Vazgen Ananyan
Minneapolis,USA
Summary
Emerging higher education professional with a strong background in DEI programming, student support, and cross-cultural leadership. Experienced in mentoring underrepresented students, coordinating inclusive programs, and building coalitions across student organizations, academic departments, and administrative offices.
Overview
4
4
years of professional experience
Work History
Artist in Residence
St Olaf College
09.2024 - Current
- Designing and facilitating educational workshops, engaging students in creative exploration and hands-on learning experiences.
- Supervising and mentoring 65+ students, providing guidance on artistic techniques, project execution, and studio best practices.
- Developing and managing operations for 3 studios, including inventory control, material distribution, and workspace organization, ensuring a well-equipped and efficient creative environment.
- Planning and coordinating 10+ department events and exhibitions, demonstrating strong event planning and organizational skills.
- Serving as an advisor for students interested in careers, grants, and residencies in fine arts.
- Training and supervising peer mentors and student volunteers on inclusive event planning and community engagement.
Behavioral Therapist
Health Innovations of America
03.2025 - Current
- Providing 1:1 Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy to children with developmental disabilities in clinic and community settings.
- Collaborating with interdisciplinary teams and families to support inclusive care plans and monitor progress.
- Collecting and analyzing behavioral data to guide individualized intervention strategies.
- Communicating consistently with parents, clinicians, and educators to ensure compassionate and coordinated support.
Enrichment Specialist
Epic Enterprise
10.2024 - 03.2025
- Ensured a welcoming and inclusive environment for individuals with disabilities through personalized engagement programs.
- Independently planned and organized 20+ events, including transportation logistics and activity coordination, demonstrating strong organizational and problem-solving skills.
- Facilitated group and one-on-one mentorship sessions, effectively tailoring support to individual needs, fostering inclusion and accessibility.
- Demonstrated adaptability and conflict resolution skills, responding professionally to challenges and adjusting plans to meet the needs of more than 40 participants.
- Managed multiple projects simultaneously, balancing administrative responsibilities, event coordination, and direct engagement with participants.
- Connected with local institutions and organizations to explore engagement opportunities through volunteering and employment for individuals with disabilities.
Project Coordinator
Davis Projects for Peace/Middlebury College
01.2024 - 09.2024
- Designed and implemented an art-based social healing initiative for displaced children in post-conflict regions.
- Secured and managed a $10,000 grant, coordinated travel and events across multiple towns, and built partnerships with NGOs and municipalities.
- Produced digital storytelling materials and submitted reports to Middlebury College and donors.
GoFundMe Campaign Organizer
Nor Shen NGO
11.2023 - 01.2024
- Raised $7,500 through a GoFundMe campaign to support displaced families in Armenia, providing critical supplies and assistance.
- Coordinated efforts with the Armenian government and Red Cross to ensure efficient distribution of funds.
- Developed and implemented a successful social media campaign, keeping donors engaged with regular updates.
- Demonstrated outstanding collaboration across organization and managed many tasks.
- Reviewed and used data to make recommendations to improve campaign performance, media touchpoints and journey.
- Managed volunteer recruitment efforts, resulting in a strong and dedicated support base.
Grant Writer/Editor
Dilijan Community Center
01.2022 - 12.2023
- Secured multiple grants, including from the European Union’s Eastern Partnership initiative, to fund essential community programs.
- Developed 10+ grant proposals that resulted in $15000 funding for education, social services, and development projects.
- Managed remote collaborations and consistently met deadlines while delivering impactful results.
- Handled purchasing, communications, and logistics for multi-partner initiatives in remote and in-person settings.
Co-Chair
Southwest Asia and Northern Africa Student Organization, St. Olaf College
09.2022 - 05.2023
- Designed culturally relevant events for over 60 SWANA-identifying students in collaboration with student groups, faculty, and the Center for Diversity and Inclusion.
- Collaborated with campus and outside organizations to organize events.
- Recruited and led committee consisting of +10 students.
