HOLLYWOOD, CA – Dr. Steve Maradian, the new President of Los Angeles City College (LACC), was the honored guest of a Welcome Meet and Greet at Karapetian Hall in Hollywood on August 16. The Armenian National Committee of Hollywood (ANC-Hollywood) and the Filipino American Service Group, Inc. (FASGI) co-hosted the event. The event brought together local leaders in the areas of education, health care and social service, and served as an opportunity to introduce Dr. Maradian to the Hollywood area community.

“The Armenian National Committee welcomes Steve Maradian as the new President of Los Angeles City College. We look forward to working with him and LACC on initiatives of common interest for the community,” commented Dr. Onnik Keshishian, Master of Ceremonies for the event and ANC-Hollywood chapter spokesperson.

The Meet and Greet attracted local leaders from a broad spectrum of the LACC community and included Los Angeles City Councilman Eric Garcetti, College Board of Trustees members Nancy Pearlman and Georgia Mercer, and Burbank Unified School Board President Paul Krekorian. In addition, there were numerous members of the Presidential search committee and representatives of the Armenian Education Foundation, the Prelacy, the Armenian Relief Society, Hamazkayin, Homenetmen, THAI Inc., and the United Nurses Association on hand.

“It was amazing. A diverse cross section of the community attended the reception, and Dr. Maradian talked to each one of us,” said Susan Dilkes, Executive Director of FASGI and a member of the Presidential search committee. She added “I am happy to have been part of the selection committee, and extend my congratulations to and support for the new president of LACC. It took two years of hard work to find qualified candidates. Dr. Maradian will have a lot of work to do, but the community will be behind him.” The event had a brief question-and-answer session during which Dr. Maradian addressed questions about the challenges facing LACC, ranging from the ethnic composition of the college to how budget cuts will affect the institution. Following the evening’s program, the attendees continued to network and welcome Dr. Maradian individually.

“It was a pleasure to be with so many leaders of the LACC community who have a genuine interest and commitment to ensuring that everyone receives a quality education,” said Dr. Maradian. “I am looking forward to working with each and every segment of the community to ensure access and success for our students and the future of Los Angeles.”

Dr. Maradian, who is originally from Boston, served as the Vice President for Government Relations at the American University of Armenia before joining the LACC team. Prior to that, he was the Director of Federal Relations for the University System of Georgia.

FASGI is a community-based non-profit organization that prides itself in empowering Filipino Americans and others through culturally and linguistically sensitive advocacy, education, social services, social action, research and leadership. It is through the support of its community-members that FASGI is able provide social services to low-income and homeless individuals through programs which provide food distribution, independent living skills training, and education and outreach services.

The ANCA is the largest and most influential Armenian American grassroots political organization. Working in coordination with a network of offices, chapters, and supporters throughout the United States and affiliated organizations around the world, the ANCA actively advances the concerns of the Armenian-American community on a broad range of issues.