EPF Armenia Staff

Gevorg Ter-Gabrielyan comes to Eurasia Partnership Foundation with over eighteen years of experience in the private, public and NGO sectors. He was previously Senior Policy Advisor and Eurasia Programme Manager for International Alert in London and the Deputy Director of the Center for Regional Research in Yerevan. He has taught courses on politics and the economy with a focus on the Caucasus and the United States at both Yerevan State University and Bowling Green State University in Ohio. He has also worked as a business consultant in Moscow. Gevorg holds a PhD from Moscow State University in Turkic Linguistics, a Masters Degree in Society and Politics from Lancaster University, and a Masters in Public Administration from Bowling Green State University.

Prior to joining Eurasia Partnership Foundation Isabella used to work for USAID South Caucasus Water Program as public outreach/grants management specialist. She holds MSc degree in Sociology and Human Rights from London School of Economics and Political Science and Bachelor in Theology from Yerevan State University. She is member of Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly international network since 1997.

Sylvia Svazyan began working with Eurasia Foundation in July 2005. Before joining the EF Armenia Office she has worked in different international organizations and projects including Tacis Projects, UNDP, MDF Kamurj, Raiffeisen Investment AG (an Austrian Investment Bank). She also worked as a journalist for National Radio for three years. She graduated from Yerevan State University with a degree in History and from American University in Armenia, Department of Political Science and International Relations.

Before joining the Eurasia Foundation, Suren held the position of Finance Manager at several international organizations in Yerevan, most recently Project Harmony Armenia. Suren also worked as a Finance Manager at Medecins Sans Frontieres – Belgium in Yerevan. Suren has Bachelor’s Degree in Banking and Finance from University of London, London School of Economics and in Computer Science from the State Engineering University of Armenia. He is a Qualified Accountant, certified by the Ministry of Finance and Economy and licensed by the Commercial Banks of Armenia (CBA) to hold a position on control committees of commercial banks in Armenia.

Nelly Khachatryan joined the Eurasia Partnership Foundation as Finance Assistant in March 2009. She has over nine years of work experience in the financial field at an international organization. Nelly assists in all aspects of financial management of Donor Contracts and Programs. She processes and maintains financial and accounting related documentation in accordance with EPF established procedures and policies.

Nelly holds a BS in linguistics from Yerevan State University, as well as certificates of courses on Financial Accounting from Yerevan State Institute of National Economy and International Accountancy Training Center (IATC).

Hermine Gabrielyan first joined Eurasia Foundation in 2004 as a Grants Associate. She has extensive experience in finance; before joining Eurasia Foundation, she worked as a specialist in auditing companies, most recently with the audit-consulting company Shale Consulting. She also has experience at international organizations including the World Bank. Hermine has Masters Degree in Economics and Management from the State Institute of Economics. She also has a degree in law from the State Administration Academy.

Haykanush Iskandaryan first joined Eurasia Foundation in 2001 as a Finance/Administrative assistant for the Yerevan office. In September 2004, she was promoted to the position of Grants Manager for the EF South Caucasus Cooperation Program. Prior to joining EF, she worked in both local (including governmental) and international organizations as an intern. Haykanush has a master’s degree in Economics.

Hmayak Hakobyan joined the Eurasia Foundation in 2005. Before joining the Foundation, from 1996-2005 Hmayak worked in various local and international organizations,such as “ArmAgrobank”, “A-Card”, “Armenian Development Agency”, “Team Energy”, ” Ministry of Finance and Economy, “J. A. Jones International” – New US Embassy project in Yerevan, and others. Hmayak graduated from Yerevan State Engineering University, Department of Computer Engineering.

Marina Ayvazyan began working with Eurasia Foundation in June 1998 as a Program Associate, then worked in the capacity of Program Officer for Private Sector programs. She now manages EPF’s Corporate Social Investment and Migration programs. Prior to joining the Foundation, she worked for local NGOs as a finance manager. Marina has a B.A degree in Mathematics from Yerevan State University, an MBA from American University of Armenia (AUA) (major in marketing) and is currently pursuing the degree of certified accountant at the Association of Chartered and Certified Accountants (ACCA) of the UK. She also teaches Business Taxation for the ACCA students at the International Accountancy Business Center (IAB).

Vazgen Karapetyan joined the Foundation in 1998 as a Program Coordinator for the newly established South Caucasus Cooperation Program. Over 2003-2004, he studied at the Department of Public Policy at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill under the Hubert Humphrey Fellowship Program. Before re-joining the Foundation in 2006, he worked in the capacity of Program Manager with Catholic Relief Services in Armenia. Vazgen is a graduate of the Yerevan State Medical Institute. In addition, he holds an MA in Political Science and International Relations from the American University of Armenia. He is a a member of Transparency International Anti-Corruption Center NGO (Board Member since 2006).

Gayane began working with Eurasia Foundation in November 2005. Prior to joining EF, for more than eleven years, she worked for the United States Department of Agriculture’s local rural development project in Armenia, in positions varying from assistant to an agricultural advisor, to coordinator of educational projects, from gender and youth projects coordinator to chief liaison between the Armenian Agricultural University and USDA. Gayane also worked as a teacher of Russian in Talin College of the National Academy of Sciences and rural schools. She has a degree in Philology in Russian Language and Literature from Brusov Institute of Foreign Languages.

Marina Mkhitaryan manages anticorruption and media related programs at EPF. She holds a dual degree in Philology and Law from the Yerevan State University. She has also graduated from a post-graduate advanced training course in International Law and Legal Studies at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Tufts University, US. Marina has worked in a variety of development projects in Armenia. She has designed and published one of the first English language newspapers in Armenia. She also specializes in public relations and international law. Currently she manages a network program designed to strengthen the cooperation of government, media and civil society in Armenia; and a media development program.

