Emily Ekshian

Contact: 626-***-**** adjtvj@r.postjobfree.com

University of California, Berkeley 8/2018 - 8/2020 Major: Political Economy, and Media Studies & Communication Minor: Human Rights GPA: 3.52/4.00 Pasadena City College 6/2016 - 6/2018

Took several courses throughout my studies at Berkeley for growing my knowledge; courses include Spanish, French, Business. SKILLS

● Strong work-ethic and background in research and analysis developed through leadership experience

● Well-developed advising skills, experience leading diverse groups of students and workshop facilitation

● Language skills include competence in Armenian, French and Spanish

● Computer and online skills using Google Drive, Excel, Windows, Google, LinkedIn, MS Office, Flickr, etc. PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Birthright Armenia Program, Yerevan, Armenia Program Duration: 02/22/2021 - 05/8/2021

● Birthright Armenia is a program which recruits diasporan Armenians to have an elongated stay in Armenia, to work for organizations aligning with their field, to have a long term contribution and impact in helping develop different spheres in Armenia

● With the outbreak of the Nagorno Karabakh war, I decided to apply to the program so that I can help contribute on the ground; I applied work within the spheres of Human Rights Legal Research and Investigative Reporting

● With these fields in mind I was placed to work with : 1) Nagorno Karabakh Office of Human Rights - I will be involved (already started research remotely) in legal research of the human rights abuses enacted by the Azeri Armed forces and their recruited Syrian Mercenaries on the ethnic Armenians of Nagorno Karabakh including non-combatants, abuses of combatants, environmental degradation, and the use of internationally banned weapons. I will also work on case studies, that of research legal impacts of the war on displaced populations especially vulnerable groups (disabled peoples, women, elderly and children). I am currently remotely working on a paper for the Human Rights office, centered on the international legal aspects of self-determination, cultural autonomy, and territorial integrity for the ethnic Armenians of Nagorno Karabakh.

2)EVN Report - where I will be involved in in-person interviews with civilians (both in Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh), and displaced peoples of the war, as well as, launching and managing the news reporting human rights column based on integrating findings and legal aspects from the Office of Human Rights and circulating important legal information to civilians. I will also be involved in developing the cultures column, and outreach with international organizations for advocacy and circulation of reports

Founder, Investigations for Peace Transglobal Reporting, Remote, Pasadena, CA 9/2020 - present

● With my passion in expressing my ideas and engaging peers, and followers into higher level political and global discourse

(human rights, environment, COVD- 19, etc), I established my own independent reporting news outlet, in which I conduct opinion pieces, covers of global issues, and country spotlights

● I was inspired to start this online reporting outlet with the aggression launched in Nagorno Karabakh in 2020; coming from a background rooted in marginalization, and decades of territorial conflict, genocide, and regional aggression, as well as, the global disinterest and disregard for a culture spannig for over 8000 years gives me moreso a reason to advocate for the human rights of all indigneous peoples

● Essentially, I aspire to attend the COlumbia School of Journalism to acquire the skills and knowledge in investigative and international reporting to properly advocate within the constructs of journalistic inquiry and international affairs, for native people of the world

● The main country/territorial spotlight is Nagorno Karabakh, with the mission of circulating information, awareness of the human rights abuses and lack of international collaboration to preserve ancient cultures, and respect those indigenuous to their lands like the ethnic Armenians of Nagorno Karabakh

● The instagram page, also listing website details is: IPTreporting Open Source Investigations Researcher, Syrian and Yemeni Archive, Remote, Based in Berkeley, CA 11/2020 - present

● Conducted open source digital verification research on specific attacks in Yemen perpetrated by the Saudi Coalition led against the Houthi; locations include bridges, markets, roads, and cities/villages

● Projects included open source data collection and chronolocation/geolocation from social media platforms, articles, and external newsroom sites

● Final aspect of the projects include data analysis; such as geolocation strategies (coordinates, mapping), analysis of political context, specific players involved (perpetrators, and victims), aims/targets, and identifying any munitions Emily Ekshian

Contact: 626-***-**** adjtvj@r.postjobfree.com Co-Founder, Manager and Media Manager, Artsakh Wounded Soldier NGO, Pasadena, CA 10/2020- present

● During the outbreak of aggression during the 2020 Nagorno Karabakh conflict, my mother and I decided to start a charity NGO matching system to encourage diasporan Armenians to donate and aid injured soldiers, and aid families who have lost their child during the conflict.

