YEREVAN, Armenia — Two United States (U.S.) diplomats newly arrived at the U.S. Embassy in Yerevan visited the American University of Armenia (AUA) on August 27 to tour the campus, meet students from both cohorts of the Master of Arts in Multiplatform Journalism (MAMJ) program, and learn more about the University’s partnership with Washington State University’s Edward R. Murrow College of Communication, funded by a U.S. State Department grant.
AUA President Dr. Bruce Boghosian met with new Head of Public Affairs Griffin Rozell and new Cultural Attaché Erin Tyler, and joined them on their campus tour led by Narek Ghazaryan, AUA’s chief communications officer. They then joined a classroom session in the AUA Media Lab with the students to discuss the program.
“Three years ago, we launched this initiative with an ambitious vision: to prepare a new generation of professional journalists and strengthen journalism education in Armenia,” said CHSS Dean Dr. Hagop Yacoubian, principal investigator and lead of the project management team of this initiative in introductory remarks before the Q&A session started. “Today, we are thinking not only about what we have accomplished, but about how to sustain this work,” he added.
Dr. Yacoubian expressed his gratitude to the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Embassy in Armenia. “Your investment has enabled us to pursue a vision that goes well beyond the creation of a degree program. It has allowed us to invest in people, institutions, partnerships, professional capacity, research, and the future of journalism in Armenia,” he said.
Dr. Shawn McIntosh, MAMJ program chair and director of the Center for Excellence in Journalism (CEJ), followed Dr. Yacoubian’s remarks by highlighting how he has seen growing interest and communication from European and regional scholars asking about collaborating on research and other projects with MAMJ and CEJ.
Both Rozell and Tyler had previous experiences living and working in Armenia, and commented on the changes they have seen since last being in the country about 20 years ago. “One thing I’ve noticed is that there is a real sense of positivity and hope in the air in Armenia,” said Tyler, who was a Peace Corps volunteer in the Tavush Region. “I’m glad to see the progress Armenia has made while at the same time keeping the important cultural heritage aspects that make Armenia such a special place.”
Rozell said he was impressed with the students he met, and was encouraged to hear about how the program has evolved since launching last year. He reiterated how important it is for a democratic country like Armenia to have an open and robust news media environment. He said he is looking forward to seeing the jobs the students get in the coming years and how they will play important roles in journalism and media in Armenia.
Rozell and Tyler said they are looking forward to talking with the students who will be going on their internships in Idaho and Washington states next month after they return. All students in the MAMJ program must complete a three-week internship with a media organization either in Armenia or the U.S.
The College of Humanities and Social Sciences (CHSS) of the American University of Armenia (AUA) was awarded USD 2,171,462.49 by the United States (U.S.) Department of State to establish an M.A. Program in Multiplatform Journalism and a Center for Excellence in Journalism within AUA’s CHSS. The Program has also established a partnership between AUA and Edward R. Murrow College of Communication at Washington State University to collaborate on continuously improving the quality and content of journalism education and practice in Armenia.
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.
