WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Armenian Assembly of America (Assembly) is pleased to announce the promotion of Danielle Saroyan Ashbahian to Communications Director at the Assembly’s headquarters in Washington, D.C.
“It is a matter of great pride to be able to promote one of our former interns and current staff members,” Assembly Executive Director Bryan Ardouny said. “Danielle’s energy and enthusiasm coupled with her hard work and dedication has been fantastic. I am confident she will do a great job in this new capacity to further advance the Armenian Assembly’s mission.”
Hired during the centennial year of the Armenian Genocide as the Assembly’s Public Affairs Associate, Danielle has managed the Communications Department since May 2016, handling all print and digital communications while also organizing community events. Ashbahian helped launch the website www.armenia360.com, a wide-ranging source of news and information with links to major institutions and foundations, and the accompanying weekly news articles emailed to Assembly members and those who subscribe online.
Danielle is a proud alumna of the Assembly’s Summer Internship Program in Armenia, where she interned for the United Nations Department of Public Information in 2014. She also has prior experience at the office of former U.S. Congresswoman Janice Hahn, the Public Diplomacy Magazine, the Los Angeles Consular Corps, and the San Francisco Ethics Commission.
Ashbahian earned her Master’s Degree in Public Diplomacy from the University of Southern California. During her studies, she focused on the use of culture and technology to increase awareness of important issues through diplomacy. Danielle received a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of San Francisco with an International Studies major, a Global Politics & Societies concentration, and French Studies, European Studies, and Legal Studies minors. In addition to her internship in Armenia, she completed an internship working with high schools in the Czech Republic, studied abroad in France, and conducted research on cultural exchange programs in Indonesia.
Armenian Assembly Executive Director Bryan Ardouny and Armenian Assembly Communications Director Danielle Saroyan Ashbahian sharing an Armenian National Institute (ANI) exhibit to Congressman Albio Sires (D-NJ)
She is active in her local community at St. Mary Armenian Apostolic Church in Washington, D.C., and has previously served on St. Mary’s Board of the Armenian Church Youth Organization of America (ACYOA) and as a Sunday School Teacher.
Hailing from Rancho Palos Verdes in California, Danielle was part of St. James Armenian Apostolic Church in Los Angeles. She also volunteered as a staff member for many years at the Western Diocese Armenian Church Summer Camp.
In her new role as Communications Director, which took effect in the beginning of 2019, Danielle will continue to look for opportunities to expand the Armenian Assembly’s media platforms and outreach, as well as foster relations with national and international media.
Established in 1972, the Armenian Assembly of America is the largest Washington-based nationwide organization promoting public understanding and awareness of Armenian issues. The Assembly is a non-partisan, 501(c)(3) tax-exempt membership organization.
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NR# 2019-017