New 1 – AUA Alumni

2019 Distinguished Alumni Award
David Akopyan, MBA, Class of 1993

David Akopyan is an international development professional with 26 years of service to the United Nations as Deputy Director of Development Programs, Country Director, and Resident Representative in several countries, including Afghanistan, Somalia, and Syria. Since retiring from the UN earlier this year, he has joined the Artsakh government as the First Deputy Chief of Staff to the President of Artsakh and later as the Principal Advisor to the State Minister of Artsakh, helping to coordinate humanitarian and development assistance programs. He has a Ph.D. in Physics from the Yerevan State University and an MBA from the American University of Armenia. Now, Mr. Akopyan is the First Deputy of Chief of Staff Artsakh Republic President

2018 Distinguished Alumni Award
Mane Tandilyan, MBA, Class of 2002

Mane Tandilyan got her Bachelor’s Degree in Pedagogy from the History Department of Armenian State Pedagogical University after Kh.Abovyan, and her Master of Business Administration degree from the American University of Armenia. She held positions of Financial Analyst and Chief Accountant at Garni Investment and Development, Hovnanian International LLC, and Mentor Graphics Development Services. Mane worked as Deputy Financial Director at Synopsys Armenia for about 8 years. She became an active participant of “Դեմ եմ” (I’m Against) movement to prevent the adoption of the mandatory cumulative pension system. In 2015, she became a Co-founder of “Լուսավոր Հայաստան” (Bright Armenia) political party. According to its ideological basis and the program during three years, the party suggested a new political agenda, creative and innovative mechanisms of communication with the society. She was the Minister of Labor and Social Affairs from May to October 2018, and worked hard to shape new policies in that important field, to initiate public discussions on vital social security issues, including but not limited to the cumulative pension system. Currently, Mane Tandilyan is the Minister of Labor, Social and Housing Affairs of Artsakh. She was appointed to manage this important and strategic unit during this challenging post-war period.