SOAR - Portland (OR) Chapter
Portland became part of the SOAR family in August 2013, joining SOAR-Seattle in the Pacific Northwest. Meeting an Armenian in Portland is not a common occurrence, with approximately 300 Armenians families residing in and around the city. Most Armenians in Portland are second, third and fourth generation Armenian-Americans, while others come from Armenia and various other countries of the Armenian Diaspora.
SOAR Promotional Video
Special thanks and credits for this video to:
Armen Tshagharyan at ROMB Studios – Visit his YouTube Channel HERE
SOAR Portland (OR) Chapter
BOARD OF DIRECTORS:
Annie Kokoyan
President
Annie Kokoyan is a first-generation medical student of Armenian heritage, born and raised in the United States. Coming from a working-class immigrant family and an underserved community, Annie’s path to medicine has been shaped by the very barriers she now hopes to dismantle. Her lived experiences have fueled a calling toward psychiatry, where she aims to center patient stories with empathy and intention, especially those shaped by trauma, cultural stigma, and systemic injustice.
Annie earned her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from UCLA, where she deepened her interest in mental health and explored the intersection of culture, identity, and healing. Now studying medicine in Oregon, she is known for her compassion, leadership, and commitment to equity in healthcare. She leads initiatives that promote resilience in medical education, conducts research on disparities in care, and mentors aspiring physicians from underrepresented backgrounds.
As President of SOAR Portland, Annie channels her deep pride in her Armenian identity into meaningful action by supporting vulnerable orphaned Armenian children and adults with disabilities. She is dedicated to SOAR’s mission of providing essential resources and opportunities for education, social development, and family reunification. Through her leadership, Annie fosters connection among Armenians in the Pacific Northwest while advancing humanitarian relief efforts that empower those most in need.
For Annie, medicine and service are inseparable. They are ways to restore dignity, build trust, and create space where people feel truly seen and heard. Her journey into psychiatry is both personal and purposeful, grounded in a lifelong mission to serve with heart and advocate for those too often overlooked.
Gregory Petrossian
Treasurer
Gregory (Greg) Petrossian is a Portland, OR native. In his youth he was a student of the Armenian Community of Oregon and a member of St. Kevork’s Armenian Apostolic Church of Oregon. After he visited Armenia for the first time in 2006, he vowed to find an opportunity in the states to help orphaned kids like the ones he met in Karabakh and Yerevan. After all these years searching for such an opportunity, he was ecstatic to serve as a member of SOAR’s Baltimore Chapter in 2015 while living there for grad school. He boomeranged back to Portland in 2017 and was offered the opportunity to revive the SOAR Portland Chapter in 2019 as President. Greg strives to organize fun, family-friendly fundraising events to bring the Armenian community closer together for a great cause.
Greg earned his B.S. degrees in Microbiology and Bioresource Research, as well as a B.A. in International Studies from Oregon State University. He then moved to Baltimore, MD to earn his M.S. in Healthcare Management from Johns Hopkins Carey Business School. He now works as the Microsoft Partnership, Global Lead at DataStax.
Garineh Baghdasarian
Event Coordinator
Garineh is a born and raised Los Angeles Armenian. She completed her bachelor’s degree of Interior Design and minor in Art at California State University of Northridge. After graduation, she moved to Portland, Oregon with the purpose of exploring life outside of LA.
When she experienced major culture shock and missed her Armenian connection, she realized how important it is to a person’s identity to maintain their connection to their roots.
St. Kevork’s Church was the first place she met Oregon Armenians and soon after would surprisingly bump into more in the area. She then participated in the Birthright Armenia Program in 2019 as her first visit to Armenia.
After returning to Portland, her involvement in the community continued. In 2023 she instructed the “paint and sip” for SOAR’s fundraising event, and officially accepted her position as Event Coordinator in 2024.
Her goal is to continue sharing her skills in art and event planning to bring community, growth, and connection into the lives of Armenians in Portland, while helping support Armenians in Armenia.
Ashley Chiampi
Social Media Director
Ashley Chiampi is a dynamic marketing professional with a deep passion for her work and heritage. Born of Armenian and Italian descent, Ashley’s roots trace back to Adana Cilicia, Armenia. Her family emigrated to America in 1921 following the Armenian Genocide. Growing up in Southern Oregon, Ashley and her father were the only Armenians in their town, fostering a profound appreciation for her cultural heritage.
Ashley’s passion for connecting with people and telling compelling stories led her to pursue a Bachelor’s of Science in Business Administration Marketing from Southern Oregon University. Her career seamlessly blends creative flair with strategic thinking.
Beyond her professional life, Ashley is dedicated to community service and global humanitarian efforts. As the former President of Interact Disaster and Humanitarian Relief, she led initiatives to fund local school improvements and supported international projects like Polio Plus and Doctors Without Borders. Her volunteer work with Rotary International included trips to the Philippines, where she helped build homes in impoverished areas and provided veterinary care.
Currently, as the Social Media Director at SOAR Portland, Ashley leverages her diverse skills and dedication to make a difference. Her journey from a small town in Oregon to reconnecting with her Armenian roots showcases her resilience and determination. Ashley’s mission transcends marketing; she aims to use her platform to amplify voices, share stories, and create meaningful change for orphaned Armenian children worldwide.
Arpi Deirmendjian
Pic and Bio coming soon
Anahit Kalan
Anahit was born and raised in Yerevan, Armenia. She earned her bachelor’s degree in English and German Translation from Yerevan State University named after Valery Brusov and later completed her master’s degree in Business Management at Yerevan State University of Economics.
In August 2019, she moved to the United States and immediately found her place within the local Armenian community. From her very first days, she began volunteering as a teacher at the Hovhannes Tumanyan Armenian School, driven by a passion to stay connected to her heritage and give back to the community.
Her dedication and involvement continued to grow, and in 2023, she joined the board of the Armenian community, where she now serves as Treasurer. Professionally, Anahit works in the field of accounting.
Her goal is to use her skills and background in education, finance, and community engagement to help strengthen the Armenian community in the U.S., while maintaining a strong connection to her roots in Armenia.
Sam Yousefzai
Pic and Bio coming soon