learned was to always think big and never be limited by boundaries. I remember, during various lessons, our professors assigned us this exercise: nine dots that must be connected without removing the pen from the paper. You cannot achieve this task without going outside the artificial boundary surrounding those nine dots that you have set for yourself in your head. It very clearly illustrates how we sometimes set artificial boundaries for ourselves, and we need to be able to recognize and move past them. I was exposed more directly to this concept during EPIC’s Silicon Valley trip in 2023. We visited some of the top startups in the Valley, including Google, Pinterest, and Nvidia. We saw how thinking big and surpassing boundaries is, in fact, a very possible and accessible feat. 

Why did you choose to apply to HLS?

I chose to apply to HLS for a myriad of reasons. First, I would cite the students. HLS is home to a diverse student body, ranging from professional flute players to professional pilots, who all come together to study law. I actually just met one of my fellow incoming HLS classmates in Europe this summer! It also boasts extremely successful alumni, including Barack and Michelle Obama and W.E.B. Du Bois. Harvard is prominent for its many leading journals. I am already working for the Harvard Human Rights Journal as a submission editor. Also, importantly, Harvard is a huge university where students can pursue cross-disciplinary studies. I can take courses, such as Behavioral Economics and Law or Law and Public Policy, which harken back to my undergraduate studies at AUA.

How do you think AUA contributed to your admission to HLS?

Because of AUA’s Western-style education, I was closely acquainted with the American style of study, and I did not face any difficulty in managing the admissions process; it was already very familiar to me. Additionally, the knowledge and experience I acquired at the University definitely contributed. I must also mention the pivotal role AUA professors played in my application process. Not only did they provide me with the aforementioned knowledge, but some of them stood by my side, writing me recommendation letters and offering me advice while I was applying. I would like to specifically shout out adjunct lecturer Samson Avetian, Assistant Professor Dr. Lena Seissian, and adjunct lecturer Dr. Vahe Odabashian. 

What kind of law do you hope to study and specialize in at HLS? Why?

I will study constitutional law and administrative law and combine these with my studies in economics to craft for myself a policymaking career, formulating data-driven and research-based laws and regulations. I initially envision my career in the United States, but I hope to eventually take my skills to developing countries, including Armenia, and help them draft laws and regulations, based on their own constitutions, in a way that will bestow upon these countries the benefits that the American system provides for Americans. 

How do you plan to stay in touch with and contribute to your alma mater?

Last semester, I worked as a teaching associate for the course Linear Algebra and Multivariable Calculus. I found it very fulfilling to speak with students and share my experience with them. I believe that in the future, during and following my studies at HLS, I will be able to contribute again through guest lectures, training, and other educational avenues and share my knowledge.

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.