Team

Director

Shushan Karapetian sets the Institute’s vision and leads 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 construction of transnational identity. Dr. Karapetian received a PhD in Near Eastern Languages and Cultures from UCLA, where she taught Armenian Studies courses for more than 10 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 series “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 received a JD from USC Gould School of Law and BA in Journalism from USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism. 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.

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. Tavitian 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.”

Associate Director

Margarita Baghdasaryan leads the Institute’s local and global communication efforts, manages events, conferences, and symposia, and oversees the Institute’s programming in Armenia. She holds an MSc in Political Sociology from the London School of Economics and Political Science and a BA in Political Science and Middle Eastern Studies from UCLA. In addition to her multidisciplinary academic background, Baghdasaryan brings years of work experience in government, advocacy, and nonprofit management.

Prior to joining the team, she served as an Advisor at the Office of the High Commissioner for Diaspora Affairs in Armenia, where she established the country’s first Repatriation and Integration Center and worked on key programs and policies to promote Diaspora engagement and repatriation. Her expertise in strategic planning, communications, and stakeholder engagement underpins her impactful contributions to both local and international initiatives.

Chitjian Researcher Archivist

Gegham Mughnetsyan manages the Institute’s Armenian diaspora archives and works on building its digital collections. Mughnetsyan leads the Institute’s “Displaced Persons Documentation Project” and manages the “Understanding Independence: Oral Histories of Armenia, 1988-1996” project. He catalogs the Institute’s library, which currently hosts more than 1,000 volumes spanning topics from Armenian literature to foreign policy and diaspora studies. He also produces educational content for the Institute’s social media platforms. Mughnetsyan received his MA in International Affairs from American University in Washington, DC, and his BA from UC Berkeley in Peace and Conflict Studies, where his research focused on Nagorno-Karabakh.

Project Director

Lilit Keshishyan directs the Institute’s “California History Through Armenian Experiences” oral history project and works on various aspects of the Digital Diaspora Initiative. She is a 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 more than 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 manages the “California History Through Armenian Experiences” oral history project and Armen Aroyan Collection. Prior to joining the Institute, he managed the Armenian Genocide oral history collections at the USC Shoah Foundation, cataloging hundreds of survivor testimonies. Avedikyan 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 received a BA in History from California State University, Northridge.

Administrative and Budget Specialist 

Adam Bantad 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 Institute, he worked at the UCLA Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, where he oversaw the department chair’s administrative and purchasing work. He earned a BA in Political Science with an emphasis in global politics from California State University, Long Beach.