LOS ANGELES, California — For David Tateosian, supporting the American University of Armenia (AUA) is rooted in the Tateosian family’s resilience and values centered on education and community-building.
David has been an AUA supporter since 2015, first contributing to the University’s Annual Fund. Over time, that commitment grew, and in 2024, he established the Tateosian Annual Named Scholarship fund in memory of his parents, Charles and Mary Tateosian. In 2025, the Tateosian family expanded their commitment even further by joining the 200 AUA ChangeMakers, a community of supporters helping shape the University’s future and strengthening educational opportunities for Armenia’s next generation.
David’s inspiration stems from his parents’ example. “My parents both believed in the value of education,” he said. He described how his father obtained his mechanical engineering education at the University of California, Berkeley, finishing after his service in the U.S. Navy during World War II. David’s mother, Mary, graduated from Northwestern University and completed additional graduate work at Stanford University in pursuit of a career in the medical field. Both were the first in their families to earn college degrees. Through hard work and dedication, Charles and Mary ensured that their children and grandchildren also pursued higher education.
For Tateosians, being recognized as members of AUA’s 200 ChangeMakers is about honoring the larger story behind their family’s journey. As David reflected, the recognition was meant to honor “what my grandparents and parents endured and did: surviving the Genocide, coming to America, supporting and educating the next generation, and providing them with a better life than they had.”
That history is also connected to a family tradition of service to the Armenian Apostolic Church and the broader community, as well as support for many Armenian institutions. For the Tateosians, ensuring students have access to the opportunities that education can make possible is integral. They see their support for AUA as an investment in young people who will help realize Armenia’s full potential. David hopes that scholarship recipients develop “an appreciation of philanthropy such that, when they are in a position to do so, they too will contribute to future generations in their own way.”
David’s connection to Armenia is also shaped by his firsthand experience. During the early 1990s, he traveled to Armenia twice to help address Armenia’s energy crisis and support the restart of the Metsamor Nuclear Power Plant on a pro bono basis. Those visits left a lasting impression on him and reinforced his belief that Armenia’s strength and greatest resource is its people, and that investing in people pays off in the long run.
For those considering giving back, David frames philanthropy as rooted in gratitude and responsibility. Supporting AUA, he explained, is one meaningful way to extend the educational opportunities he benefited from to young people in Armenia, and to strengthen Armenia’s future through knowledge, talent, and leadership.
That commitment is shared across the Tateosian family. David’s sister, Lisa, reflected on the example set by their parents: “My parents lived a life in service to the Armenian Church and community, both locally and abroad. When I reflect on their commitments, I realize the value of giving back to your community, and doing what you can to enhance the lives of others. My wish is that this fund will give young people the support to achieve academic and life goals and continue in that spirit of giving.”
The Tateosian family’s generosity and commitment honors the past while opening doors for the next generation of AUA students, strengthening Armenia’s talent and academic progress for years to come.
| Levon Asatryan (BSDS ’28), recipient of the Tateosian Scholarship
“I chose AUA for its academic excellence and innovative teaching, but also because it fulfills a dream I have carried for years. The Tateosian family’s support means the world to me. Their support is a reminder that dreams are not meant to be carried alone.” |
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.