The Armenian Relief Society’s Eastern US, Inc. is governed by a volunteer and unpaid Regional Executive Board, who manage the strategy and implementation of the ARS’ mission across the Eastern Region of the United States. The composition of the board is made up of ARS members who are elected during the
Annual Convention to serve for a two-year term.
Chairperson
Caroline Chamavonian has been a member of the ARS “Artemis” Chapter of Philadelphia for 387 years. She has served on the chapter executive board numerous times, holding the positions of the chair, treasurer, secretary, and advisor. She has served on different committees like the scholarship, essay contest and ANEC. From 2009 until 2011, Caroline served on the Regional Executive Board. From 2011-2019, Caroline was elected during the 71st and 72nd International Conventions to serve on the Central Executive Board, where she first served as the treasurer, then Chairperson.
She is involved in her local community as a member of the St. Gregory Ladies Guild and Hamazkayin.
Ungh. Caroline has a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting from Temple University and a Master’s in Business Administration (MBA) from LaSalle University.
She’s been married for 47 years and has two children and two grandchildren. She enjoys spending time with her grandchildren and gives her utmost to advance the mission of the Armenian Relief Society.
Vice-Chairperson
Treasurer
Margie Babikian-Medina, has been an active member of the ARS “Bergen County Armenouhi’ chapter of New Jersey for 17 years. She has held positions on Bergen County’s Armenouhi executive board, as Treasurer, and Chairperson. She has served on the ARSUSA board as Treasurer for 4 yrs, as well as several Committees, (Scholarship Committee/Essay Contest/Laison to the ARSEUSA Financial committee).
Margie has served 10 years on the Board of the Nareg Armenian School and member of ANEC board. Margie has been on On-Line Auction Committees for ANCA and for Hamazkayin NJ.
Margie has a BA in Russian and French from SUNY Buffalo and an MBA in Computer Science from Baruch College. Margie also holds an international PMP certification from the Project Management Institute.
Margie is married 33 yrs and has 2 Children, Alexandra and Antranik.
Secretary
Carol Jaffarian is an 18 year member of the ARS “Knar” Chapter of Worcester, where she has served as Secretary. She holds a Bachelor’s in Nursing from Northeastern University and a Master’s with a Concentration in Primary Care from Boston University. She is currently an Assistant Professor at the Graduate School of Nursing at the University of Massachusetts Medical School. She has served as the Project Director of 4 grants, which were collaborative efforts between the ARS and the University of Massachusetts Worcester. These included the HIV Education and Prevention Project in Armenia and the Women’s Health Needs Assessment Project in Armenia, which were based, primarily, at the ARS Mother-Child Clinic and Birthing Center in Akhourian. Armenia’s First and Second National HIV Conferences, both collaborative efforts between the ARS and Armenia’s National Center for AIDS Prevention, were held at the conclusion of these grants. Carol represents the ARS at the United Nations, where she has served as Secretary of the UN NGO Committee on HIV/AIDS, and where she currently serves as Secretary of the UN NGO Health Committee.
Advisor
advisor
Irma Kassabian has been a member of the ARS “Satenig” Chapter of Washington DC since 2014. She served as the Recording Secretary and Chairperson of her chapter before being elected to serve on the Regional Executive Board. Ungh. Kassabian holds a Bachelor’s in Accounting from Bryant College in Rhode Island and successfully managed the family jewelry manufacturing company for many years.
Advisor
Seda Aghamianz presently serves as Administrator of The Genocide Education Project. She holds a Master’s degree in International Relations from Boston University and a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science and Russian. Ms. Aghamianz has worked within the Armenian community for many organizations including the Armenian Relief Society – Eastern United States, Project SAVE, and the Ani and Narod Memorial Fund. She has been a member of the ARS since 1987 when she joined her mother’s chapter, ARS Boston “Javo”, and then transferred to the ARS Cambridge “Shushi” Chapter. She has held various positions within the chapter (ie Treasurer, Vice-Chair, etc.) and has also served on many ARS committees over the years including the regional scholarship committee. She serves on several Watertown, MA non-profit boards including the Marshall Home Fund (serving as vice-chair and head of allocations) and Watertown for All Ages.
Executive Director
of ARS Eastern us
After Graduating from Karen Jeppe Armenian College, Ungh. Chiloyan earned her BA in English Language and Literature from the University of Aleppo. Upon graduation, she returned to her alma-mater, as an English Teacher. Her activism with ARS began first at the Syrian Armenian Relief Cross (ARS-Syria), and when she moved to the US, she continued as a member of the ARS “Leola Sassouni” Chapter of Watertown. She has been the Executive Director of the ARS of Eastern US for more than 20 years, where she assists the board by providing administrative support, overseeing strategic operations, and managing programs. Ungh. Chiloyan and her husband are proud parents of three.