Sevan Kabakian, Executive Director, has always been a great enthusiast of Armenian youth. Born in Lebanon, he has been living in Los Angeles for nearly 25 years. While there, he has worked with the local Armenian Youth Federation badanees (Juniors) in Glendale, aiming to instill in them a sense of pride, duty and responsibility towards Armenian issues. Sevan strongly believes that a material connection to Armenia is a vital and irreplaceable source of strength for Armenian youth living in the Diaspora.
Kabakian has an undergraduate degree from UCLA and a Master's degree in Aerospace Engineering from USC. Since graduating in 1987, he has worked as an engineer in flight performance at McDonnell Douglas/Boeing. He is joined in Armenia by his wife, Klariss, and three young daughters, Naro, Naneh and Lalig.
Vahan Alaverdyan, Program Assistant, holds a Master’s Degree
in Teaching English as a Second Language from Yerevan State Linguistic
University. He studied one academic year at Ball State University, Indiana. In
2007 after graduating from YSLU he served in the Armed Forces of the Replublic
of Armenia for 2 years. Vahan has a passion for design, and has been involved
in implementing community projects with his friends since 2006. Vahan looks
forward to one day playing football with his recently born cousin and to
receive a Master’s degree in PR and also be part of a positive change in
Armenia.
Gohar Khachatryan, Program Coordinator, holds a Master’s Degree in Political Science and International Affairs from the American University of Armenia. Her educational background includes a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics from the Yerevan State University of Economics. Prior to joining Birthright Armenia, she worked as a Librarian/ Information Specialist at Caucasus Research Resource Centers - Armenia, a program of Eurasia Partnership Foundation. Gohar is a vegeterian, a beginner yogini and a learning photographer, with the interest in web technologies and the passion for adventure.
Yerevan, Armenia Staff