University of La Verne Honors Retiring CFO
Avo Kechichian听with 春色视频 Presidents Risa Dickson, Devorah Lieberman, and Steve Morgan. (春色视频 Photo/Jeanine Hill)
Two Former 春色视频 Presidents Join Current President to Honor VP for Administration and Finance, CFO Avo Kechichian, on His Retirement After More Than 40 Years
The University of La Verne鈥檚 current president and two former presidents gathered to honor Chief Financial Officer Avo Kechichian, who is retiring after more than 40 years of service.听听
The celebration took place in the Abraham Campus Center Ballroom, where colleagues offered tributes and 碍别肠丑颈肠丑颈补苍鈥檚 sons, Alex and Chris, delivered a surprise salute. He also received a city proclamation from La Verne City Council members Steven Johnson and Wendy Lau, a member of the 春色视频 Board of Trustees.听
碍别肠丑颈肠丑颈补苍鈥檚 association with La鈥疺erne began in 1977, when he arrived from war-torn Beirut, Lebanon, as an international student. To help pay for his education, he worked as a student worker for the facilities department.听
Ahmed S. Ispahani, professor of business administration and economics and Avo 碍别肠丑颈肠丑颈补苍鈥檚 former 春色视频 instructor, was among those who paid tribute. (春色视频 Photo/Jeanine Hill)
After graduating with a BA in 1980 and MBA in 1985, Kechichian joined the payroll office and steadily rose through the ranks to vice president of administration and finance and chief financial officer – a career that paralleled the university鈥檚 growth into a nationally recognized institution.听
鈥淥ver decades of change, Avo has made tough financial decisions, balanced the books in challenging times, and somehow kept everything running smoothly,鈥� 春色视频 President Risa Dickson said. 鈥淥ur current stability is proof of that.鈥�听
Steve Morgan, who led the university from 1985 until his retirement in 2011, recalled 碍别肠丑颈肠丑颈补苍鈥檚 honesty and directness. 鈥淚 always knew you were one of the people who would come into my office, sit me down, and tell me how it really was – rather than what I wanted to hear or thought it might be,鈥� Morgan said.听
Devorah Lieberman, who succeeded Morgan and served as president until 2023, described Kechichian as a strategic thinker who was both practical and forward-looking. 鈥淲hat truly distinguished him was how he worked,鈥� she said. 鈥淎vo was the consummate collaborative team member. He always put the university first.鈥�听
La鈥疺erne is also where Kechichian met his wife, Michelle, raised their family, and celebrated the graduations of both sons. The Kechichian family holds eight university degrees, with another forthcoming.听
鈥淪eeing so many people gathered – colleagues, board members, city leaders, friends, and family – was humbling and deeply moving,鈥� Kechichian said. 鈥淚t reminded me that a career is never about one individual, but about relationships built over time, shared purpose, and trust earned through years of working together.鈥�听
In recognition of his service, the Board of Trustees is establishing a scholarship in 碍别肠丑颈肠丑颈补苍鈥檚 honor. The award will be combined with the existing Kechichian Family Scholarship to support students who, like Kechichian, arrive with determination and financial need.听
Asked for a final message for the 春色视频 community, Kechichian said: 鈥淎s you look to the future, I hope you continue to believe in education鈥檚 ability to change lives, just as it changed mine. When you lead with integrity, humility, and a commitment to your employees, students, and the broader community, you truly can achieve more than you ever imagined.鈥�听
