Candidate for
Board Member; Burbank Unified School District

Dr. Armond Aghakhanian received his bachelor's degree in Political Science from California State University Northridge, Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree from Woodbury University, and a Doctorate in Organizational Leadership from Pepperdine University. Dr. Aghakhanian has over fifteen years of experience in the field of education & public service and an extended and diverse experience in education, management, marketing, public service and public affairs; working for and with a myriad of governmental and non-governmental entities, non-profits organizations and elected officials. Currently, Armond is a teacher at Woodbury University, where for the past 9 years, he has been teaching courses in business, management, organizational leadership and government. He has also taught business courses to Burbank High School Academy of Finance students and business, management for sustainability courses at several other educational institutions, including Marymount California University College, The Salvation Army College for Officer Training at Crestmont and International American University. He is the creator of the first local & state government course taught at Woodbury University. Furthermore, he co-founded the Leadership Excellence and Development Certification Program (L.E.A.D) and the "Elevate" Leadership Seminar at Woodbury University. "Elevate" is the largest Armenian-American leadership seminar in U.S. While teaching at Marymount CA University, he helped create the advisory board for Marymount's first bio-diesel project. Furthermore, he established and launched school's first volunteer based leadership group. Previously, he served the people of California for over nine years as a senior consultant for CA State Assembly Speakers Office of Member Services and as a senior representative for former CA State Assembly Majority Leader Dario Frommer. Dr. Aghakhanian has continued his passion of helping others by staying involved in his community. Whether helping children and adults with developmental disabilities by volunteering for the Special Olympics or fighting cancer as a member of the Armenian Bone Marrow Donor Registry advisory board, Armond has always been passionate about helping his community. He is currently a member of City of Burbank's Parks, Recreation and Community Services Commission and Burbank School Facilities Oversight Committee. His past service included: Member of Burbank Community Development Goals Committee; Burbank & Greater East Valley Boys & Girls Club Board of Directors; Member of Burbank Civic Pride Committee, President of the Armenian American Chamber of Commerce, Chair of City of Glendale's Parks, Recreation & Community Services Commission, Glendale YMCA Board of Directors, Boardmember of the Glendale Youth Alliance and more. He is the 2010 recipient of President Obama's "President's Volunteer Service" Award. His other accomplishments and awards include: 2003 "Glendale Character & Ethics Award," Armenian Bone Marrow Donor Registry "Volunteer of the Year Award," LA coalition to End Hunger & Homelessness "Volunteer Award" YMCA "Service Award," and numerous certificates of recognition from city, state and federal offices and elected officials. His work has been published in Pepperdine Universities Society of Educators and Scholars 31st Annual conferences, "Leadership in a Transforming World College Awareness Campaign." His work was also presented in Women in Leadership- The transformative Challenge- 2008 International Society of Educators, Paris France. His op-ed pieces & opinions are regularly printed in Los Angeles Times, Glendale News-Press, Burbank Leader and Asbarez newspaper. Armond currently lives in Burbank, CA with his wife Dr. Gayane Gasamanyan and their son Arameh Alexander Aghakhanian.