LOS GATOS, Calif. — Bay Area sponsors of the American University of Armenia’s 35th Anniversary Gala gathered at the private residence of AUA supporters Rev and Rachel Lebaredian in Los Gatos for an evening of connection, appreciation, and celebration on September 12. Rev Lebaredian, vice president of Omniverse and Simulation Technology at NVIDIA, joined the American University of Armenia Corporation Board in 2026, bringing more than three decades of experience in computer graphics, simulation, and artificial intelligence to support AUA’s ambitions to expand its technology and research capabilities, strengthen connections between academia and industry, and position the University as an interdisciplinary hub for AI and innovation in Armenia. Rev and Rachel Lebaredian welcomed guests for an evening centered on AUA’s role in Armenia’s future. In his remarks, Rev Lebaredian connected recent developments in Armenia’s technology sector, including the opening of the Firebird AI Data Center, to AUA’s mission of preparing the country’s next generation of leaders. Gaiane Khachatrian, AUA vice president of Advancement, thanked the hosts and the sponsors for their generous support. “We hope to see all of you at the gala on November 7 at Beverly Hilton, Los Angeles. This is the time when we will celebrate what we have been able to achieve together, and, most importantly, what the next 35 years will look like, with many exciting new developments on the horizon,” she emphasized. Khachatrian also shared an update on the University’s growing impact. AUA now has close to 8,000 alumni, with 75% continuing to live and work in Armenia. “These are not just numbers. Behind these numbers, there are stories, there are people, there are families, there are dreams, and there is a bright future,” she remarked. Two AUA alumni in attendance offered personal perspectives on how an AUA education shaped their journeys. Susie Avagyan (BSDS ’22), Hrant Khachatryan Memorial Scholarship recipient at AUA, now a Ph.D. student in Biomedical Data Science at Stanford University, reflected on how her AUA education shaped her academic journey, from the University’s first data science cohort to graduate research at Stanford. She also spoke about the lasting impact of AUA’s support and her commitment to using her expertise in computational biology and AI to contribute to Armenia’s future. “It’s very important for the AUA community who supports our education to know and to see that the investment they make goes far, far longer than just the four years that students spend at AUA,” she said. “Some people stay in Armenia. Some people go study elsewhere and go back, and some people have to balance. They establish careers that balance this bridge between Armenia and wherever they are. But AUA really serves as that bridge.” Tsovo Massena (MBA ’15), a commercial real estate advisor and investor at Massena Commercial Advisors, who recently became an AUA ChangeMaker with her husband Andrew Massena, reflected on her family’s connection to AUA, her own experience as an MBA student, and how the University’s impact has inspired her family’s continued commitment to AUA. “My parents are AUA alumni themselves. AUA gave them a new foundation on which to build their future, and my sister and I grew up watching that transformation. My sister is an AUA ChangeMaker as well. So this has really become part of our family story. AUA does not simply give you an education; it shapes you as a person. Who I am today, both professionally and personally, has so much to do with my school,” she remarked. Dr. Lawrence Pitts, professor emeritus at the University of California, San Francisco, former UC system provost and executive vice president of Academic Affairs, and longtime chair of the AUA Board of Trustees, spoke about AUA’s affiliation with UC and its significance to the University’s academic standing and future. “UC was really part of AUA even before AUA opened its doors. A couple of earthquake engineers from the United States decided that a Western-style educational institution had to be established in Armenia. They had approached the president of AGBU, Louise Manoogian-Simone for support, who had asked, ‘Who do you represent in starting a new university?’ So the two engineers went to the University of California and made their pitch. After an assessment of the UC’s Board of Regents, AUA became an affiliate of the University of California. The rest is now AUA history,” he remarked. Lusine Yeghiazaryan, AUA trustee and the first donor to join the 200 ChangeMakers of AUA campaign, reflected on her personal journey with AUA and the profound changes she witnessed in Armenia. She shared how her experience leaving Armenia as a young student shaped her belief in change as a positive force, ultimately inspiring her and her husband, Pascal, to become the first AUA ChangeMakers. “We have committed to this concept of making change, making positive change, not just for AUA and Armenia, but communities we are in, and not being afraid of change,” she said. Zaven P. Akian, chair of the AUA Board of Trustees, remarked on AUA’s growth, including plans for expanded campus facilities, new academic programs, and the University’s capital campaign. He highlighted the growing demand for skilled professionals amid increasing investment in Armenia’s technology sector and AUA’s strategic partnerships in that space, and thanked Rev and Rachel Lebaredian for hosting the gathering and for Rev Lebaredian’s service on the University’s Board. “Our ambition is to build Armenia’s own version of a knowledge-driven innovation ecosystem, and AUA intends to be at its center. That is why I am especially excited about several developments now underway,” he said. “What gives me confidence is that AUA begins the journey from a position of strength. We have an outstanding academic foundation and a growing endowment. And as chair, I often reflect on what distinguishes truly great universities. It is not only the education they provide; it is their ability to create lasting impact through research, innovation, entrepreneurship, philanthropy, and talent attraction.” AUA’s 35th Anniversary Gala co-chairs, Tanya Tsarukyan and Lisa Bagamian, closed the evening by emphasizing the foundational role of education and the importance of continuing to build AUA for the future. The evening continued with dinner, heartfelt conversations, and new connections, as guests, speakers, and AUA representatives came together to celebrate 35 years of shared accomplishments. AUA’s 35th Anniversary Gala will take place on November 7, at The Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, California. Sponsorship opportunities and tickets are available here. Founded in 1991, the American University of Armenia 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 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 Advancement stewards the University’s philanthropic efforts exclusively for educational purposes.