● Instagram page includes all the details of the organization, including website details, and donation matching details

● The instagram of the organization is called (the organizations name, no spaces): artsakhwoundedsoldier

● The organization is in the process of becoming an established NGO, as we realized that donations will most likely be an ongoing process from the diaspora, as many donors expressed that they would like to continually donate to a soldier

● Essentially, the donation matching system is comprised of matching a soldier with a donor, and the donor gets to donate money to the soldier every month for as long as they would like; donation would cover cost of procedures for injuries, and survival

(many were also affected by the COVID- 19 pandemic, and lack of government assistance, in addition to the war)

● We were able to find soldiers to match with donors by contacting hospitals in Armenia, as well as psychological centers

● The donation program provides a personal element to the donations, in which the donor would have personal contact with the soldier they are donating to, proof that he donation arrived to them, and the incentive of an abroad “adoption” dynamic Fellow, U.S. Department of State Cultural Vistas' Fellowship, Remote 06/2020 - present

● Duration1 yr internship in Germany, remotely this year

● Awarded a one-year grant to serve as an American cultural ambassador in Germany on behalf of the U.S. Department of State and German Parliament. I will be interning at “Women for a Common Future” organization in Germany

● My internship includes research on energy - and gender intersections, its effects on economics, and social impacts

● I also engaged in blog posts with an emphasis on gender sensitivity, and a highlight on gendered human rights

● The fellowship also consisted of an inclusive program for diplomatic training, with discussion forums with ex-diplomats (within US - German relations), as well as, notable figures from the United States involved in German politics Consular Affairs and Media Intern, Armenian Embassy of Los Angeles, CA 06/2020 - present

● Internship for the Summer Semester.

● Assisted in translating resolutions, and media reports from Armenian to English.

● Assisted in resolution compilation by gathering research and observing media activity

● Documented and compiled major events in the Armenian community in Los Angeles

● Led a human rights investigations research group of 6 - 9 individuals on the Azerbiajani attacks instigated in the recent several weeks (July)

● Spearheaded a newsletter with the head diplomat of the Embassy focusing on creating easy to read, use friendly content to the Armenian community in LA

Legal Intern, Center for Justice and Accountability (CJA), San Francisco, CA 01/2020 - 05/2020

● Internship for the Spring Semester.

● Will investigate and litigate large and complex cases on behalf of clients, to help bring cases to trial and hold human rights abusers accountable.

● Will work with lawyers, non-legal professionals, and other volunteers on pro bono basis on more limited and discrete projects.

● Will engage in foreign language translation, country monitoring, research, fundraising, marketing and administrative assistance.

Research Fellow, Armenian Genocide Research Institute, Armenia 6/2019-8/2019

● Aided in translating museum documents, and memoirs of Armenian Genocide victims from Armenian to English.

● Aided researchers in managing and building an online exhibition of the museum.

● Provided tours of the Genocide Museum in the English and Spanish Language as a tour guide.

● Conducted Armenian Genocide Research on topics including: Linking Armenian Genocide to the Holocaust, and observing the behavior and mentality of Armenian families who did not leave their towns well aware of what he Turks had planned for them.

● Aided researches in their research concerning: Pan-Turkic Regime, and Germany’s involvement in the Armenian Genocide. Human Rights Legal Assistant, Path of Law Non-Profit Organization, Armenia 6/2019-8/2019

● Human rights intern for former Human Rights Defender of Artsakh, Armenia Ruben Melikyan.

● Helped develop a case to be presented to the European Court of Justice, on Azerbaijan's corrupt behavior towards civilians in the Artsakh enclave, and for their failure to exhaust domestic remedies.

● Helped implement an electronic platform promoting public and civilian involvement in providing the NGO with proof of illicit enrichment on behalf of government officials using $10,000 or more on unofficial activities.

● Used Ushahidi as the platform to domestically map the human rights abuses and violations of politicians. Emily Ekshian

Contact: 626-***-**** adjtvj@r.postjobfree.com Economic Empowerment & Health Intern, International Rescue Committee, Oakland, CA 8/2018-5/2019

● Assisting in resume building, interview preparation, and professional workshops for international migrants who seek citizenship status in the USA.

● Guiding and mentoring individuals towards occupation searches, and preparation for the workforce in the United States.

● Have assisted and advanced development projects within Oakland, that aim to provide resources for asylum seekers and develop their experience living in the USA.

Undergraduate Fellow, UC Berkeley School of Law, Berkeley, CA 8/2018-5/2020

● Contributing to the development of the Women and Business Law (WBL) Initiative, WBL mentorship program, and event/outreach sector to connect female Law students with women in the professional world of law and business.

