Dr. Melkonian earned a B.A. in Media Communications from Worcester State University, an MA in Comparative and International Education with a concentration in Economics and Education from Teachers College Columbia University, and an EdD in Higher Education Management from the University of Pennsylvania. She has worked at AUA since 2011 when she joined the University as part of the development team for AUA’s undergraduate program. She has served as the University’s Accreditation Liaison Officer. Prior to joining AUA she led the Armenian Volunteer Corps, Armenia’s premier volunteer placement organization. And, prior to moving to Armenia, Melkonian spent eight years as Legislative Director for YouthBuild USA, a national non-profit organization providing education, counseling and job training to under- and unemployed youth. She served on the inaugural Accreditation Committee of the National Center for Professional Education Quality Assurance Foundation, Armenia’s national accreditation agency. She has presented at several international conferences in the United States, Europe and Armenia on teaching, learning and assessment.