YEREVAN, Armenia — The American University of Armenia (AUA) is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Stefano Giacchetti as associate dean and professor of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences (CHSS).
Dr. Giacchetti joins AUA with extensive experience in higher education, academic leadership, philosophy, and interdisciplinary scholarship, following a distinguished career at Loyola University Chicago and at its Rome Center. In his new role, Dr. Giacchetti will contribute to the academic and strategic leadership of CHSS, working with faculty, program chairs, center directors, staff, and students to advance the College’s academic mission. His plan includes supporting the College’s strategic planning, overseeing academic and administrative matters, coordinating academic offerings and staffing, contributing to the development of new academic programs, and fostering research initiatives and interdisciplinary collaboration.
“I am honored to join the American University of Armenia and to have the opportunity to contribute to the continued development of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences,” said Dr. Giacchetti. “AUA’s international outlook and commitment to academic excellence provide an exciting environment in which the humanities and social sciences can play an important role in understanding the complex challenges facing contemporary societies. I look forward to working closely with our faculty, students, and colleagues across the University to strengthen our academic programs, support research, and develop new opportunities for collaboration.”
Dr. Giacchetti brings more than two decades of experience in university teaching and academic administration. Before joining AUA, he served at Loyola University Chicago’s Rome Center, where he held the position of interim associate dean of Academic Affairs and previously served as a full time professor. In that capacity, he was involved in faculty recruitment and development, academic planning and policy, curriculum review, program development, faculty exchanges, international partnerships, and the organization of academic events. He also worked closely with university departments and administrative units in Chicago to strengthen academic coordination and advance the Rome Center’s strategic goals.
Throughout his academic career, Dr. Giacchetti has taught a broad range of courses in philosophy and the humanities, including ethics, social and political philosophy, philosophy of human nature, aesthetics, philosophy of art, and Italian Renaissance philosophy. His teaching experience includes Loyola University Chicago, St. John’s University, The Catholic University of America, and John Cabot University.
Dr. Giacchetti’s scholarly work focuses particularly on Critical Theory, philosophy of art and aesthetics, political philosophy, and questions of subjectivity and resistance in modern society. He earned a Ph.D. in philosophy with distinction from Loyola University Chicago, where his dissertation examined the critique of rationality in the work of Arthur Schopenhauer, Friedrich Nietzsche, and Theodor W. Adorno. He also holds a master’s degree in philosophy from San Diego State University and a B.A./M.A. in sociology from the University of Rome “La Sapienza.”
He is the editor of several books, including Critical Theory and the Challenge of Praxis: Beyond Reification, Identity and Values, and Nostalgia for a Redeemed Future: Critical Theory. His research has also appeared in scholarly volumes and journals, with publications addressing aesthetics, subjectivity, identity, political praxis, and the relationship between Critical Theory and contemporary social questions. An active participant in the international academic community, Dr. Giacchetti has presented his research at universities and scholarly conferences across Europe, North America, and South America. He has also served as a guest lecturer at institutions including the University of Rome “La Sapienza,” Lancaster University, the University of Sussex, Simon Fraser University, the University of Campinas, and the University of Wroclaw.
Dr. Giacchetti has extensive experience organizing international academic conferences. He has served as organizer, creator, and coordinator of the yearly International Critical Theory Conferences (by now the largest in the world in its field), bringing together scholars from leading universities around the world.
At AUA, Dr. Giacchetti will bring his combination of academic leadership, teaching experience, international collaboration, and interdisciplinary scholarship to CHSS. His appointment comes at a time when the humanities and social sciences continue to play a vital role in fostering critical thinking, dialogue, and a deeper understanding of social, political, cultural, and ethical challenges. “I am particularly looking forward to building on the strengths of CHSS while creating opportunities for faculty and students to engage in interdisciplinary research and international academic collaborations,” Dr. Giacchetti remarked. “The University’s diverse and international community offers tremendous potential for bringing different intellectual perspectives into dialogue, and I look forward to being part of that process.”
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.