● Helped the WBL department in administrative tasks, program development, as well as, commencement such as certificate preparation.

Public Affairs Intern, Congresswoman Judy Chu, Pasadena, CA 5/2017-8/2017

● Assigned to district legislation and case work correspondence with constituents, assigned to education and environmental committees conducting legislative research, engaged in district field representation.

● Advocated on behalf of constituents and provided services, such as recording comments and opinions and facilitating communication with federal agencies, including the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)

● Drafted legislation summaries to ensure the office staff was updated on any legislative actions taken by the senator and other politicians, such as the Maternal CARE Act

LEADERSHIP

Nominated Vice Chancellor Koshland's Student Council, UC Berkeley 8/2018-present

● Advising the V.C. in mapping an academic, extracurricular and pre-professional road map (for freshman year, and transfer students) for 28 majors

Elected Student Trustee of Associated Students, Pasadena City College 6/2017-6/2018

● Student representative on the Board of Trustees, voicing student’s concerns, and giving diverse and inclusive feedback to Board decisions.

● Established and chaired the Student Trustee Ad-Hoc Committee, Led an Advocacy Campaign, Mental Health Awareness Campaign, and Sexual Violence Prevention Campaign during my term, while also extending the Food Pantry to include hygienic products.

● Advocacy Conference in Washington D.C.: Advocated for financial-aid range expansion (to middle class), national mental health policy, and national establishment of OER across institutions in the nation- Advocated to Senator Harris. Elected Student Trustee National Advisory Committee, Washington D.C. 2/2018-6/2018

● One of 14 Student Trustees from community colleges across the nation elected to the committee.

● Accomplished standardizing the Student Trustees voting rights, and term requirements nationally, and enhancing protections of undocumented students, such as establishing a required resolution that ensures their protections for all community colleges, across the nation.

Emily Ekshian

Contact: 626-***-**** adjtvj@r.postjobfree.com ACADEMIC RESEARCH

Independent Study

“ Territorial Conflict & the 2016 April War of Nagorno Karabakh : The Systemic Violations of International Human Rights Law, International Humanitarian Law, and Grave Breaches of the 1949 Geneva Conventions “ (UC Berkeley) Conducted an independent research study on the Nagorno Karabakh territorial conflict occurring between Armenian and Azerbaijan, monitoring human rights and ceasefire violations occurring at the border against Armenian militants. Human Rights Minor, Senior Thesis

“The United Nations’ Inconsistencies in War Crime Reparations: Partiality in Transitional Justice for Rwandan, Bosnian and Rohingyan Victim-Witnesses” (UC Berkeley)

Conducted a senior thesis on the historical framework of transitional justice and reparations initiated by the United Nations in a comparative study between three genocides.

HUMAN RIGHTS INVESTIGATIONS RESEARCH LAB UC BERKELEY Undergraduate Research Apprentice, Human Rights Investigations Lab, UC Berkeley School of Law 8/2018-5-2019

● I have conducted human rights research in third world countries that face labor exploitation, women’s and children's rights violation, and drug war precautions. I have reported the data to Amnesty International, which they will utilize to send aid to the countries affected .

● Engaged in Social Media research through Truly Media, and other research platforms surrounding conflicts in Venezuela, Syria and Qatar. Research skills include geolocation, digital verification, and chronolocation.

● I am highly trained and specialized in open source intelligence and digital research techniques (geolocation, discovery, verification of user generated content and public data)

● Discovered, verified and archived open source content on social media platforms on human rights violations in the Middle East, Southeast Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa

Digital Verification Corps Project Manager Syria, UCBerkeley, CA June 2019 – June 2020

● Co-lead students on using OSINT research methodologies, producing verification reports on human rights violations for Amnesty International

● Team worked with Amnesty International's Crisis Response team on rapid response projects on Syria, conducting digital geolocation and chronolocation reports for specific attacks TitleArticle 15 Project Manager, UC Berkeley, CA Aug 2018 – Dec 2018

● Worked and helped co-lead a team that produces Article 15 submissions to the International Criminal Court

● Worked on the open-source discovery and verification of hate speech content against LGBTQ+ communities in Sub-Saharan Africa, Middle East and Eastern Europe

AWARDS

Middle East & North African Recruitment & Retention Center Community Scholarship, UC Berkeley 4/2019 Leadership Scholarship, UC Berkeley 10/2019

Honors in Superior Achievement in Political Science Award, PCC 6/2018 Honors in Superior Achievement in Communications Award, PCC 6/2018 Volunteer Scholarship, PCC 6/2017

Leadership Scholarship, PCC 6/2017

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