Staff and Volunteers
YEREVAN OFFICE
Lusine Antonyan, MD, Healthcare Program Monitor/Staff Physician
Lusine Antonyan is a graduate of Yerevan State Medical University with a degree in medicine, specializing in general practice. She has extensive experience working as primary health care physician and has specialized in family medicine through post-graduate training. Prior to joining COAF, Lusine worked at Ignatsia Medical Center in Yerevan, Regional Clinical Hospital of Shirak District of Armenia and lectured at the National Institute of Health in the department of family medicine. Lusine has attended numerous training courses in the field of primary health care, eye care, neurology, cardiology, immunization and prevention of diseases both on national and international levels. She also has participated in various workshops on medical issues organized by the Armenian Ministry of Health and international projects that aim at modernizing and updating primary healthcare in Armenia.
Arpie G. Balian, DPA, Country Director
Arpie Balian joined COAF as Country Director in August 2005. Prior to that, she was Director of Corporate Planning for the U.S. Department of Commerce managing the $1.7 billion budget of the Patent and Trademark Office. In that capacity, she provided direction, training and coaching to a staff of 30 professionals on fiscal policy, strategic and project planning and management. Ms. Balian has also served as the IT Development Contract Program Director for the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), providing information technology solutions to social and economic development projects in Armenia and other transitioning countries. Ms. Balian’s previous experiences include leadership positions for the USAID Mission in Armenia, the American University of Armenia, the Armenian Research Foundation, and the Armenian Relief Society. Arpie holds a Doctorate in Public Administration from the University of Southern California, a Master’s in Public Administration from the American University, Washington, D.C., and a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the American University of Beirut, Lebanon.
Naira Gharakhanyan, MD, Manager, Community Development Programs
Naira Gharakhanyan has been with COAF since the establishment of the organization’s Armenia office. From May 2004 through December 2005, she held the position of Health Program Coordinator. She is currently the Manager of Community Development Programs, responsible for the organization’s health, social, and educational programs. Naira is a graduate of the Yerevan State Medical University in 1992. More recently, she has earned her Master’s in Public Health from the American University of Armenia in 2003. Her work experience includes various positions in health programs sponsored by international and local non-governmental organizations, including World Vision, Intrah Prime II, American University of Armenia, and Children’s Health Care Association. She has attended different conferences and training courses on public health and children’s rights in Armenia and abroad. She has also participated in expert research projects on children’s health and co-authored several publications on health topics.
Inessa Grigoryan, MA, Public Relations and Communications’ Officer
Inessa Grigoryan started working for COAF as a volunteer, and later held the position of Social Program Coordinator beginning in January 2005 and Public Relations and Communications’ Officer beginning in August 2005. She holds a Law degree from Yerevan State University, a Master’s degree in linguistics, and a certificate in English language from the United Kingdom. Prior to joining COAF, Inessa worked for Junior Achievement of Armenia as program coordinator and with Shelter YMCA as translator/interpreter.
Arsen Harutyunyan, MA, Finance and Administrative Officer
Arsen Harutyunyan joined COAF in April 2006 as Finance and Administrative Officer. Prior to that, Arsen was the Financial Manager and Chief Accountant of the Armenian International Policy Research Group. Earlier, he served as Chief Accountant of the Economic Development and Research Center. He has been working in the accounting field for over seven years and has extensive experience in handling the full range of accounting tasks for non-governmental organizations, as well as for private sector companies. Arsen has extensive experience in the preparation of budgets, financial statements, management reports, and other submissions in compliance with government requirements. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology and Psychology from Yerevan State University and a Master’s degree in Accounting and Audit from the International Accountancy Training Center.
Mushegh Hunanyan, MA, Construction Engineer
Mushegh Hunanyan joined COAF in April 2007 as Construction Engineer. He is a graduate of Yerevan State Polytechnic Institute’s affiliate in Gyumri in the field of Industrial and Urban Construction. Before joining COAF, Mushegh worked as construction engineer for “Project and Design” LLC, as well as “Yerevan Nakhagits” and “Haykomunnakhagits” state design companies as designer and construction engineer. He has performed a variety of tasks ranging from developing building design and construction budget to overseeing actual construction and quality control.
Serob Khachatryan, MA, Manager, Education Program
Serob Khachatryan joined COAF in April 2008 as manager of our program in education reform. He is a graduate of Yerevan State University in the combined field of philosophy, sociology and psychology. Serob has held several positions of significant impact on reforms in Armenia, including social studies specialist at the National Institute of Education, editor-in-chief of Krtutyun (Education) newspaper, and political analyst of Molorak daily. He continues to lecture at Yerevan State Linguistic University and is assistant professor at Yerevan State University. Serob has specialized in curriculum development and has served as expert in the development of the Armenia’s national educational program for 2008-2015. He has worked in several short-term educational projects financed by UNICEF, UNDP and OSI. Serob has co-authored four publications on education topics.