Mikayel Hovhannisyan comes to EPF from UNDP, where he has worked on projects “Building capacity for independent media”, “Human Rights Education”, and “Enhancing citizen participation in electoral processes”. Prior to his work at UNDP, Mikayel worked as a columnist for the weekly newspapers New Yerevan Times and Panorama.am. His area of expertise was regional developments and analyses (South Caucasus and Middle East) as well as Civil Society and Policy Making. At the same time, Mikayel worked for the Diaspora-funded Birthright Armenia Foundation where he accumulated in-depth work experience with government, non-government, local and international stakeholders. Mikayel holds a Masters Degree from Yerevan State University in Muslim Philosophy and is a PHD candidate in Arabic Studies. He has also spent considerable time living and studying in Syria and Egypt.

Alice joined the EPF team in July, 2008. Previously she worked in the capacity of Project Manager for philanthropic non-profit Argentinean American organization FIDEC/FUNCEI (Fighting Infectious Diseases in Emerging Countries) and as a Senior Specialist in the Department of External Relations of the Presidency of Republic of Armenia.
She has a PhD from Yerevan State University in Latin-American Literature and has wide experience of teaching Spanish language, literature and civilizations in different Universities of Armenia.
Alice holds a Masters Degree in Computer Engineering from Yerevan State Engineering University, and Diploma in Journalism as a second specialization. She has been the Special Correspondent of Armenian newspapers in France, Argentina, Uruguay and Brazil.

Artak Shakaryan joined the Foundation in 2009 as a Program Manager for the newly established “Mutual Bias and Objectivity in the Media of Armenia and Turkey” and “Armenian Labor Migration in Turkey” projects. Prior to joining EPF, he held leading positions at Armenian National Academy of Sciences, Ministry of Sport and Youth Issues. Artak has B.A and M.A. in Turkish Studies from Yerevan State University and Ph.D. in Ottoman Studies from the Armenian National Academy of Sciences. He has also had certificate studies at the Fletcher School for Law and Diplomacy, Tufts University, and John F. Kennedy School for Government, Harvard University. Artak is the Honorary Head of the School for Young Leaders.

Irina Pahlevanyan began working with Eurasia Partnership Foundation in January 2008. She first joined Eurasia Foundation in April 2005 as an Intern. Very soon she became an Administrative/Communications Assistant and from 2006 she assists two major programs. Irina has a M.A. degree in International relations and her internship passed in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of RA.

Tatevik Markosyan first joined the Foundation in June 2007 as a volunteer, and later became a member of our team. Tatevik earned her Masters Degree in Russian Language, Literature and English language from the Yerevan State Linguistic University after V. Brusov.

Anush Hayrapetyan joined the Foundation in May 2008 as a volunteer. Afterwards she was promoted to Administrative Assistant position. Anush is a Master’s candidate at Slavonic University in the Department of International Relations. She has completed an internship at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Armenia in the Near and Middle East countries Department where, among other things, she provided translation from Turkish into Armenian. Besides, she is a volunteer in National Youth Council of Armenia and has participated in different International Forums. She has taught English language courses for needy youth, has worked as an interpreter for observers from PACE (Council of Europe) during the parliamentary and presidential elections in Armenia and also volunteered in UN Yerevan Office.

Heghine Manasyan has a PhD in Economics with broad experience in research, teaching and policy analysis. Her primary areas of expertise include economic growth and development, political economies of transition, labor markets, poverty and education, privatization and underground economies. Dr. Manasyan is an author of over one hundred publications and articles. Prior to joining CRRC-Armenia Dr. Manasyan was actively involved in projects funded by international organizations (UNDP, WB, TACIS), implemented in Armenia and aimed at strengthening domestic capacity for high quality economic research and education. Dr. Manasyan’s educational background includes training at the Yerevan State University, State Academy of Management (Moscow), Central European University (Budapest) and Columbia University (New York).

Jenny (Yevgenya) Paturyan received her PhD in Political Science from Jacobs University Bremen, Germany. Her educational background includes an MA in Integrated Social Sciences form Jacobs University Bremen, an MA in Political Science and International Affairs from American University of Armenia and a diploma in Philosophy from Yerevan State University. Her work experience includes a variety of tasks and projects she was involved in at AUA Turpanjian Center for Policy Analysis, at Jacobs University Bremen and, recently, as a research fellow at CRRC.

Anna Sarkisyan joined the CRRC team in 2004. She is a post-graduate student at the Department of History of Yerevan State University. Prior to joining CRRC-Armenia Ms. Sarkisyan worked as Office Assistant for the Eurasia Foundation Representative Office in Armenia.

Hermine Mheryan graduated from Yerevan State University’s Department of History, and the Faculty of Social Professions (English Language) at the Armenian State Engineering University. Prior to joining the CRRC team, Hermine worked for a host of governmental, private and international organizations, including the Emergency Management Administration, the Ararat Gold Recovery Company, the EU TACIS Program and Lanza LLC.

Gohar Khachatryan holds a Master’s Degree in Political Science from American University of Armenia. Her educational background includes a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics from the Yerevan State University of Economics. Prior to joining CRRC, Ms. Khachatryan worked in the NGO sector, and for the last two years has participated in several projects implemented by Turpanjian Center for Policy Analysis at American University in Armenia (AUA). She also worked as an Assistant Librarian and Computer Lab Assistant at American University of Armenia.