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Armenian Assembly of America
Celebration of Service
Saturday, June 6, 2026
Artists for Humanity Center | Boston, Massachusetts
The Armenian Assembly of America invites you to join us in Boston for a special Celebration of Service. This gathering, chaired by Herman Purutyan and Laura Bilazarian Purutyan of Concord, MA, will honor the remarkable dedication of Armenian Assembly of America Board of Trustees Members and our longtime staff members.
Honorees
Each has devoted more than 25 years of service, shaping the Assembly’s mission and impact in meaningful ways.
Immediate Past Co-Chair
Anthony Barsamian
Anthony Barsamian is the Immediate Past Co-Chair of the Armenian Assembly of America; Managing Partner of Hutchings, Barsamian, Mandelcorn & Zeytoonian, LLP; and Chief Executive Officer and President of Gravestar Corporation. He is a business and estate planning attorney and a graduate of the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and Suffolk University Law School.
Mr. Barsamian serves on the Board of Trustees of the Armenian Assembly of America, the Executive Committee of the Armenia Tree Project, and is a Board Member of the Aurora Humanitarian Initiative and World Link for Law.
Mr. Barsamian was the first Armenian American to be elected President of the Massachusetts Council of Churches - the oldest ecumenical Christian fellowship in the United States - and served for 12 years as a Board member of the National Council of Churches of Christ, including three years on its Constitution and Bylaws Committee, representing the Armenian Apostolic Church.
Mr. Barsamian is a frequent speaker and commentator on U.S.-Armenia relations, Armenian Genocide recognition and education, as well as legal issues related to estate and family succession planning.
President Emerita
Carolyn Mugar
For more than three decades, Carolyn Mugar has been a visionary force in shaping the Armenian Assembly of America’s growth and national leadership. As President and now President Emerita, she played a transformative role in strengthening the organization’s institutional foundation and expanding its reach across the Armenian American community.
Under Carolyn’s leadership, the Assembly broadened its advocacy initiatives, reinforced its educational mission, and deepened its engagement with policymakers, scholars, and community leaders nationwide. She guided the organization through pivotal years with strategic foresight and a steady commitment to democratic values and human rights.
Her enduring legacy is one of a lifelong commitment to empowering the Armenian American community through advocacy and education.
Chair Emeritus
Van Krikorian
For more than 25 years, Van Krikorian has provided strategic leadership and thoughtful guidance to the Armenian Assembly of America. Serving as Chair and now Chair Emeritus, he helped steer the organization through critical advocacy milestones while reinforcing its role as a respected and credible voice in Washington.
Throughout his service, Van has emphasized principled engagement and responsible stewardship, helping position the Assembly as a trusted partner in advancing U.S.–Armenia relations. His steady counsel during pivotal moments has contributed to the organization’s continued growth and stability.
His decades of dedication reflect a profound commitment to community leadership and to sustaining the Assembly’s mission for future generations.
Director of Armenian National Institute (ANI)
Dr. Rouben Adalian
For nearly four decades, Dr. Rouben P. Adalian has been a guiding force in Armenian scholarship, documentation, and education at the Armenian Assembly of America. Joining the Assembly in 1987, he helped build and expand its research and academic initiatives, later serving as Director of the Armenian National Institute (ANI), established in 1997 to advance public education and historical truth.
Under his leadership, ANI developed the most widely consulted institutional website on the Armenian Genocide, preserving extensive archival documentation and creating digital exhibits based on primary sources from the U.S. National Archives and other repositories. His work has ensured that evidence, scholarship, and historical record remain accessible to educators, policymakers, and the broader public.
Beyond his research leadership, Dr. Adalian strengthened the Assembly’s academic outreach, developed educational resources, supported an international network of genocide scholars, and directed the Assembly’s Summer Internship Program, placing more than 150 students in positions across Congress and key institutions in Washington.
In recognition of his lifelong contributions to scholarship and public service, he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Gratitude by the Republic of Armenia in 2022.
Executive Director
Bryan Ardouny
Bryan Ardouny, Executive Director of the Armenian Assembly of America, was appointed in April 2005 following a one-year stint on the Assembly’s Board of Directors. Prior to that, Ardouny served as Acting Executive Director and Director of Government Relations, where he spearheaded the Assembly's efforts to maintain Section 907 of the Freedom Support Act during the House and Senate floor fights in 1998 and 1999, respectively.
The following year, Ardouny rallied congressional and community support for an Armenian Genocide resolution, which nearly passed the House of Representatives, but was pulled from a floor vote at the request of President Clinton. In late 2002, he led the Assembly's successful effort to remove Armenia when it was mistakenly added to the list of countries whose non-immigrant male nationals over the age of 16 residing in the U.S. must register with the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service.
Before coming to the Assembly, Ardouny served as Legislative Counsel to former Congressman Michael Bilirakis, the Vice Chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee, where he handled numerous legislative issues, including budget, environmental, international relations, transportation, and tax matters.
Ardouny graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Hofstra University.
Archivist
Mary Garabadian
For more than 30 years, Mary Garabadian was a steadfast presence at the Armenian Assembly of America. Joining the Assembly in 1991, Mary became one of the most trusted stewards of the organization’s history and community. As an archivist, longtime support to the Executive Director, and dedicated member of the Membership & Development team, she helped preserve the Assembly’s institutional memory while nurturing the relationships that sustain its mission.
Mary’s service to the Armenian Assembly was deeply personal. The daughter of genocide survivors, she carried forward her family’s legacy of Armenian identity, community, and remembrance in every task she undertook. Throughout her three decades of service, Mary supported countless events, briefings, and initiatives, always working behind the scenes with commitment and care. As the first employee in the Assembly's history to retire, she leaves a legacy defined by dedication to her community.
Program coming soon.
Dr. Richard Hovannisian (center) receiving the Distinguished Humanitarian Award alongside Assembly Co-Chair Anthony Barsamian, Assembly President Carolyn Mugar, and
Assembly Co-Chair Van Krikorian.
Assembly Co-Chair Van Krikorian testifying before the Congressional Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission alongside a new photo exhibit displaying Azerbaijan’s pattern of war crimes and human rights violations against the Armenian people of Artsakh.
Assembly Board Co-Chairman Anthony Barsamian speaking with President Barack Obama during the 2008 presidential campaign. Barsamian became more directly involved in the administration of the Assembly in 2015, as part of an ambitious reorganizational effort.
Van Krikorian Awarded Armenia’s Medal of Honor by President Serzh Sargsyan
The Medal of Honor is awarded for “notable services in protecting state and national interests of the Republic of Armenia and establishment of independence and democracy, as well as for significant contribution to building, strengthening, and promoting friendship and reinforcing peace between peoples.”
Early Sponsorships
Now Available
For sponsorship information, please contact:
Mary Jo Bazarian
202.393.3434x335