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AUA Holds Inspirational Talk with Mihran S. Agbabian and Vartan Greg

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  • AUA Holds Inspirational Talk with Mihran S. Agbabian and Vartan Greg

    PRESS RELEASE
    AMERICAN UNIVERSITY OF ARMENIA
    Diana Manukyan, AUA PR Coordinator
    40 Baghramyan Ave.
    Yerevan 0019, Republic of Armenia
    Email: [email protected]
    Web: http://www.aua.am/
    Facebook http://www.facebook.com/#%21/pages/American-University-of-Armenia/159219260801636



    *Words of Wisdom: AUA Holds Inspirational Talk with Mihran S. Agbabian and
    Vartan Gregorian*


    YEREVAN, Armenia - On October 14, 2014, the American University of Armenia
    (AUA) hosted a talk, titled `Conversation with Two Great Men of Education:
    Mihran S. Agbabian and Vartan Gregorian.' The event was moderated by AUA
    President Dr. Armen Der Kiureghian, who asked them questions about their
    lives, careers, and the future of AUA.

    Mihran Agbabian was born in Cyprus. He is President Emeritus of AUA and
    Professor Emeritus of Engineering at the University of Southern California
    (USC). He headed his own consulting engineering firm, Agbabian Associates,
    for 20 years before joining USC as Chairman of the Civil and Environmental
    Engineering Department. He received his M.S. in Engineering from the
    California Institute of Technology in 1948 and his Ph.D. in Engineering
    from the University of California, Berkeley in 1951.

    Vartan Gregorian is the twelfth president of the Carnegie Corporation of
    New York. Prior to that, he served as president of Brown University from
    1989-1997, president of The New York Public Library from 1981-1989, and
    Tarzian Professor of History, Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences and
    Provost of the University of Pennsylvania from 1972-1981. He received his
    Ph.D. in History and Humanities from Stanford University in 1964 and is the
    author of three books: *The Road to Home: My Life and Times, Islam: A
    Mosaic, Not a Monolith, *and *The Emergence of Modern Afghanistan,
    1880-1946*. He was born in Iran.

    The packed audience at AUA's Manoogian Hall listened on as Mr. Agbabian and
    Mr. Gregorian told stories of their successes, their failures and their
    experiences as foreigners in the United States. When talking about his
    achievements, Mr. Gregorian stated, `Throughout my life, I've always done
    the unexpected.' The audience, in particular, was very inspired when he
    stated, `I have never applied to a job, never been fired from a job, and
    never signed a contract for a job. My work is my contract.' Aregnaz
    Harutyunyan, a student in AUA's English & Communications program, remarked,
    `It was very motivational.'

    Mr. Agbabian, one of the founding members of AUA, cited the American
    University of Beirut (AUB) as an inspiration to him when he was originally
    planning on establishing a university in Armenia. When speaking about ideas
    for the future of AUA, he stated `One option is to become an international
    university like AUB. The other option is to strengthen the program and
    prepare the students for leadership. If that is achieved, then I think
    we've done our job.' Overall, Mr. Agbabian's impressions of AUA - which
    started as just an idea and has now turned into a highly-praised
    institution - are positive. `What I see, I love. It's wonderful,' he said.

    Mr. Gregorian offered his advice as well when he stated, `Armenia owes a
    lot of gratitude to the Armenian diaspora, especially the Americans. But
    Armenia cannot just receive. There are many millionaires and billionaires
    in this country. Wealth that has been created in this country should be
    reinvested in this country. The youth is our future, and what we need to do
    is make young Armenians independent.'

    The evening concluded with a standing ovation from the crowd.

    *The American University of Armenia (AUA) is a private, independent
    university located in **Yerevan* *, *
    *Armenia* *. Founded in 1991, AUA is
    affiliated with the University of California. Through teaching, research,
    and public service, AUA serves Armenia and the region by supplying
    high-quality, graduate and undergraduate education, encouraging civic
    engagement, and promoting democratic values.*




    From: A. Papazian
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