Today, Armenian EyeCare Project (AECP) celebrates and honors Meredith J. Khachigian, a founding member of the AECP Board, for her incredible dedication and service. Together with her husband Mr. Kenneth Khachigian and brother-in-law Mr. Luther Khachigian, Meredith has been a cornerstone of our organization, contributing her wisdom, passion, and leadership to help us achieve our mission.
The Khachigian family’s generous financial support throughout the years has been instrumental in advancing our initiatives, launching new projects and making a significant impact in Armenia that brought sight-saving services to countless lives. This included the funding of several pieces of cutting-edge medical equipment used to diagnose and treat eye disease as well as the underwriting of an entire Regional Eye Center in the country. Named after Kenneth’s and Luther’s father, the John Ohannes Khachigian AECP Regional Eye Center was developed and opened in Gyumri in 2017 and continues to provide world-class eye care services to the population of the entire Shirak Region. As thousands of patients continue to be treated at Khachigian’s regional center in Gyumri, it’s no doubt that the Khachigians’ tremendous impact and contribution to eye care in Armenia will be felt for generations to come.
Meredith’s extensive contributions, talents and achievements span across various fields and organizations, showcasing her remarkable dedication and impact wherever she has been involved. She was elected chairperson of the Board of Regents of the University of California for three terms, serving as leader of the number one public research university in the nation. Meredith also held the position of Chairman of the Board at the University of California and acted as a mediator between American University of Armenia (AUA) and the University of California during AUA’s establishment. Subsequently, she became a founding board member of AUA and served on its board for many years.
A consultant in community and public affairs, Meredith has served as president of Human Options, a shelter for battered women, president of the U.C. Santa Barbara Alumni Association, and chairperson of the U.C. Irvine Foundation. She is also a founding member of the U.C. Merced Foundation and is the former executive director of Vital Link-Orange County, a group that matches high school students’ education with the needs of their future employers. Khachigian received her bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Santa Barbara, and is the recipient of numerous awards including the Chancellor’s Medal and Distinguished Alumni Award from the University of California, Santa Barbara, the 1998 Extraordinarius Award from the U.C. Irvine Alumni Association, the U.C. Irvine Medal, and the National Association of Women Business Owners’ Pioneering Woman of the Year.
As Meredith steps down from her AECP Founding Board Member role we want to express our deepest gratitude for her unwavering commitment and countless contributions. Meredith, your legacy will continue to inspire us all. Thank you for everything you have done for AECP.