- Managed multiple simultaneous projects, ensuring on-time delivery and high-quality results for all involved parties.
- Organized weekly progress meetings with team members to ensure alignment of goals, responsibilities, and expectations throughout each project lifecycle.
Resident Assistant
St Olaf College
08.2022 - 05.2023
- Fostered a welcoming and supportive community for 56 residents through peer mentorship and engagement initiatives.
- Planned and executed large-scale events (200+ attendees), showcasing strong event coordination, organizational skills, and attention to detail.
- Supported residents from underrepresented backgrounds through conflict resolution, wellness checks, and individualized mentorship rooted in cultural awareness and trauma-informed practice.
- Demonstrated leadership and teamwork, collaborating with fellow RAs and Residence Life staff to enhance student experiences and well-being.
- Actively initiated DEI projects, ensuring that students of all backgrounds are being directly involved in the community.
- Got certified in Mental Health First Aid.
Supply Manager
St. Olaf College
06.2022 - 08.2022
- Supported food access for 250+ low-income and BIPOC students through culturally informed distribution models and campus-wide outreach.
- Managed a $10,000 budget, handling purchasing, supplier relations, and cost optimization to maximize resources.
- Demonstrated problem-solving and initiative, optimizing inventory based on student feedback to reduce waste and improve food accessibility.
- Collected feedback and usage data to assess program effectiveness and refine outreach strategies.
- Led a team of five student workers, training and supervising staff to ensure smooth daily operations and excellent service delivery.
- Strengthened communication and organizational skills, coordinating between students, donors, and campus administration.
- Used Microsoft Office (Excel & Word) for data analysis and inventory tracking, improving operational efficiency.
Special Events Coordinator
Political Awareness Committee, St. Olaf College
09.2021 - 05.2022
- Coordinated social justice and political education biweekly events with 30+ participants per event.
- Co-managed speaker visits with St. Olaf College, including Rashid Khalidi.
- Collaborated with 5+ organizations to host events and discussions about structural racism and colonial legacies on campus, the United States, and abroad.
- Planned, conducted, facilitated event logistics for workshops, classes, and panels.
Education
Bachelor of Arts - Psychology and Studio Art
St Olaf College
Northfield, MN05.2024
International Baccalaureate -
United World Colleges (UWCD)
Dilijan, Armenia05.2019
International Baccalaureate -
United World Colleges (MUWCI)
Pune, India05.2017
Skills
- Facilitation of student involvement
- Mentorship support
- Implementation of DEI initiatives
- Crisis management
- Public Speaking & Workshop Facilitation
- Relationship Building & Trust Building
- Volunteer Recruitment & Organizing
- Fundraising & Donor Engagement
- Google Workspace & Microsoft Office
- Adobe Creative Suite, WordPress & Moodle
- Digital engagement planning
- Data Collection & Program Assessment
- Content creation and refinement
- Culturally aware communication
- Fluent in English, Russian, and Armenian
- Practical experience in behavior analysis
Timeline
Behavioral Therapist
Health Innovations of America
03.2025 - Current
Enrichment Specialist
Epic Enterprise
10.2024 - 03.2025
Artist in Residence
St Olaf College
09.2024 - Current
Project Coordinator
Davis Projects for Peace/Middlebury College
01.2024 - 09.2024
GoFundMe Campaign Organizer
Nor Shen NGO
11.2023 - 01.2024
Co-Chair
Southwest Asia and Northern Africa Student Organization, St. Olaf College
09.2022 - 05.2023
Resident Assistant
St Olaf College
08.2022 - 05.2023
Supply Manager
St. Olaf College
06.2022 - 08.2022
Grant Writer/Editor
Dilijan Community Center
01.2022 - 12.2023
Special Events Coordinator
Political Awareness Committee, St. Olaf College
09.2021 - 05.2022
Bachelor of Arts - Psychology and Studio Art
St Olaf College
International Baccalaureate -
United World Colleges (UWCD)
International Baccalaureate -
United World Colleges (MUWCI)
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