UCLA Engineering: UCLA Engineer Magazine

Hairapetian Graduate Student Center Opens
Graduate Students Benefit from Alumnus’ Gift

(From left) Professor Behzad Razavi, Armond Hairapetian BS ‘87, MS ‘88, PhD ‘93, Dean Vijay K. Dhir, and Ali Sayed, chair of Electrical Engineering in the new graduate student facility.

A gift from Dr. Armond Hairapetian, a three-time electrical engineering alumnus of the UCLA Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science, has funded the complete renovation of the fifth floor electrical engineering graduate student area.

Such gifts make an extraordinary difference at a state-assisted university, and it is only with the help of its alumni and friends that the School is able to successfully compete with better funded institutions to attract and retain top graduate students.

“Engineering IV opened while I was at UCLA, and I was one of the first tenants of the graduate student center,” said Hairapetian, BS ’87, MS ’88, PhD ’93. “I spent a lot of time there, and learned the most from discussions with my peers and the exchange of ideas.”

Over time, with use, the center became less attractive and people began spending less time there, opting to study outside or work in the labs. Electrical engineering professor Behzad Razavi mentioned the department’s plan to renovate the space, and Hairapetian felt it was a good opportunity for him to give back to the School.

“It’s important to have an environment in which students can gather and talk to each other,” noted Hairapetian. “Making a gift to pay for the renovation is a good investment in the future. UCLA is a place that produces talented engineers, and for the state to stay competitive, you need to attract great students to produce top-notch engineers.”

His gift funded a full renovation of the space, including installation of new flooring, cubicles, desks, chairs, and bookshelves.

“It is now a facility in which we, and our students, can take great pride,” said Dean Vijay K. Dhir. “As the students work on papers for publication, conference presentations, and other activities that will showcase the extraordinary work underway at UCLA, they have surroundings that reflect and support the high quality of their scholarship.”

- Marlys Amundson