Doctor of Humane Letters, Honoris Causa

The son of Armenian Genocide survivors, Edward Avedisian grew up in an immigrant neighborhood in Pawtucket and graduated from the city’s public schools.

Avedisian was a clarinetist with the Boston Pops for 35 years and the Boston Ballet Orchestra for more than 40. He has performed around the world and was twice appointed a Fromm Fellow for Contemporary Music Performance under the direction of Aaron Copland at Tanglewood.

Avedisian’s artistic achievements are rivaled only by his philanthropy, including a $5 million gift to the University’s College of Pharmacy in 2017 in memory of his brother, Paramaz Avedisian, a 1954 graduate of the College. The pharmacy building bears his brother’s name. In addition to the Endowed Professorship in Organic Chemistry, he has established the Paramaz Avedisian Pharmacy Scholarship.

He also fully funded the Center for Health Studies & Research and the Center for Business Research & Development at the American University of Armenia. He is the founder of the Khoren and Shooshanig Avedisian K-12 School & Community Center in Armenia and was the sole benefactor and chair for renovation of Armenia’s Nork Marash Medical Center.

In 2008 Avedisian (BU’59,’61), was named Boston University Distinguished Alumnus and has contributed to the Boston University School of Medicine and College of Fine Arts. In 2016 he was awarded the Ellis Island Medal of Honor. He presently serves as a Board Member of Light Sciences Oncology.