Celebrating Our Students

The USC Dornsife Institute of Armenian Studies congratulates three outstanding student workers on their graduation from USC. Apart from their meaningful contributions to the Institute, Solange Aguero, Mané Berikyan, and Eduard Ghazaryan graduated with distinction in their fields of study and adopted leadership roles that left a lasting impact on campus.

As part of its commitment to student mentorship and hands-on learning, every year the Institute employs an exemplary cohort of student workers who contribute to various research programs and projects.

Solange Aguero

Bachelor of Arts, English; Narrative Studies

Solange Aguero double majored in English and Narrative Studies, with a minor in Spanish. Her passion for storytelling extends beyond her studies, and is reflected through her deep involvement with student publications, as Armenian and Spanish Editor for Trojan Bloom, USC’s multilingual creative journal, and Opinion Editor for Daily Trojan. She has served as Associate Producer for the Institute’s flagship podcast, Language Therapy with Dr. K, fostering understanding and exploration of topics related to language, culture, and identity. Aguero has also dedicated herself to serving others through her work with Troy Camp, a nonprofit organization that provides long-term mentorship to children in the South Los Angeles area. As Fundraising Director, she led the organization’s annual “Pass the Can” event, raising more than $40,000 for the cause. She was one of fewer than 90 students in the university’s graduating class to receive the Order of Troy, an award that recognizes exemplary leadership and commitment to service.

“The Institute gave me a more nuanced understanding of the Armenian experience and the importance of contemporary research. It became formative in my development as both a college student and as a human being,” Aguero said. “Reflecting on the past three years, I realize that the Institute was not just a workplace for me, but rather a safe space that encouraged and inspired my learning and growth.”

Mané Berikyan

Bachelor of Arts, International Relations; Russian

Mané Berikyan double majored in International Relations and Russian. Among other distinctions, she was recognized as a Renaissance Scholar and Discovery Scholar for achieving excellence across diverse areas of study and demonstrating significant promise for future research and creative work. As President of USC Armenian Student Association (ASA) and All-ASA, an umbrella organization representing ASAs around the globe, Berikyan played an instrumental role in deepening the Institute’s collaboration with the student group. One of the most notable achievements under her leadership was the first-ever Armenian History Month at USC, a month-long series of programming highlighting Armenian culture and contributions to campus. She received the Order of Troy in recognition of her leadership and commitment to service.

“The Institute of Armenian Studies was my home away from home at USC––a continued source for learning, motivation, personal and professional growth, support, and endless opportunity,” Berikyan said. “The Institute and our Institute family defined my USC experience and for that I will be forever grateful.”

Eduard Ghazaryan

Bachelor of Arts, International Relations and Global Business

Eduard Ghazaryan majored in International Relations and Global Business with a specialization in International Finance. As Vice President of All-ASA, Ghazaryan doubled the organization’s membership and global reach, helping to establish a $500,000 student scholarship fund. In his compelling op-Ed for the Daily Trojan, “USC is what you make of it: an account of Armenian advocacy on campus,” Ghazaryan reflected on the emotional and moral foundations of his advocacy. His work on behalf of marginalized communities extended beyond the Armenian community––as an advocacy liaison in Undergraduate Student Government, he secured landmark funding to implement commuter lounges in two locations on campus, benefiting nearly 10,000 students. Among several important contributions to the Institute, Ghazaryan transcribed interviews from Eastern Armenian for the “Understanding Independence” oral history project and created metadata for hundreds of scanned ephemeral materials from the Koundakjian collection.

“Finding a workplace that truly becomes an extension of your family is very difficult, and the Institute has really excelled at being that family for me on campus,” Ghazaryan said. “Walking to work with a smile on my face and having a community to rely on, in addition to working on various interesting projects, has truly made the Institute one of the highlights of my college career, fostering my academic, professional, and personal growth.”