YEREVAN, Armenia — On September 9, as part of Saroyan Days in Yerevan (September 4-11), the American University of Armenia (AUA) hosted an evening of readings to celebrate the legacy of the great Armenian-American writer William Saroyan.
The program opened with welcome remarks by AUA Provost Dr. Alina Gharabegian, who emphasized the importance of gathering “in the name of literature.” She extended her gratitude to Scott Setrakian, president of the William Saroyan Foundation, whose initiative brought the event to AUA. Dr. Gharabegian highlighted Setrakian’s distinguished career, both as head of the Saroyan Foundation, which manages Saroyan’s literary estate and co-sponsors the William Saroyan International Prize for Writing with Stanford University Libraries, and as a leader in the business and technology sectors. She also praised the behind-the-scenes efforts of AUA staff who helped bring the event to life.
The evening was led by Astghik Pirumyan, administrative assistant at AUA’s Office of the President, who served as master of ceremonies.
Setrakian’s remarks centered on Saroyan’s legacy and his belief that his writing would outlast his lifetime. Quoting a 1961 reflection on a conversation Saroyan had with George Bernard Shaw, Setrakian noted that Saroyan’s conviction has been borne out with the recent publication of 22 Unpublished Stories. He went on to recount Saroyan’s extraordinary journey — from his childhood in an orphanage, to his relentless pursuit of writing, to his unprecedented rise in the 1930s. Between 1934 and 1949, Saroyan became one of the most successful writers in the world, winning both a Pulitzer Prize for The Time of Your Life and an Academy Award for The Human Comedy.
Following Setrakian’s reflections, the program featured a moving address by Saroyan Foundation scholarship recipient Nune Marukyan (MBA ’25), a recent AUA graduate. She shared her family’s story of survival and displacement after the Armenian Genocide and spoke of the transformative role the Saroyan Scholarship played in enabling her to remain in Armenia for her education. Calling the award “the cornerstone of my future life here in Armenia,” Marukyan described completing her degree with distinction, launching her own online language school, and preparing to embark on a new startup partnership with one of her professors. Expressing her gratitude to the Foundation, she emphasized how the scholarship inspired her to “give back double — to teammates, to family, to community.”
The program continued with a series of readings that showcased the depth and variety of Saroyan’s writing, including Setrakian’s introduction to 48 Saroyan Stories, Dr. Shushan Avagyan and Dr. Deanna Cachoian-Schanz’s presentation of The Story of Chunkoush, and performances by Suzanne Daghlian, Alex Vartan Gubbins, and Laurie Alvandian.
The event concluded with a Q&A session, followed by a reception and informal discussions, during which attendees had the chance to exchange ideas and continue celebrating Saroyan’s enduring legacy.
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.
