All-ASA Reforms

All-ASA Logo

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Los Angeles, CA – February 11, 2025 – The All-Armenian Student Association (All-ASA), a non-profit umbrella organization representing over fifty Armenian Student Associations across the United States and globally, is thrilled to announce a series of groundbreaking reforms and new programs to maximize Armenian youth potential and elevate our mission in 2025. Last month, the All-ASA Senate, comprised of delegates from each constituent chapter, voted to approve the reforms with an overwhelming majority.

The reforms introduce initiatives to magnify All-ASA’s global impact, strengthen diaspora potential, and channel Armenian excellence toward advancing Armenia. These changes align with our mission to unify, lead, and empower Armenian students in the diaspora — broadly defined — with the ultimate goal of institutionalizing All-ASA’s long-term success.

Key objectives and priorities include:

  • Fostering innovation, strengthening networks, and amplifying student voices.
  • Unlocking and maximizing the vast potential within our vibrant, diverse, and ambitious community.
  • Fostering closer ties between Armenia and the diaspora.
  • Contributing to Armenia’s advancement in the 21st century.
  • Continuing All-ASA’s expansion to include and bolster Armenian Student Associations in:
    • High schools
    • The East Coast region of the United States
    • Campuses with smaller Armenian communities and ASA’s
    • International Armenian student organizations

Key Highlights of All-ASA Reforms

Introduction of Advisory Boards:

In order to ensure the longevity of our reforms outlives the Executive Board’s annual turnover, All-ASA has established a Steering Board and Board of Alumni Advisors to guide the organization in an advisory capacity.

The Steering Board consists of Armenian community leaders, professionals and industry leaders who are pioneers in their relative fields. Members include:

  • ❖ Peter Baghdassarian (Founding Partner, Baghdassarian and Baghdassarian, P.C. and Principal, International Grill, Inc.)
  • ❖ Ani Hovanessian (Partner, Willkie, Farr & Gallagher Private Clients Group)
  • ❖ Razmig Hovaghimian (Co-founder & CEO, Play Time, Co-founder, Matchday)
  • ❖ Vahe Kuzoyan (President and Co-Founder, Service Titan)
  • ❖ Arby Nahapetian (Chief Clinical Officer, Adventist Health)
  • ❖ Armen Panossian (Co-CEO, Oaktree Capital Management)
  • ❖ Chris Petrossian (Managing Director, Co-Head of Consumer and Head of the Los Angeles Office, Lincoln International)
  • ❖ Serge Sinanian (Executive Vice President, Sinanian Development, Inc)
  • ❖ Ani Vartanian (Managing Partner, Rubicon Point Partners LLC)
  • ❖ Armen Yemenidjian (Founder, Armenco Capital)
  • ❖ Kevork Zoryan (Former Managing Director, Morgan Stanley; Head of Real Estate Investment Banking for the Western U.S)

All-ASA is excited to welcome a Steering Board made up of Armenian power houses who, although coming from unique backgrounds, share a passion and dedication to enhancing Armenian student potential. For Board member Vahe Kuzoyan, All-ASA’s initiative is about equipping the future generation of Armenians with the tools for maximum success. Mr. Kuzoyan says, “The [Armenian Student Association] is how I met my co-founder, and the broader Armenian community was a part of our journey every step of the way. This initiative is meant to pay it forward to the next generation in the most amplified possible way through mentorship and network building.”

For Razmig Hovaghimian, Co-Founder and President of Play Time, the connection is also personal. He says, “My formative experiences in the U.S. began with Armenian Student Associations — from [UC] Berkeley’s ASA, helping me navigate what’s next after the dot-com bubble burst, to Stanford’s ASA, where I got to meet an undergrad titan in the making, Ara [Mahdessian], and dream up start-ups. It’s an incredible community. We’re excited to keep building this platform for everyone and fostering an interconnected, thriving global ASA community!” Peter Baghdassarian, who runs the Massis Kebob chain as Principal of International Grill, Inc., echoes these sentiments: “ASA plays a huge role in shaping both personal and professional journeys. It can provide a sense of community and open doors that may not have been available early in the college experience. I’m excited to support an initiative that helps take it to a higher level ensuring future Armenian students have even more opportunities to grow and lead.”

