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Jason Demerjian holds a B.A from Boston College and a Masters of Theological Studies from Harvard Divinity School. He first came to Armenia in 1996 through the U.S. Peace Corps where he taught English in the schools and colleges of Stepanavan and worked on several community development projects. In 2000 he founded the Armenian Volunteer Corps and directed the organization for two and a half years.
Dr. Tom Samuelian holds his Ph.D. in linguistics from the University of Pennsylvania and his J.D. from Harvard Law School. He is the author of a number of books, articles, reviews and translations in the field of Armenian language, literature and history, and has been a professor at the University of Pennsylvania, Columbia University, and St. Nersess Seminary. He practiced corporate law in Washington, DC, Almaty, Kazakhstan and Moscow and now has a public interest law practice in Armenia, Arlex International Ltd. Besides being a law firm, Arlex houses a whole range of development projects and has helped a large number of diasporan Armenians adjust and find their niche in Armenia. He has been a tremendous supporter and friend of the Armenian Volunteer Corps.
Alex Sardar, currently serves at the Chief of Party of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Civic Advocacy Support Program (CASP) implemented by Counterpart International (CPI) in the Republic of Armenia. Before joining Counterpart International, he served as the Deputy Chief of Party of the USAID Armenia Legislative Strengthening Program (implemented by Development Associates, Inc.), working with the National Assembly of Armenia.
His professional experience includes work in the United States House of Representatives, the California State Assembly, and as a community organizer and lobbyist in the United States. Additionally, he volunteers and consults with several community-based organizations in Armenia and the United States. He holds a BA in English and German Literature from the University of California, at Berkeley, and attended the School of International Service at the American University in Washington, DC for his MA in international relations.
Edele Hovnanian, has been making trips to the homeland once or twice a year since the late 70s, personally experiencing many of the youth oriented educational, cultural and volunteer service programs in Armenia. Her participation in such programs lead her to assume strong leadership positions within two organizations, serving currently as President of the Land and Culture Organization (LCO-USA) and Board member of its international umbrella organization, Union de Organization Terre et Culture (UIOTC) in France since 1993, as well as serving as a member of the Board of Directors with the Armenian Assembly of America since 1991, with the position of Treasurer from 1992-2002.
She is currently the Senior Vice President of Operations for Hovsons, Inc. a diversified real estate development corporation in Tinton Falls, NJ, and President of Hovnanian Senior Housing Services, Inc. and Hovnanian Property Management, Inc., where she manages and oversees the operations of the health care and commercial divisions.
Hovnanian holds an M.B.A. from Columbia University, and joint B.S. degrees in Finance and Civil Engineering from the University of Pennsylvania. However, it was her study abroad program at the University of Yerevan from 1982-1983 that proved to be the educational experience that was the most life changing for her. Hovnanian resides in New Jersey.
Linda Yepoyan, has 20 years of diverse project management experience, the last 12 having been within the non-profit sector. Since living in Armenia from 1989-1992, she has maintained many homeland ties and relationships that take her back regularly. Among her many accomplishments, the 1993 creation of the NGO Training and Resource Center in Armenia remains high on her list of initiatives that contributed to Armenia’s development and strengthened the lives of many people globally.
Yepoyan is a graduate of The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. She resides in Wynnewood, PA with her husband, artist Armen Yepoyan, and their three children, Soseh, Sevag and Serop.
Seta Iskandarian, a native of Belmont, MA, USA started her position as Executive Director of AVC in July of 2007. Born in Caracas, Venezuela, Seta has extensive experience volunteering and studying around the world in Armenia, France, Germany, Laos, and Italy. She has a B.A. from Clark University (Worcester, MA) in economics with a minor in international development, and an MBA from Fordham University (New York, NY). She has over ten years work experience as a financial analyst for the Estee Lauder Companies in Manhattan, a researcher for the Center for Work-Life Policy (NY, NY), and a consultant for Arthur D. Little (Cambridge, MA).
Having first come to Armenia in 1996 as a volunteer for the Land & Culture Organization, she has seen Armenia grow since independence. As an AVC volunteer in 2005, she worked for Bars Media in Yerevan and Naregatsi Art Institute in Shushi.
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