{"id":2326,"date":"2016-05-26T07:06:18","date_gmt":"2016-05-26T07:06:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/100pillars.aua.am\/?p=2326"},"modified":"2017-04-03T08:05:52","modified_gmt":"2017-04-03T08:05:52","slug":"leaving-a-legacy-from-founder-to-pillar","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/100pillars.aua.am\/2016\/05\/26\/leaving-a-legacy-from-founder-to-pillar\/","title":{"rendered":"Leaving a Legacy: From Founder to Pillar"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\u00a0<\/a>\u201cAUA is a bridge between Armenia and America on many grounds\u2014culturally, academically\u2026Remember, your responsibility is not only to yourself and your families, but to your country<\/em>.\u201d Stepan Karamardian, co-founder of AUA, in his address to the first class of AUA students in 1991<\/strong><\/p>\n Dr. Stephan Karamardian, one of the co-founders of the American University of Armenia, was a generous man who saw a need in his homeland and responded by developing an institution that is providing the brightest minds of Armenia the tools they need to succeed. Stepan\u2019s commitment to academia spread far and wide, over three countries, throughout his lifetime, and continues to be spread through the benevolence of those who knew and loved him.\u00a0<\/p>\n As an Armenian growing up in Syria, Stepan was passionate about education. After receiving his high school diploma from the American Missionary School in Lattakia, Stephan continued on to not only pass his Baccalaureate exam, but receive the highest score in Syria. In light of this, he was granted the honorable Fulbright Scholarship to attend Damascus University, where he earned a bachelor\u2019s degree in mathematics and education. Even as an undergrad, Stepan was already a dedicated educator, working as a tutor for the Syrian President\u2019s children.<\/p>\n After graduating from Damascus University, Stepan was offered the position of principal of the Karen Jeppe Armenian High School in Aleppo, Syria.\u00a0 Although his original plan was to pursue a Ph.D abroad immediately, Stepan\u2019s strong dedication to the Armenian community led him to accepting the position. His only request was that the commitment last only three years, so he could then pursue higher education abroad. Though Stepan was principal for only a short period of time, he made a great impact on the school and was held in such high regard that the graduation of the class of 1999 was dedicated to his memory.<\/p>\n After his three years as principal of Karen Jeppe, Stepan was met with yet another honor\u2014he was sent to America by the Syrian government to further his education. Stepan earned his M.S. in mathematics from the University of Illinois in 1962, then attended University of California, Berkley for his PhD. in engineering. It was in California that he met Seta Der Torossian, who had just recently immigrated to the US from Syria with her family. In 1966, they were married and soon after welcomed three daughters: Liza, Vera and Rita. The family settled in Irvine and Stepan took on the role of Associate Dean at the University of California, Irvine. In 1982, he became Dean of the Graduate School of Management at University of California, Riverside and held this position until his retirement from UC system in 1991. Though retired, Stepan\u2019s most important professional achievement was still ahead of him.<\/p>\n The idea which would develop into the American University of Armenia was conceived in the aftermath of the devastating earthquake of 1988.\u00a0 Stepan was invited to join the team of Dr. Armen Der Kiureghian and Dr. Mihran Agbabian, with the support of AGBU and its President, Louise Simone, to create an American graduate university in Armenia. Thanks to his many years of service to the University of California, Stepan was instrumental in facilitating the University\u2019s relationship with the UC Regents and the ultimate partnership of AUA and the University of California system. Upon the establishment of AUA, Dr. Karamardian assumed the role of Dean of the College of Business and Management, a position he held until his untimely passing in 1994.<\/p>\n