AUA Mashikian Student Residence Named Through $1 Million Gift

Matthew (Matheos) Mashikian was born in Alexandretta (Iskenderun) in 1933 to survivors of the Armenian Genocide. In 1938, his family relocated to Lebanon, where he spent the next 22 years. His studies in primary and secondary school, heavily focused on mathematics, led him to a bright academic career at the American University of Beirut, where he earned his B.E. in electrical engineering in 1958. Upon graduation, Matthew worked as a sales engineer with ASEA (now ABB Ltd.), while simultaneously teaching mathematics at the Nishan Palandjian Djemaran. In 1960, Matthew moved to Sweden to continue working with ASEA in a new position as application engineer. It was in Sweden that he would meet Margarethe, who would later become his wife.
In 1962, Matthew emigrated to the United States, settling in Detroit, Michigan. While working at Detroit Edison as a research engineer during the day, he would continue his studies at night, taking classes at the University of Michigan. His persistent hard work led him to obtain his M.S. in electrical engineering at Wayne State University and his doctorate degree in engineering at the University of Detroit. Regarding education, Matthew said: “My parents always considered education one of the most important achievements in life. My wife and I share the same opinion. Now, we are fortunate enough to have achieved a financial position that allows us to help Armenian youth take a few steps further toward achieving their educational goals.”
Margarethe Mashikian, née von Schroeder, was born in 1938 in Königsberg (Kaliningrad), Germany. Toward the end of World War II, her family was forced to evacuate their home in East Prussia, leaving behind her father, who was fighting in the war. Eventually, Margarethe found her way to Switzerland, where her studies led her to become an orthoptist and subsequently find employment with an ophthalmologist in Sweden. It was there that she was connected to Matthew, before her career took her back to Germany in 1965.
In 1966, Margarethe moved to Miami, Florida, where she joined the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute. Soon after, she and Matthew were re-connected, now both in the United States. Their courtship led to marriage at the St. Sarkis Armenian Church in Dearborn, Michigan, where they settled and started a family. With the addition of their daughter Sonia and son Paul, Margarethe continued her orthoptic work as a Certified Orthoptist, first in Michigan and later in Connecticut. Matthew continued working at Detroit Edison until his early retirement in 1978. He then began his own consulting business and, in 1983, was appointed professor of electrical engineering and founding director of the Electrical Insulation Research Center at the University of Connecticut (UConn). He retired from UConn in 1997 before starting IMCORP, a technology service company based on several patents he had secured while at the University.
In 2015, Matthew visited Armenia for the first time. It was during this trip that he was introduced to AUA. Recounting his visit to the University campus, Matthew said, “I was impressed by the enthusiasm students displayed and by all the University had accomplished during its short existence. I was eager to do something to help AUA achieve its goals.” Upon his return, he and his wife wholeheartedly joined AUA’s exclusive group of 100 Pillars. “As an eternal optimist, I like to envision a bright and prosperous future for Armenia. However, as a realist, I could not ignore the geopolitical, economic, and cultural challenges we must surmount before this high level of prosperity is achieved. Young Armenians need all the help they can muster. AUA, in my opinion, is one of the important vehicles to prepare them for success, with the technological and professional skills to shine and advance,” Matthew added.
Now, after almost a decade as steadfast supporters of the University, the Mashikians have decided to make a $1 million contribution through naming the Mashikian Student Residence. “The young students of today are the future leaders of the Armenian nation. Margarethe and I are happy to invest in this student body, which will help forge tomorrow’s prosperity in Armenia,” commented Matthew.
The AUA Student Residence opened its doors in June 2021, following the gifting of a semi-constructed building by AUA benefactors K. George and Dr. Carolann Najarian, along with a generous grant of $999,000 by the Office of American Schools and Hospitals Abroad of the United States Agency for International Development, for the construction, renovation, and furnishing of the site to accommodate AUA students.
The Residence now sits in its final form, just a short distance from the main AUA campus, overlooking the Hrazdan gorge and river. With 28 double-occupancy rooms, the building can house up to 56 students from Armenia’s regions and abroad. The modern facilities are equipped with wireless internet access, laundry machines, and private and communal balconies. There are also designated spaces for professional activities and social gatherings to provide students a well-rounded experience.