Armen Shaomian, associate professor in sport and entertainment management, has been selected as the new faculty principal for Preston Residential College at South Carolina. As faculty principal, Shaomian will work and live with students who are a part of the residential college.

Since joining the Department of Sport and Entertainment Management in 2012, Shaomian has developed and expanded on the entertainment management curricula. He will bring to Preston his personal brand of innovative leadership and mentorship, which he has demonstrated during his career at the university by engaging students in global study abroad experiences throughout Europe and Mexico, and  by bringing  award-winning composers such as Burt Bacharach and William Bolcom into his classrooms.

A native of Stockholm, Sweden, Shaomian has an extensive background in performing arts, higher education and project management consulting. He earned his master’s and Doctor of Musical Arts degrees from the University of Miami and his bachelor’s degree in music from Wayne State University.

He is an active concert pianist and has performed numerous concerts at venues in Europe and the United States. He is fluent in English, Swedish and Armenian.

Shaomian will transition into the faculty principal role this summer.