Sargis Markosyan, MA, Social Program Coordinator
Sargis Markosyan started working for COAF at the start of the Rural Development Program in Karakert in April 2004. A native of Spitak, Sargis is a graduate of the Vanadzor State Pedagogical Institute. He has extensive work experience with the Spitak Farmers’ Association and has worked on several international projects funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the Urban Institute, and Heifer International. Sargis holds the position of Social Program Coordinator and manages a variety of projects related to creating youth clubs and non-governmental grassroots organizations in villages.
Hovhannes Mesropyan, MA, Design and Construction Coordinator
Hovhannes Mesropyan joined COAF on a part-time basis as Hydro Engineer in December 2005 and has since taken on the additional responsibility of supervising the reconstruction of buildings and water networks as COAF’s Design and Construction Coordinator. A graduate of Yerevan State Polytechnic Institute, Hovhannes has vast work experience in design, construction and management, as well as thorough knowledge of technical and normative construction standards. Hovhannes has led several projects in urban planning and construction across Armenia, including public, cultural, educational and residential buildings (together with water, sewage, power supply, and heating systems). As hydro engineer, Hovhannes has also led water network system improvement projects in several cities of Armenia, including Yerevan, Vanadzor, and Dilijan. Hovhannes has occupied chief executive positions both in government agencies and in private design/construction companies.
Lusine Sahakyan, MD, Health Educator
Lusine Sahakyan is a graduate of Yerevan State Medical University with a degree in medicine, specializing in general practice. Following her graduate studies, Lusine has worked as a physician and specialized as a general practitioner of the Ambulance Station in the city of Ashtarak. She has completed training courses for lecturers at the National Institute of Health within 1999-2000 and attended training of trainers and workshops on strengthening family health nursing organized by Primary Health Reform Project. Prior to joining COAF in 2007, Lusine worked as head of the general practice department at Erebuni Medical College in Yerevan and as trainer for UMCOR.
Tigran Sargsyan Systems Administrator
Tigran Sargsyan is a third-year student at the department of Information Technologies of Yerevan State Polytechnic University. Before joining COAF in July 2006 on a part-time basis, Tigran was enrolled as a single and multilayer PCB design assistant in a privately owned firm in Gyumri. Besides his primary qualifications in the field of information technologies, Tigran is also fond of music and is a member of a music band, playing the guitar there.
Mikayel Stepanyan, MA, Business Development Specialist
Mikayel Stepanyan joined COAF as Business Development Specialist in March 2006. He is a graduate of the Armenian State Academy of Agriculture and is soon to get his Master’s degree in Industrial Engineering and Systems Management from the American University of Armenia. Mikayel’s prior experience includes work in various aspects of dairy production at Ashtarak Kat, CJSC and Shant Plus, Ltd.
Arthur Ter-Simonyan, Assistant Accountant, Cashier
Arthur Ter-Simonyan joined COAF as courier on a part-time basis in August 2004 and currently holds the position of Assistant Accountant and Cashier. Arthur is enrolled in the State Agrarian University of Armenia.
Tatevik Tuniyants, MA, Administrative Assistant
Tatevik Tuniyants graduated from the department of English Language and Area Studies at Yerevan State Linguistic University in 2007. Prior to joining COAF, Tatevik worked as a representative of customer service at Hi-Tech Gateway Telecommunication Company and administrative assistant and translator at Human Dignity and Peace Foundation. Tatevik also has experience working as interpreter at exhibitions. Besides her native Armenian, she is fluent in English and Russian and has a working knowledge of Spanish.
Razmik Vardanyan, Travel and Logistics
Razmik Vardanyan has been with COAF since the establishment of the organization’s Armenia office. Prior to joining COAF, he worked for the American University of Armenia (AUA) where he was awarded “best employee” status as driver-logistician. Razmik has extensive experience working with international organizations, including the Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU), International Shipments, JSC, and others. During pre-independence years, Razmik owned a business in tailoring.
Ovsanna Yeghoyan, MA, Manager, Infrastructure and Economic Development Programs
Ovsanna Yeghoyan joined COAF as Operations Manager in June 2005 and currently holds the position of Manager of Infrastructure and Economic Development Programs. Before joining COAF, Ovsanna worked as the Resident Adviser for Hilfswerk Austria Charity Organization and as Economic Development Specialist for the Urban Institute. Prior to that, she worked as Executive Director of Project and Design, a design and construction company. Ovsanna has a rich background in the development field, including strategic planning, economic development, tourism, and marketing. She is the founder and has served as Executive Director of the Shirak Competitiveness Center and has been very involved in the growth of local non-governmental organizations. Ovsanna holds a degree in Civil Law and possesses broad knowledge of the legislation of the Republic of Armenia.
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