The ultimate goal of the Endowed Named Professorship Program is to have one to two Endowed Named Professorships in each AUA college. The first two recently established are the William Frazer Professorship and the C. Judson King Professorship, both of which were endowed by AUA Trustee and longtime benefactor Edward Avedisian.

An AUA endowment may support a part of the salary or costs directly related to the professorship research activities, such as a graduate assistant stipend or postdoctoral fellowship, administrative assistance, research instrumentation, travel, etc. Endowed Named Professors will be assigned to an AUA college where they are encouraged to produce high-quality research.

Appointment to an Endowed Named Professorship is the highest academic honor at AUA, which grants appointees the opportunity to make significant contributions to their respective research fields and reach their academic aspirations. The appointment also gives the Endowed Named Professor the opportunity to fulfill the expressed intentions of the benefactor aimed at the continued and enhanced development of the university.

Aside from these endowments, Avedisian has fully funded the AUA Zvart Avedisian Onanian Center for Health Services Research and Development (CHSR) and the Paul Avedisian Center for Business Research and Development (CBRD). Additionally, he was the principal benefactor of the AUA Paramaz Avedisian Building (PAB). In 2017, Avedisian was bestowed the inaugural AUA Presidential Commendation award.

Founded in 1991, the American University of Armenia (AUA) is a private, independent university located in Yerevan, Armenia, affiliated with the University of California, and accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission in the United States. AUA provides local and international students with Western-style education through top-quality undergraduate, graduate, and certificate programs, promotes research and innovation, encourages civic engagement and community service, and fosters democratic values.