YEREVAN, Armenia — For Dr. Shant Garabedian and his wife Robin, championing Armenia and advancing education have always been the same decision. The couple had supported the American University of Armenia (AUA) for years before an opportunity arose to visit the campus.
In April 2026, the AUA scholarship program supporters traveled to Yerevan and visited the AUA campus for the first time, where they spent time touring the University, meeting students, and experiencing firsthand the community they had long supported.
Dr. Garabedian’s support began in 2019 with an annual scholarship. “What inspires me to continue giving back to Armenia and to AUA is that, without Armenia, I don’t think we could exist as a people,” he emphasized. “I want this country to thrive, to have a future, and that is my inspiration.”
Over time, that annual commitment deepened. In addition to supporting the Honoring Those Who Served: Investing in Our Veterans Education Campaign, the couple took a significant step this year, establishing the Shant and Robin Garabedian Endowed Scholarship Fund to support students with financial need in perpetuity.
Remaining Committed to the Homeland
Raised in a deeply engaged Armenian family, Dr. Garabedian grew up surrounded by community involvement and service. After finding professional success in the United States, he felt a growing responsibility to give back.
Dr. Garabedian’s support for Armenia has extended far beyond philanthropy. As an emergency physician, he has repeatedly traveled to Armenia to support hospitals and healthcare providers with training, medical expertise, and equipment. “I believe that all Armenians should contribute to Armenia,” he said. “If you are speaking, you should speak with skin in the game — meaning you have done something for this country.”
When the 2020 Artsakh war began, Dr. Garabedian immediately understood where he could help most. “I saw my value and contribution as a healthcare provider,” he recalled. “I do this for a living in the U.S., so why not do it for my homeland?”
During one of those visits, amid the forced displacement of Armenians from Artsakh, he and his family traveled to Khndzoresk and Goris, bringing supplies and helping newly arrived families.
Visiting the Campus for the First Time
For Dr. Garabedian, the atmosphere at AUA was impossible to ignore. “When walking through the halls, it is very apparent what is happening here,” he said. You can tell the vibe and the life at the University. This is a center where there is life, joy, and bright minds.”
“I really enjoyed my visit to the AUA campus in Yerevan. It was refreshing to experience the positive energy at this institution that will help build the future of Armenia. Meeting and talking with the students was very informative and reassuring,” highlights Robin Garabedian.
“At the end of the day, it is not the rooms or screens that make the university,” Dr. Garabedian shared. “It is the students, alumni, professors, and the knowledge that gets transferred from the teacher to the students, who then become teachers themselves. It is the people that matter, who are good, healthy, successful, and who lead.”
Meeting MPH Students
One moment stood out in particular: his meeting with first- and second-year students in AUA’s Master of Public Health (MPH) program. For Dr. Garabedian, hearing their stories felt like “hope and joy and a breath of fresh air.”
Dr. Garabedian saw something larger than individual ambition. He saw a generation choosing to return, serve, and rebuild. “I felt that there is an attraction to the MPH program here, and these are accomplished people who are coming back for this degree,” he reflected. “That must mean something. Hopefully, they will go to their communities and make a difference to help the country.”
Supporting Armenia, Supporting Education
Looking ahead, Dr. Garabedian hopes more members of the diaspora will choose to invest in Armenia’s future through education and institutions like AUA. “If you want your money to help support the country as a whole, this is the place to do it,” he said. “You know it is serving a great purpose.”
He compared giving to planting something that will continue growing long after the initial act. “You are almost like watering a seed in the ground that is eventually going to grow into a tree,” he reflected. “It is going to allow this country to succeed.”
For those still uncertain about whether to take that step, his advice is simple: “I would highly encourage donors, especially in the diaspora, to take the step or to continue their donations. And if they are not sure, let them come meet the students. Their eyes will be opened.”
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.
