At the American University of Armenia (AUA), the spirit of giving often runs deep, and we see it being passed from one generation to the next. Today, many of our young ChangeMakers are stepping up in their own right, contributing to AUA to ensure that future generations of Armenians continue to benefit from the higher education programs, resources, and facilities the University offers. Their stories are a testament to how individual commitment, rooted in shared values, can help build a stronger Armenia.
Lori, Luciné & Lily Janjigian
For sisters Lori, Luciné, and Lily Janjigian, supporting AUA is both a personal commitment and a continuation of a family legacy rooted in their belief in equitable education, service, and deep ties to Armenia.
Growing up in the United States, the sisters heard countless stories about how AUA shaped their parents’ lives, both professionally and personally. Their mother, Nooné, was pursuing a Ph.D. in comparative linguistics and teaching at Yerevan State University when she took a second job at AUA as an administrative assistant to founding president Dr. Armen Der Kiureghian. Their father, Vahan, grew up in the U.S. and was a finance professor at Northeastern University in Boston when AUA opened its doors. He took a leave of absence from his job and traveled to Yerevan, becoming one of the first professors to teach at the University. Soon after, Vahan and Nooné met, fell in love, and got married. “We feel that AUA is directly responsible for the start of our family,” the sisters say.
The impact of that connection never faded. Over the years, each daughter made several trips to Armenia, and AUA was always on the list of places to visit — whether to meet Vahan’s former students, reconnect with Nooné’s old friends, or simply walk the campus that brought their parents together. That relationship deepened when Lily taught a web development course at AUA through a program sponsored by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, sharing her own expertise with students in Armenia.
The family’s support began with the Yes, Armenian Women Can! scholarship campaign, driven by their belief in equity in education and the importance of empowering women. “We were inspired by this campaign largely because we have three daughters, and we strongly believe that women deserve to have the same educational opportunities as men,” Vahan and Nooné share. That commitment to AUA then progressed to supporting the 200 ChangeMakers campaign.
Although Lori, Luciné, and Lily are spread out across the USA — from New York to California to Hawaii — they feel a strong bond to Armenia. Motivated by their parents’ example and inspired by the University’s mission, the Janjigian sisters became AUA ChangeMakers, joining the growing network of young alumni and supporters who are helping shape Armenia’s future through philanthropy.
“We believe education is the key to success — not just for the educated, but for society at large,” the family says. “AUA is providing a cutting-edge education, and giving Armenian students the skills they need to thrive in a knowledge-based, technologically advanced world. Many AUA graduates have founded innovative companies of their own and secured clients from all over the world. This is the best way to fuel Armenia’s economy and ensure the nation’s long-term success.”
Michelle Asatrian
For Michelle Asatrian, becoming an AUA ChangeMaker was a meaningful continuation of a lifelong family commitment to education, service, and Armenia’s future.
A recent graduate of Loyola Marymount University’s Business School, Michelle recalls the moment she was named one of AUA’s 200 ChangeMakers by her parents at a fundraising event. “I remember feeling deeply honored and inspired, grateful for the chance to step into a space where I could both learn from a community of changemakers and continue my family’s legacy of service and hope for Armenia,” she says.
That legacy runs deep. Her parents, Gaiane Khachatrian and Ara Asatrian, have long believed in the transformative power of higher education. “From a young age, I watched my parents dedicate themselves not just to their own academic and professional growth, but also to uplifting others, especially the youth of Armenia, through the gift of education,” Michelle shares. “For them, higher education was never just a personal milestone. It was a moral calling, a way to invest in the future of a country they never stopped loving.”
By joining AUA’s growing network of young philanthropists, Michelle is helping to sustain and expand her family’s impact. Her hope is that their investment in higher education will enable more students in Armenia to access a world-class education, while staying rooted in their heritage. “I want to see more young Armenians gain the skills, knowledge, and confidence to succeed globally and to do so while remaining deeply connected to where they come from.”
Michelle’s story is part of a broader movement of young supporters stepping forward to ensure AUA’s mission continues for generations to come.
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.