George S. Yacoubian, Jr., Ph.D., LL.M.
Chairman
George S. Yacoubian, Jr. has a Master’s Degree in Criminology and Criminal Justice, a Ph.D. in Criminal Justice Management, a J.D. from the Rutgers University School of Law, and an LL.M. in Transnational Law from the Temple University School of Law. He is a solo practitioner in the Philadelphia area, specializing in criminal defense and international human rights law. His oldest daughter, Liliana, was adopted from Armenia in 2006.
Shake’ Derderian
Shake’ graduated from the St. Vladimir’s and St. Nersess Armenian Seminary with a Master’s Degree in Divinity and Armenian Studies. Currently she is the owner and manager of SIMA Tours (Armenia/US) as well as NOUR Travels (Jerusalem/US), specializing in pilgrimage and social work in the Armenian communities.
Raffi K. Jehanian
Raffi K. Jehanian is a Senior Technical Consultant at SAP America Inc. in Newtown Square, PA. He has worked in the technology field since 1994, and is an active member several user groups at SAP. Outside of work he is active in the Armenian community, most recently at St. Gregory the Illuminator Armenian Church having served 6 years on the Board of Trustees. He is also active in the AYF-YOARF, Armenian Sisters Academy and Camp Haiastan. Raffi serves as SOAR’s Stateside Child Sponsorship Fund Coordinator. Raffi presently resides in Broomall, PA with his wife Danielle and daughter Teni.
Hripsime Muradyan
Hripsime graduated from Yerevan State University with a Master’s Degree in English Language and Philology. In 2007 she began working for Gyumri Social Child Care Center SNCO. As a coordinator of author relations, she implemented different projects and programs to support children at risk. In 2015 Hripsime was granted with Appreciation from MOLSA Minister A. Grigoryan for her devoted work with children. She was actively involved in KASA Swiss Humanitarian foundation and delivered trainings for disadvantaged youth to obtain relevant vocational and professional skills. In 2013, she was appointed the position as a Project Coordinator in “Little Prince” Day Care Center run by Armenian Caritas. There Hripsime managed family oriented support to families and children at risk in the Gyumri community. In 2015, she participated in a study visit to Germany to investigate different models for child care institutions, learning how to apply best practices in the field of her work.
Beginning in 2016, Hripsime began working for SOAR. Her inspiration is the significant change of lives of institutionalized children (with and without disabilities) becoming as independent as possible with their lives.
Mother Arousiag Sajonian
Mother Arousiag Sajonian has been the Superior of the Our Lady of Armenia Center in Gyumri, Armenia, since September 1990. The Our Lady of Armenia Center was established by the Armenian Sisters of the Immaculate Conception, a religious order of nuns established in 1847 to educate Armenian youth. She was the principal of the Armenian Sisters Academy in Radnor, PA, between September 1967 and June 1986. Sr. Arousiag earned a Bachelor’s Degree from Cabrini College in Radnor, Pennsylvania, in 1967 and a Master’s Degree in Education from Villanova University in Villanova, Pennsylvania, in 1973. She is proficient in several languages, including Armenian, English, French, and Italian.