The Armenian Church

Diocesan Staff

Department of Development
E-mail Angela	Angela Kazarian *Data & Information Services Manager* Angela was born in Yerevan, Armenia. After graduating from the Yerevan College of Applied Art, she worked in the Martiros Saryan Museum as a guide-instructor. During this time, she also taught art classes, specifically in embroidery. She moved to the United States in 1992. A year later she began working at the Diocese, maintaining the inventory and catalog of the Diocesan museum. While managing the New York office of the Armenia Fund USA, Inc., in 1996, she served as a liaison with the organization's Yerevan office. Since 1998, she has been the Diocese's Data & Information Services Manager, maintaining a database of 80,000 names for three organizations (the Diocese, Fund for Armenian Relief, and Armenian Church Endowment Fund). She prepares financial, statistical, and annual reports, as well as arranges for contributions to be acknowledged. She also serves as the treasurer of the St. Gregory the Illuminator Mission Parish in Brooklyn, New York.

Department of Youth & Education E-mail Elise	Elise Antreassian *Christian Education Coordinator* Elise received her master of divinity degree from Union Theological Seminary and St. Nersess Armenian Seminary, and her master's degree in Armenian studies from Columbia University. She has been Christian education coordinator at the Diocese since 1980, in which capacity she oversees Diocesan Sunday Schools, religious publications, and curriculum development, as well as conducts adult retreats, seminars, and leadership and teacher training. Elise is a representative to the National Council of Churches and a member of St. Nersess Seminary Board of Directors. She is an active parishioner of the Church of the Holy Martyrs of Bayside, New York, where she lives with her husband, Papken Bayizian, children Kohar, Aris, and Vahan, and her father Jack.
E-mail Nancy	Nancy Basmajian *Executive Secretary, ACYOA* Nancy serves the Armenian Church Youth Organization of America (ACYOA). A native of Philadelphia and an active member of the Holy Trinity Church of Cheltenham, Pennsylvania, she holds undergraduate and graduate degrees in education and psychology. She attended St. Nersess Armenian Seminary, as well as the St. Vladimir and Eastern Baptist Seminaries, and received a master of divinity degree. She has served the Diocese since 1979, as co-director of the then Department of Religious Education, director of the ACYOA Juniors, and as program director of St. Vartan Camp. Nancy was appointed ACYOA executive secretary in 2003 and since then has established an ACYOA presence at the Diocese. She is responsible for its administrative operation and in supporting and implementing the goals and programs of the ACYOA Central Council. She is also a member of the Ararat Center Board of Directors.
E-mail Gilda	Gilda Buchakjian-Kupelian *Coordinator of Armenian Studies* Gilda, a multilingual educator, obtained her education in English, journalism, political science, and was awarded a teaching certificate in English as a second language in her native Beirut. Upon graduation, she worked as librarian at the Cultural Center of the American Embassy. She earned her master's degree in education administration after immigrating to the United States, and taught at the William Paterson University Continuing Education Department. Prior to joining the Diocese in 2005, she worked at the Eastern Prelacy as director of Armenian education and as the founding editor of the bi-lingual educational quarterly Hye Lezoo. At the Diocese she oversees programs, classes, and publications which cultivate and promote the Armenian language and heritage. She also substitutes as a teacher for the Diocesan Khrimian Lyceum and the Mesrob Mashdots Institute. Gilda's family includes her three daughters: Patille, Tamar, and Taleen.
E-mail Julie	Julie Hoplamazian *College Ministry Facilitator* Julie oversees the Diocesan outreach to college students by visiting campuses, managing Internet and e-mail outreach, and developing programming which engages students in the life of the Armenian Church. She earned her bachelor's degree in music education from Gettysburg College. For three years, she taught general music and language arts in an elementary school while also teaching private piano and voice lessons. She then pursued full-time studies toward a master of divinity degree at Princeton Theological Seminary, during which time she served as the youth and children's music director at the St. Mary Church of Livingston, NJ. She joined the Diocesan staff in June 2006, after completing her degree at Princeton.
E-mail Jennifer	Jennifer Morris *Coordinator of Youth Outreach* Jennifer has a bachelor's degree in psychology and elementary education and a master's degree in curriculum and teaching. She was an elementary school teacher for several years, and was chosen as one of 45 educators world-wide to travel to Japan through a program run by the Japanese Educational System. She joined the Diocesan staff in 2005, though her involvement in the Armenian Church began as an ACYOA Jr. and Sr. in her home parish, the St. John Church of Southfield, Michigan. In 1995, she traveled to Paris to represent Detroit in the Armenian Olympics. She served on the ACYOA Central Council for four years as treasurer and then chairperson. She traveled on the Diocesan pilgrimage to Jerusalem in 2000, and to Armenia in both 2001 and 2004. In her current position, her main focus is to oversee summer camp programs -- St. Vartan Camp and Hye Camp -- and work with ACYOA Juniors and parish youth advisors.


