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ISGOUHI KASSAKHIAN

Director, Alumni Center Management, James West Alumni Center

Born in Jerusalem, Kassakhian studied there and in several different countries, including Germany, Lebanon, England and the United States. She received a master’s degree from UCLA and is fluent in five different languages. She has worked at UCLA for more than 25 years.

If you hadn’t chosen your current occupation, what would you have chosen?
A lobbyist for Armenian causes at the United Nations.

What is your most treasured possession?
My grandfather’s memoirs of how the family survived the death marches during the Armenian Genocide in 1915.

Which living person do you most admire?
Vaclav Havel, who led the bloodless revolution in Czechoslovakia. I was honored to robe him at the Convocation Ceremony at Royce Hall in 1991.

What is your favorite journey?
Jerusalem at Easter. You cannot imagine what Easter is until you’ve seen it celebrated in Jerusalem.