Mr. Richard Giragosian is the Founding Director of the Regional Studies Center (RSC), an independent “think tank” located in Yerevan, Armenia and is a guest lecturer for the NATO Defense College in Rome. He has over 35 years of policy experience in the fields of security and international relations and has served as both a Visiting Professor at the College of Europe’s Natolin Campus and as Senior Expert at Yerevan State University’s Centre for European Studies.
Ms. Zara Sahakyan is Projects Manager, responsible for the design, implementation and management of RSC projects, as well as strategic financial planning and organizational development. She also serves as the direct liaison to the State Revenue Committee (SRC) and other relevant state entities. Ms. Sahakyan holds over 15 years of experience in grant management, project management and financial oversight, providing additional consulting services to other institutions and civil society organizations.
Ms. Emily Babakanian Frazier is a Research Fellow specializing in regional economics, trade and transport connectivity in Armenia and the broader South Caucasus region. She is currently completing a double degree Maastricht, Netherlands and Antwerp, Belgium where she will receive both a MSc Economics and a MSc in Economic Policy. Ms. Frazier also holds a Bachelor of Science in International Business from Northeastern University. Previously, she served as an International and Global Mobility Tax Associate at KPMG, LLP and holds a Certified Public Accounting (CPA) license.
Ms. Asya Gasparyan is a Research Fellow with a specialization in the areas of international security, Chinese foreign policy, and strategic culture. She holds an MA in International Relations from Yerevan State University and the University of Minho in Braga, Portugal, and an undergraduate degree in international relations from Yerevan State University.
Ms. Nvard Minasyan is a Research Fellow specializing in labor economics, workforce development, corporate social responsibility (CSR) and gender equality issues. Ms. Minasyan holds two Master’s degrees, in Human Rights from Yerevan State University’s Center for European Studies, and in Social Entrepreneurship from the London School of Economics (LSE).
Ms. Laetitia de Montgolfier is a Research Fellow specializing in EU engagement in the South Caucasus, Armenian-French relations and issues related to the post-war restoration of trade and transport and connectivity in the region. A graduate of the Institut Français de Géopolitique (IFG) at the Université de Paris 8 (Vincennes/Saint-Denis), Ms. de Montgolfier is also a graduate of the Institut Catholique de Paris, with a degree in history and political science.
Ms. Erica Cordatos is a Research Fellow specializing in political economy, international security, corruption and competition policy. A graduate of Stonehill College, where she earned a BA in Economics and served as a Research Assistant for Professor Anna Ohanyan, she also worked at the Regional Security Office (RSO) at the U.S. Embassy in Vilnius, Lithuania.
Mr. Giacomo Scassellati Sforzolini is a Research Fellow specializing in regional security, foreign policy and economics in Armenia and the wider South Caucasus region. He is currently a Master’s Degree Candidate in Security and Diplomacy at Tel-Aviv University (TAU) in Israel. Mr. Sforzolini also holds a BA in History, Politics and Economics (HPE) from University College London (UCL) and has worked in Rome at Comin & Partners, a leading Italian lobbying and consulting firm, as well as serving as an intern at the Italian Embassy in Moscow.
Ms. Masoumeh Jamalinia is an Analyst specializing in Iran and the broader Middle East, with a particular focus on proliferation and domestic Iranian developments. A native of Shiraz, Iran, Ms. Jamalinia has been working with the RSC since 2012, after completing an MA in International Relations from the Yerevan State Linguistic University. She also holds a BA from the Yasouj State University in Iran, with a focus on English Language and Literature.
Mr. Ashot Turajyan is the RSC System Administrator, responsible for the RSC website design, administration and security. A graduate of the State Engineering University of Armenia, Turajyan also provides technical expertise and analytical support for RSC work in the areas of cyber-security and cyber-crime, and assists with our work in using social media tools and technology for organizational outreach and promotion.
Mr. Tiran Sahakyan is the RSC accountant, responsible for the preparation and filing of all invoices, financial transactions and project monitoring. Sahakyan is also responsible for monthly reporting to the Armenian tax authorities. He has extensive experience and has worked as an accountant for over fifteen years, handling the accounts of six NGOs in Armenia.