Board of Directors
George Phillips, Jr., Vice Chair
Peter Amloian '06, Treasurer
Ani Ohanessian, Associate Treasurer
Dr. Alexia Kevonian, Secretary
Levon Babikian
Nazani Manjrian
Sevana Hacoupian
Brooke Brinkman Ghanimian, Parent Representative
Armen Haroutunian
Razmig Der-Tavitian '99
Dicran Kassouny
Arpi Avanesian
Board Chairperson's Message:
Dear Merdinian Community,
Welcome to the 2025 – 2026 school year! I am now in my third year as Chairman of the Board of Directors and seventh year as a board member, and I could not bemore excited about Merdinian’s present and future. Having spent 11 formative years here as a student, this school will always hold a special place in my heart. It shaped my faith, my character, and my values as a Christian Armenian, and I am humbled to serve as part of its remarkable story.
This year, we are thrilled to welcome Mrs. Arpi Avanesian-Idolor as our new Principal. With decades of experience in education, her leadership and vision will guide Merdinian to even greater heights with a renewed focus on teaching, learning, and growth. We are also deeply grateful to Mrs. Shogher Shanoian for her outstanding leadership as Interim Principal last year and are excited about her new role as Merdinian’s first Assistant Principal.
Our dedicated Board of Directors continues to partner closely with our administration to advance the school’s mission and ensure Merdinian remains at the forefront of education. The world around us is changing rapidly with new technologies, AI, robotics, and evolving ways of learning, and we are committed to preparing our students for that future while staying rooted in our faith and heritage.
As a Christian Armenian school, Merdinian stands on the foundation of compassion, integrity, wisdom, and service. These values are not just taught; they are lived every day by our students, teachers, and families. Like the Monarch Lion, our school’s emblem, we strive to lead with strength, humility, and grace, grounded in faith and guided by purpose.
For 44 years, Merdinian has been a beacon of academic excellence and spiritual growth, nurturing minds and hearts while honoring our Armenian identity and Christian values. Together, we continue to build on that legacy and look toward a bright future for generations to come.
Thank you for being part of the Merdinian family. I look forward to a year filled with growth, achievement, and shared joy.