GLENDALE, California — Some commitments run deeper than a single act of generosity. For the Sarkissian family, the decision to invest in the American University of Armenia (AUA) spans two generations.
Lena Sarkissian, an AUA trustee and pillar, has spent over two decades as a nonprofit leader, bringing that same dedication to AUA’s Board. A Toronto-based asset management professional and member of the Armenian General Benevolent Union Board of Directors, Sarkissian sees supporting AUA as both urgent and essential. In her own words, AUA must now prepare students for jobs that do not yet exist. This task demands continuous innovation in how it teaches, who it reaches, and how far its community can extend into the world.
Her three children, Talar, Alex, and Haig, absorbed that conviction growing up. Today, all three have joined AUA’s 200 ChangeMakers group, carrying their family’s philanthropic tradition into the next chapter of Armenia’s history.
“They truly put their time and money where their words were,” says Haig. “That commitment to the greater good was a defining force in my upbringing, and it’s something I hope to continue paying forward.”
Talar describes the same upbringing through a slightly different lens. “They modeled a values-driven approach grounded in personal responsibility and community engagement,” she says, noting that her parents directed their efforts specifically toward education, because they believed it was the most powerful lever available.
For Alex, the motivation is equally clear: giving is not about honoring a tradition so much as living out a mindset. “It’s about a mindset that was lived by my parents, and supporting our community’s future,” he notes.
All three describe Armenia’s human capital as the country’s most vital asset. “What better institution than AUA to empower generations, not simply through the degree they gain or the professional sphere to which they contribute, but also through a mindset of engagement, innovation and adventure,” Haig says.
Talar looks further down the road. “The hope is that greater opportunities for education and exposure will spark an individual’s curiosity and desire to make a positive impact, ultimately leading to meaningful contributions to society,” she highlights. There is also a message embedded in AUA’s very existence that the siblings want young Armenians to hear. As Talar puts it, AUA’s liberal arts model, with its growing emphasis on the sciences, tells young people that Armenia is full of opportunities, and that leaving the country is not a prerequisite for a world-class education.
For those on the fence about becoming ChangeMakers themselves, Haig is direct: “Now more than ever, support is critical. Donations help AUA lay the foundation for future leaders, innovators, and job creators who will strengthen Armenia’s economy and shape its future. It’s an investment in a more dynamic Armenia and the next generation leading it.”
From Lena’s role as an AUA trustee and pillar to her children stepping forward as ChangeMakers, the Sarkissian family’s journey is exactly the kind of multigenerational momentum that sustains an institution over time, making it an investment passed forward with purpose.
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 (WSCUC) 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.