Meanwhile, the Board of Alumni Advisors consists of ASA alumni with a minimum one year of experience on an ASA or All-ASA executive board. The Board of Alumni Advisors, which will go into effect at the end of the academic year, will also assist in coordinating student-alumni relations and facilitating communication with the All-ASA Steering Board.

Special Initiatives:

All-ASA, in collaboration with the newly-established advisory boards, will oversee the implementation of a groundbreaking All-ASA Mentorship Program, Internship Placement Program, Scholarship Program, and other special projects. Several special projects undertaken by the Steering Board in collaboration with the All-ASA Executive Board and Board of Alumni Advisors will bolster more opportunities for students for meaningful engagement.

➢ The Mentorship Program is a first-of-its-kind initiative that will pair a competitive, select group of ASA students to be mentored by fifty of the brightest minds in the Armenian community, including top professionals, executives, and pioneers in their fields. Our mentors come from a variety of backgrounds and companies, such as Morgan Stanley, Netflix, Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP, Deloitte, Adventist Health Glendale, and UCLA School of Medicine. The program aims to bridge generations by connecting accomplished Armenian professionals with the next wave of talent, guiding their transition from education to career, strengthening the Armenian professional network, and fostering a culture of excellence. Read what some of our mentors have to say about the All-ASA Mentorship Program below:

“Building a strong network early on is one of the most important steps toward long-term success. ASA provides students access to mentorship, career guidance, internships, and lifelong connections. I’m proud to support a platform that empowers Armenian-American students and helps them navigate their academic and professional journeys with a strong community behind them.” – Chris Petrossian, Managing Director and Co-Head of Consumer and Head of the Los Angeles Office, Lincoln International
“I look forward to mentoring students with the same hopes, aspirations and struggles that I had not so long ago. By serving as a mentor, I hope to instill resilience and confidence in my mentees that their goals are achievable. My life experiences will serve as a road map for future aspiring physicians and health care leaders.” – Dr. Sylvia Kotikian, incoming Chief of Staff, Adventist Health Glendale
“By sharing our knowledge, professional experience and fostering connections, I believe this mentorship program will empower the next generation of Armenian leaders to make a significant impact in their chosen fields. I am personally honored to pave the way for these future leaders in the global art market by simultaneously guiding them to identify their place in the artworld and reshape it with their vision.” – Aileen Agopian, Principal, AGOPIAN Art Advisory

➢ The Scholarship Program, funded by the generous support of the Steering Board and its network, will provide over $500,000 in scholarships to involved ASA members over the next four years, with the ultimate goal of expanding the program. Each year, five $25,000 scholarships will be awarded to high-performing Armenian students on the basis of need and merit in order to empower their continued education and prepare them for professional success. No other organization currently provides scholarships of this caliber and scale for Armenian students, demonstrating the magnitude of our reforms and new initiatives.

➢ The Internship Program will place Armenian students in top internships to facilitate their professional growth. Opportunities will be available at leading firms across various industries, including law, business and data analytics, accounting and finance, healthcare and pharmaceuticals, real estate development and construction, consulting, private equity and investment management, retail and consumer goods, as well as technology and investment firms, with placements at top firms and multinational corporations.

All-ASA Eastern Region:

All-ASA has hereby merged with the east-coast based organization formerly known as ASA United — hereafter referred to as the All-ASA Eastern Chapter — in order to streamline organizational structure, eliminate redundancies in our organizational scope, and reinforce a centralized and unified voice for Armenian students. This merger fosters interregional cooperation under a centralized leadership model while preserving localized initiatives. All-ASA has also adopted the ASA United publication known as the Compass under its Cultural Committee. We look forward to seeing the combined potential of the two organizations in serving the Armenian student community.

All-ASA invites community members, supporters, and stakeholders to participate in these transformative efforts being launched in 2025. We look forward to working together to unleash our collective impact and strengthen our youth, so that they, in turn, can create a brighter future for Armenia and Armenians everywhere. We invite you to stay connected with us via email and social media to receive updates about our upcoming initiatives. We look forward to widespread community participation and engagement as we embark on this new chapter of Armenian diaspora excellence.

For Armenian students and Armenian Student Associations not in our network, please contact webmaster@all-asa.org to join. Visit our website at all-asa.org.