It is rare to find an engineer serving as a high school principal, but at A.G.B.U. Alex and Marie Manoogian Charter School in Southfield, Dr. Hosep Torossian has followed a unique path where his diverse knowledge base has provided impactful experiences for the students at his school.

Torossian began his professional career as a chemical engineer after graduating from the University of Toronto in 1978, an occupation he enjoyed for 21 years which allowed him to travel the world extensively. But it was an opportunity to join A.G.B.U. Alex and Marie Manoogian School as a temporary high school mathematics teacher that kicked off his 20-year journey in education, and he hasn’t looked back. Torossian found his new passion in educating the students of his community and he quickly became the high school’s assistant principal and now serves as the principal.

Throughout his 20 years in education, Torossian saw a need for additional STEM education and has brought numerous opportunities to his school. A.G.B.U is now known for their STEM programming, including an automotive engineering class and robotics program. They also feature the program Project Lead the Way that brings computer science, engineering design and medical curriculum to the students through hands-on challenging projects.

“I am very proud to be part of the CMU family as we celebrate the Golden 50th anniversary of the Manoogian school, and its 25th year as a charter school authorized by CMU. I credit the success of the Manoogian school to our amazing faculty and staff,” Torossian shared.

Torossian holds a doctorate degree in education from Central Michigan University. He has also been an adjunct professor at CMU since 2005, teaching courses focusing on strategic planning, curriculum, educational leadership, education finance and emotional intelligence. In 2017, Torossian was named a top five finalist for the Michigan Charter School Administrator of the Year by the Michigan Association of Public School Academies.