Department of Finance & Administration E-mail Bill	William Casey *Director of Finance & Administration* Bill joined the Diocese in October, 2006. He is responsible for the financial books and records of the Diocese, as well as the physical facilities of the St. Vartan Cathedral and the Diocesan Center. Prior to joining the Diocese, Bill spent twenty-four years with JP Morgan Chase and its predecessor organizations, where he worked in various business units, most recently as Controller for the retail brokerage unit. He and his wife live in Westchester County, New York, and have three sons. He enjoys playing golf in his spare time and being with family and friends.
E-mail Maria	Maria Barsoumian *Assistant: Bookstore, Reception, Mailroom* Maria was born in Aleppo, Syria, coming to the United States in 2002. Before moving to America, she attended Aleppo University, studying English literature for two years. She is a graduate of the State Music School in Aleppo, majoring in piano. She is currently studying Italian and French at the City University of New York in the hopes of becoming a translator.

E-mail Alex	Alex Cedeno *Coordinator of Accounting Services* Alex has been working in the Diocesan finance department for more than seven years. Before joining the Diocese, he worked for the American Craft Museum in New York City. For the Diocese, he handles mainly accounts payable.
	Richard Domino *Facilities Engineer* Richard oversees the Diocesan Center and St. Vartan Cathedral complex.
E-mail Nubar	Nubar Kupelian *Primate's Armenian Secretary* Born in 1933 in Cairo, Egypt, Nubar received his elementary education in the local Armenian school, before attending the school of the Mekhitarist Fathers. He subsequently went to Antelias, Lebanon, where he enrolled at the Seminary of the Catholicate of Cilicia, receiving training to become a teacher. After graduating, he returned to Cairo and taught Armenian subjects at the Nubarian National School of Heliopolis. During that period, he took night courses in education at the Licée Franco-Egyptienne. In 1959, he married Anahid (Annie) Guendimian. In 1970 they immigrated to New York. He soon began working at the Diocese, first as librarian and editor of the Armenian-language monthly The Armenian Church, and then, beginning in 1974, as the Armenian-language secretary and administrative assistant of the Primate.
E-mail Sunny	Sunny Nwaubani *Center Facilities Manager* Sunny graduatedin 1988 from Alabama A&M with a master's degree in economics. Married with three children, he has been at the Diocese since 1993 and now oversees the operations of 630 Second, the Diocesan facility rentals. He was born in Lagos, Nigeria, and moved to the United States in 1983. Before joining the Diocese he worked as a production manager with United Pacific Apparel.
E-mail Nazareth	Nazareth Salbashian *St. Vartan Bookstore Manager* Nazareth was born in Lebanon and came to America in 1984. He has been the manager of St. Vartan Bookstore since 2000. Before joining the Diocese he worked in the wholesale clothing business. He and his wife have three children.
E-mail Maral	Maral Serce *Receptionist* Maral is the voice you hear when you call the Diocese and the face you see when you enter the Diocesan Center. She has been at the Diocesan switchboard for almost 15 years. She immigrated to the United State from Beirut, Lebanon, in 1981. In addition to answering phones and greeting visitors, she works with the facilities department and the St. Vartan Cathedral administration typing contracts and schedules.