Senior Associate
Ara Yacoubian serves as the Senior Associate at the USC Dornsife Center for the Political Future (CPF). In this role he is responsible for handling CPF purchases, expense reports, budget reconciliations, donor database management, and office management. Ara also serves as executive assistant and scheduler for the CPF Directors, Bob Shrum and Mike Murphy.
Ara’s association with CPF came long before he became a staff member. As a student his deep passion for politics found a home at CPF. He was inspired by its mission and motivated by its call to action for all those interested in public service and civic engagement. He immersed himself in all that CPF had to offer. As a direct beneficiary of its countless opportunities and resources Ara sought to give back to CPF all that it gave to him.
A proud Trojan, Ara graduated in May 2023 with a degree in Political Science and International Relations. During his time at USC he actively participated in CPF activities, including research and internships with the POSC 395 Internship Program studying topics such as homelessness, environmental law, and state economics. His CPF-sponsored internships with the office of Congressman Brad Sherman and LA County Board Supervisor Kathryn Barger gave him countless experiences in leadership, research, and real world political insights. He was also a staff writer for USC’s own Daily Trojan, covering the cross section of politics and the Covid pandemic as well as serving on the executive board of USC Political Student Assembly (PSA) the official student-led political and advocacy group on campus.
In addition to his work for CPF, Ara also dedicates his time to the Hamazkayin Armenian Cultural and Educational Society, the largest and oldest cultural organization in the world dedicated to preserving the Armenian language and culture through education programs and grants. At Hamazkayin he has been chairman of its cultural and historical committees, managing and spearheading events for hundreds of participants in Los Angeles’s vibrant Armenian community.
In his spare time Ara, a native Angeleno, enjoys admiring the wonders of the California coastline, the array of gastronomical hubs LA has to offer, and painting.
Contact Details
Email: arayacou@usc.edu