Department of Youth and Young Adult Ministries

Jennifer has her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Elementary Education and a Master of Arts in Curriculum and Teaching. Upon completing her education, she was an elementary school teacher for 7 years. As a third generation Armenian, she was born and raised in the St. John Detroit community and benefitted from the Sunday School and ACYOA programs. Jennifer's involvement in ACYOA began as a junior, and has remained an integral part of her life over the years. She took on leadership positions and was later elected to the ACYOA Central Council where she served as both treasurer and chairman. Jennifer loves to travel! Her first overseas experience was in Paris when she represented Detroit in the 1995 AGBU Armenian Olympics. In college, she participated in overseas studies programs in both Hawaii and Italy. In addition, she has backpacked solo through Europe. She traveled on the Pilgrimage to Jerusalem during the summer of 2000, and then to Armenia in the summer of 2001 during the 1700th Anniversary of Christianity. In 2003, she was one of forty-five educators selected worldwide to travel to Japan and explore the Japanese Educational System. Then in 2004, Jennifer traveled back to Armenia as an assistant leader for the Armenia Service Program (ASP). Jennifer joined the Diocesan staff in July of 2005 as the Coordinator of Youth Outreach for the Department of Education and Youth, where she oversaw the ACYOA Juniors and Diocesan Summer Camp programs, St. Vartan Camp and Hye Camp. In September 2013, Archbishop Khajag Barsamian developed the Department of Youth and Young Adult Ministries. Jennifer was named the Director of the DYYAM, and her work encompassed both ACYOA Juniors and Seniors programs, both camp programs, and all other youth and young adult related programs. She transitioned to Program Administrator in 2018 and focuses her work on ACYOA Seniors and Hye Camp. Jennifer is proud to be an Armenian Christian, and she would like to ensure that the Armenian Church continues to grow and strengthen for future generations of young Armenians.