The Promise Armenian Institute - UCLAThe Promise Armenian Institute (PAI) was established at UCLA in late 2019, through the vision of Dr. Eric Esrailian and made possible by a $20 million gift from the estate of Kirk Kerkorian, the well-known Armenian-American businessman, investor, and philanthropist. The PAI is designed to be a hub for world-class research and teaching on Armenian Studies and in addition for coordinating Interdisciplinary Research and Public Impact Programs across UCLA, and with the Republic of Armenia and the Armenian Diaspora. The Promise Armenian Institute’s size, scope and interdisciplinary approach make it the first of its kind in the world, and UCLA is ideally positioned to make these important contributions. The impact of its work could extend well beyond Armenia and Armenians. Professor Ann R. Karagozian, Distinguished Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at UCLA, was named Inaugural Director of the PAI in early 2020.