Suzan Sabonjian (BAPG ‘26)

For Suzan, choosing the American University of Armenia meant more than earning a degree – it meant joining a space where she could nurture her intellect and her commitment to positive change in the Armenian community. As an Armenian Lebanese, she brings with her a background shaped by resilience and a deep sense of responsibility for social progress. Her decision to study Politics and Governance came naturally, complemented by a minor in Philosophy that sharpened her thinking and deepened her approach to political and ethical questions.

Suzan’s academic journey has extended well beyond the classroom. During her internship at the Karagheusian Association in Beirut, Lebanon, she applied skills learned in Armenia to the challenges of post-war Lebanon. She conducted 100 qualitative interviews with marginalized families, documenting their coping mechanisms in the face of ongoing economic crisis. This work led to her first published article in AUA’s newsroom: Hope in the Shadows of Conflict: Reflections on Lebanon and an Armenian NGO.

She also observed and collaborated with NGO leaders, social workers and medical staff, producing success stories about the beneficiaries. These experiences reaffirmed her purpose: to uncover stories that matter, give voice to those unheard, and use socio-political research as a tool for advocacy and change.

Her advice to future BAPG students: treat your time at AUA as a foundation, not a finish line. Engage fully, ask difficult questions, seek hands-on fieldwork, and stay open to discovering what truly matters to you. As she’s learned, the most profound transformation happens in the process of searching, listening, and learning.