Los Angeles, CA – The Armenian National Committee – Western Region is pleased to announce that ANC-WR Internship Externship Program (ANC-WR IEP) participant Mikael Kourinian has accepted a position with the Civilian Research and Development Foundation.

The CRDF is a non-profit, public/private hybrid organization founded under the auspices of the National Science Foundation and through the authorization of the United States Congress. Established shortly after the fall of the Soviet Union, CRDF promotes international scientific and technical collaboration through grants, technical resources, and training in the areas of the former Soviet Union, including Armenia and the Caucasus.

“Mikael joins the company of the many Capital Gateway Program graduates who have come to the center of US governance to not only pursue a fulfilling and distinctive career, but give back to the Armenian community and society at large,” said Haig Hovsepian, Community Relations Director with the ANC-WR. “As a volunteer with the ANC, an intern with our regional office, and now an ANCA Capital Gateway Program Fellow, Mikael has made us proud with his continued commitment to public service,” he added.

As an ANC-WR intern this past summer, Kourinian worked on several projects related to community outreach and public policy issues. Assisting the ANC with its outreach efforts to social justice organizations, Kourinian put together an introductory educational package about the Armenian Genocide. He also reviewed the current compliance of major California high school districts with state curriculum requirements pertaining to the Armenian Genocide. Working with fellow Community and Government Affairs intern, Hovanes Gasparian, Kourinian prepared briefs on US-Armenia relations as well as the common themes of the founding of the United States and self-determination for Nagorno-Karabagh.

During his internship with the ANC Kourinian was accepted into the ANCA Capital Gateway program. Upon arriving in Washington D.C., Kourinian interned with U.S. Representative Joseph Crowley (D-NY), the Hudson Institute and The Hill. In addition he volunteered at the Republic of Armenia’s Embassy and the ANCA offices in Washington, D.C.

Kourinian holds a bachelor’s degree in Political Science and a master’s degree in Public Administration from California State University, Northridge.

The Capital Gateway Program helps applicants attain exciting internships and challenging full-time public policy jobs in the nation’s capital. To date, over forty fellows have gone through the program and secured positions in dozens of Congressional offices, as well as esteemed media and political institutions such as Congressional Quarterly, the US Chamber of Commerce, Export-Import Bank (EXIM), SRCP Media and the World Bank.

The Armenian National Committee – Western Region is the largest and most influential Armenian American Grassroots advocacy organization in the Western United States. Working in coordination with a network of offices, chapters, and supporters throughout the Western United States and affiliated organizations around the country, the ANC-WR advances the concerns of the Armenian American community on a broad range of issues.

Photo Caption – Mikael Kourinian at the ANC-WR offices.