GLENDALE, California — Education has a way of shaping lives in ways that only become visible over time. Long before Viktor Abovyan and Lilit Yenokyan became supporters of the American University of Armenia (AUA), the University had already helped alter the course of their family’s history. The connection began in the early 1990s, when Lilit’s parents were among the first students to enroll in AUA’s Master of Business Administration (MBA) program during a period of profound transition in Armenia.
Both trained as physicists during the Soviet period, Aghasi Yenokyan and Narine Badanian found themselves navigating a rapidly changing economic landscape following Armenia’s independence. Through AUA’s MBA program, they were able to pivot into business and leadership roles that would have been difficult to imagine only a few years earlier. The experience opened new professional pathways and, in doing so, helped reshape the trajectory of their family.
The University’s presence in the family’s story did not end there. Years later, Lilit’s sister, Tsovo, would also attend AUA, deepening the family’s connection to the institution and reinforcing its role in shaping their shared experience across generations.
For Viktor and Lilit, that legacy became even more tangible through their own professional lives. Working in fields shaped by technology, leadership, and entrepreneurship, they have mentored many AUA graduates and engaged with the University’s broader community. These interactions have given the couple a close view of the caliber of professionals the University helps shape: intelligent, adaptable, driven, and prepared to contribute to society in meaningful ways.
It is this conviction that led them to support AUA’s 200 ChangeMakers campaign, an initiative that brings together individuals committed to strengthening the University’s ability to educate and empower future generations of Armenians.
“We chose to support the 200 ChangeMakers campaign because we believe Armenian students deserve access to a world-class education in their homeland,” Lilit and Viktor emphasized.
For the couple, their decision reflects both gratitude and a sense of responsibility. Having seen how one educational opportunity helped reshape the course of their family’s life, they believe in extending that possibility to others.
“We have seen how a single educational experience can create momentum that lasts for decades. Supporting AUA is our way of helping ensure that more students have access to that same foundation,” they noted.
At a time when Armenia’s future increasingly depends on institutions capable of developing globally minded leaders, innovators, and professionals, they see AUA playing a vital role.
“Armenia’s future depends on institutions that can develop entrepreneurs, scientists, professionals, and leaders who think globally and act locally,” they said. “AUA has played a pivotal role in this for more than three decades and continues to shape the next generation of leaders who will drive Armenia’s progress forward.”
For Viktor and Lilit, supporting the University is therefore both deeply personal and forward-looking. It is an expression of gratitude for the role AUA has played in their family’s story and a commitment to the generations whose paths it will continue to shape.
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.