Professor Vahan Agopyan of Armenian origin took over as new president of the University of Sao Paulo. The solemn ceremony of the university council took place on January 29 at the Bandeirantes Palace, the seat of state government.

As foreign ministry reported in a release, Sao Paulo governor Geraldo Alckmin, present at the ceremony, expressed confidence the university led by Agopyan will continue recording new achievements for the sake of the city and Brazil. 

In his speech Professor Agopyan stressed his Armenian origin and acclaimed the Armenian Ambassador of Brazil and representatives of the Armenian community present at the event.

To note, Vahan Agopyan, is an engineer and a full professor at the Polytechnic School (Poli/USP) and holds a doctorate from King's College London. He formerly directed Poli/USP and the São Paulo Institute for Technological Research (IPT). He served as chair of the Board of Trustees of the Nuclear and Energy Research Institute (IPEN) and was a member of Sao Paolo Research Foundation's (FAPESP) Board of Trustees. Professor Vahan Agopyan previously served as deputy president of the university.