Established in October 2007, AGBU is proud to announce the creation of the AGBU-United Nations (UN) Special Interest Group (SIG) based in New York.
Committed to promoting the mission of AGBU at the UN, the AGBU-UN SIG consists of the following members:
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Kim Yacoubian
Kim served as AGBU’s Main Representative to the United Nations from 2006-2008 and founded AGBU-UN SIG in September 2007. She holds a degree in Business Administration with a minor in French from Franklin & Marshall College in Lancaster, PA. Prior to joining AGBU, Kim pursued a career in the financial services industry for over ten years working for Merrill Lynch and UBS. Originally hired by the Press Office, Kim has worked for AGBU in New York since January 2005. Kim is AGBU’s Director of Community Program Development, which includes overseeing AGBU’s worldwide Young Professionals Network. |
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Yelena Ambartsumian
Yelena currently serves as AGBU’s Main Representative to the United Nations. Born in Baku, Azerbaijan and raised in Pennsylvania, Yelena is a student in the Honors Program of Fordham College at Lincoln Center, majoring in Political Science with minors in Spanish and Economics. Although first interning for American politicians and working with political grassroots organizations, Yelena became part of AGBU-UN SIG to volunteer within the Armenian community. |
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Paul Kayaian
Paul is a 25-year veteran of the business of global corporate sponsorship marketing. He has developed corporate marketing and sponsorship programs for organizations such as Madison Square Garden, the NBA, NFL, XFL and NASCAR. In addition, Paul was one of the founders of the NBA’s International division as well as Managing Director of the NFL’s European operations. He now heads his own TV/Marketing/Sponsorship consultancy, Mosaic Enterprises, LLC.Paul serves as AGBU’s Alternate Representative to the United Nations. |
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Emma Asatoorian
Born and raised in Yerevan, Armenia, Emma immigrated to the United States in 1999. Emma holds her Bachelor’s and Master’s degree from the Yerevan State Linguistic University, majoring in English/German languages. She will be attending Columbia University for her second Master’s in International Relations, concentrating on Human Rights and Economical and Political Development. |
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Maria Avanesova
Maria was born in Moscow, Russia and earned her Bachelor’s degree in Rhetoric and Communication Studies at the University of Richmond. She currently works within development at AGBU. Prior to joining AGBU, Maria interned for the Children of Armenia Fund in New York and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in Armenia. |
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Irina Hovhannisyan
Irina immigrated from Armenia in 2006. She is a graduate of the American University of Armenia with a degree in Comparative Legal Studies and from Yerevan State University with a degree in Criminal Law. Currently, Irina is a Legal Assistant at an immigration law firm and is pursuing her 3rd Master’s degree from Pace Law School. |
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Viktoria Grigorian
Born in Tbilisi, Georgia, Viktoria is a graduate of Fordham University with degrees in Philosophy and Political Science. Prior to joining AGBU, she interned for UN Radio and the International League of Human Rights. Viktoria currently works at AGBU as a program coordinator. |
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Lusiné Kerobyan
Lusiné was born and raised in Yerevan, Armenia. She has earned a Bachelor’s in International Development and Political Economy at the University of Washington in Seattle. Lusiné is currently the Academic Marketing and Foreign Rights Associate at The New Press, a not-for-profit publishing house based in New York City. |
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Iveta Nersesyan-Stephanopoulos
Iveta was born in Yerevan, Armenia and earned a Bachelors Degree in Philology and Russian Literature at the Linguistic University of Armenia. She currently is a student of the Graduate School of Education at Fordham University, New York City. Iveta is also a member of the American Psychological Association (APA). |
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Isabel Ohanian
A native of Albany, NY, Isabel studied Political Science and French at Siena College and obtained her Masters in International Boundary Studies from the University of London – King’s College. She currently works for the Anti-Money Laundering Unit at HSBC. In addition to AGBU-UN SIG, Isabel enjoys giving back to the Armenian community by volunteering for the Armenian Youth Federation and the Armenian National Committee. Isabel was born in Beirut, Lebanon. |
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Michael Yetemian
Michael was born and raised in Queens, New York. He is a double alumnus of St. John’s University in New York, holding his Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science with a Business Administration minor and a Masters of Business Administration. Michael is a Second Vice President within the Financial Services Department and also serves as Website Administrator for multi-bank holding company New York Community Bancorp, Inc. |
