Team

Director

Dr. Karapetian sets the Institute’s vision and leads the research and scholarship initiatives, deepening integration with entities both on and off campus and expanding the scope of academic programming. She researches, teaches, and writes about the Armenian experience, particularly focusing on competing ideologies at the intersection of language and the construction of transnational identity. Dr. Karapetian received a PhD in Near Eastern Languages and Cultures from UCLA in 2014, where she taught Armenian Studies courses for over ten years. Her dissertation, “‘How Do I Teach My Kids My Broken Armenian?’: A Study of Eastern Armenian Heritage Language Speakers in Los Angeles,” received the Society for Armenian Studies Distinguished Dissertation Award in 2015. In 2018, she was the recipient of the Russ Campbell Young Scholar Award in recognition of outstanding scholarship in heritage language research. She is the host of the podcast Language Therapy with Dr. K and the IG/YouTube Word of the Day.

Managing Director

Maral Tavitian works with the Director to manage all aspects of program operations and develop a long-term strategy for the Institute’s growth and impact. Tavitian earned a BA in Journalism from USC’s Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism and a JD from USC Gould School of Law. She graduated as Annenberg’s Outstanding Print and Digital Journalism Scholar, and was one of 10 students in the university’s graduating class to receive the Renaissance Scholar Prize for exceptional scholarship in diverse fields of study. She previously worked in Armenia as a journalist for the media platform CivilNet, where she launched and hosted its flagship news program, “The Week in Armenia.” While in law school, she dedicated herself to public interest legal work for underserved communities in Los Angeles. She was a member of the USC Immigration Clinic, vice president of the Armenian Law Students’ Association, and received the Order of Aréte in recognition of her leadership and commitment to service. 

Associate Director

Margarita oversees the Institute’s global communication efforts and manages the Institute’s USC Tacori Center in Armenia. She holds a Master of Science in Political Sociology from the London School of Economics and Political Science and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Middle Eastern Studies from UCLA. In addition to her multidisciplinary academic background, Margarita brings years of work experience in government, advocacy, and nonprofit management.

Chitjian Researcher Archivist

Gegham Mughnetsyan works with Armenian diaspora archives and leads the Institute’s Displaced Persons Oral History and Documentation Project. Gegham also produces content for the Institute’s social media platforms and works on building the Institute’s digital collection. He received his MA from American University, in Washington DC, where he studied International Affairs and his BA from UC Berkeley in Peace and Conflict studies where his focus was on Nagorno Karabakh.

Dr. Keshishyan directs the Institute’s “California History through the Armenian Experience” oral history project and also works on various aspects of the Digital Diaspora Initiative. She is a part-time lecturer in The Writing Program at USC. Dr. Keshishyan holds a PhD in Comparative Literature from UCLA, where she taught comparative literature and writing courses for over 10 years. Her academic work has explored the intricacies and challenges posed by issues of identity, language, and place in the literature of the Armenian diaspora.

Project Manager

Manuk Avedikyan works on the “California History through the Armenian Experience” oral history project and does outreach for My Armenian Story. He previously managed the Armenian Genocide survivor oral history collections at the USC Shoah Foundation for over seven years. Manuk holds an MA in Political Science and International Affairs from the American University of Armenia in Yerevan, focusing on non-Muslim minority issues and reforms in modern-day Turkey. He has a BA in History from California State University of Northridge.

Administrative and Budget Specialist 

Adam oversees the Institute’s administrative and budget affairs. He has spent his career working with research teams, helping build capacity by managing grant budgets and projects. Prior to joining the staff at the Institute, he worked at the UCLA Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, where he oversaw the administrative and purchasing work of the department chair. In 2019, he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science with an emphasis in global politics at California State University, Long Beach.