Board of Directors
Antonia Arslan
President
Antonia Arslan was a Professor of Italian Modern and Contemporary Literature at the Università di Padova. In 2004, Antonia Arslan published her first novel, La Masseria delle Allodole (Skylark Farm). The novel was an instant success. In 10 months it sold over 15 editions, won over 20 awards, and was a finalist for such awards as the Los Angeles Book Prize and the International IMPAC Literary Book Award of Dublin, Ireland. The novel has since been translated into 20 languages and made into a movie by Italy’s most famous directors, Paolo and Vittorio Taviani. With the publication of her first novel, Antonia Arslan became a columnist for the monthly journals of Il Messaggero di Sant’Antonio, Famiglia Cristiana, and Luoghi dell’infinito, for all three of which she publishes for the Italian newspaper Avvenire, where she regularly holds daily (or weekly columns). Since 2004, Antonia Arslan has published two more novels (La Strada di Smirne and Il libro di Mush), a memoir (Ishtar 2: cronache dal mio risveglio), and a collections of short stories (Il cortile dei girasoli parlanti). Il libro di Mush won Italy’s Premio Giuria Viareggio. In recognition of her cultural achievements, Antonia Arslan has received such awards as the Gold Medal of the Minister of Culture of the Republic of Armenia (2010), the Krikor Narekatsi Medal (2010) from UCLA, the Movses Khorenatsi Medal (2012) from the President of the Republic of Armenia. Antonia Arslan’s cultural importance has led the government of Italy to ask her to represent the nation at such events as the Waltic (Stockholm, 2005) and the Moscow Book Fair (2011). Under the auspices of the Foreign Minister of Italy, Antonia Arslan has lectured at Italian Institutes of Culture throughout the world.
Rita Mahdessian
Founder, Vice-President
Rita Mahdessian has a background in legal practice and business. She holds an L.L.B. (Hons) from the University of Reading Berkshire, UK and an M.A. in Business Law from the City of London University.
She has worked as a lawyer for 30 years and is licensed in three different countries. For most of her life she has served on many charities and educational committees. She is proud to serve on the CINF Board but does not take credit for her work. As St. Frances said, “It is in giving that we receive.” Rita also has a special gift to talk to mountains and can spends hours doing so. When she visited Artsakh, she fell in love with the mountains. Since then her motto is, “The mountains are calling and I must go.”
Siobhan Nash-Marshall
Founder
Siobhan Nash-Marshall is a Professor of Philosophy and the Mary T. Clark Chair of Christian Philosophy at Manhattanville College in New York. A prolific author, her latest publications include The Sins of the Fathers: Turkish Denialism and the Armenian Genocide (2018), that has been translated into Italian and Armenian. She publishes regularly in the Imaginative Conservative, and has just published her first novella: George. Nash-Marshall enjoys lecturing and does so often, both at home and abroad, where she is often invited. She loves life, music, novels, and challenges. Her favorite animal is the human being.
Stephanie Havens
Executive Director
Stephanie Havens is a recent graduate from Manhattanville College with a BA in Philosophy. Shortly after graduating, she traveled to Artsakh to live and work there as an English instructor in Stepanakert during the summer. After falling in love with the Artsakhtsi community, she returned again in 2018 and 2019 to develop English (and later Italian) course offerings, activities, and opportunities, helping CINF to define what would become its Language Program in Artsakh. Stephanie continues to work closely with Siobhan Nash-Marshall, Rita Mahdessian, Antonia Arslan, and Artsakh contacts to improve the project for years to come. Besides her work, her greatest joy is her family.
Tito De Luca
CINF Consultant to the Tri-Veneto
Tito De Luca joined the CINF team in December 2018 as a consultant to the Tri-Veneto. An Italian from Belluno, he is a member of the Alpine Mountain Climbing Association as well as a Member of the Veneto Chamber of Commerce. Tito is devoted to helping CINF support the development of Armenia and Artsakh.
Vivian Haber
Dr. Viviane Haber graduated in 1985 from Loma Linda University. Alongside operating her private practice since graduation, she teaches in the Restorative Department at LLU as an Assistant Professor and is involved in organized dentistry. She is a guest lecturer on Cosmetic Dentistry at Western University, School of Dental Medicine. She has served her profession in many capacities including as President of the San Gabriel Valley Dental Society, as a delegate and other committee assignments at the California Dental Association. She has also served in several positions at American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry including as a member of the Board of Directors. Dr. Haber is a Fellow in The Pierre Fauchard Academy, The American College of Dentists, The International College of Dentists, and The International Academy of Dental Facial Esthetics. She is a Diplomate in the American Board of Aesthetic Dentistry.
Dr. Haber has been involved with her community through many service organizations such as the Kiwanis Club of Glendora where she was President. She strives to make a difference in and outside her community.
Christine Haroutyunyan
Christine Haroutyunyan is a senior lecturer at the foreign languages department of Artsakh State University. She holds an MA in English Philology. She provides theoretical knowledge in different scientific fields such as English Lexicology, Sociolinguistics, Philosophy of Language and British Studies. Christine is married and has three children.
Heidi Giebel
Professor Heidi Giebel received her Ph.D. in Philosophy from the University of Notre Dame in Indiana. She is currently an Associate Professor of Philosophy at the University of St. Thomas in Saint Paul, Minnesota. Her academic expertise is in Ethical Theory, Practical Ethics, and Medieval Philosophy.
Narine Minasyan
Narine Minasyan is an associate professor at the Foreign Languages Department of Artsakh State University. She holds an MA in English Philology. She provides theoretical knowledge in different scientific fields such as Political Discourse, Text Interpretation, Intercultural Communication, and History of English. Narine is married and has two daughters.
Luca Montecchi
Luca Montecchi has been the Rector at the Istituto Scolastico don Carlo Gnocchi, a vocational school specializing in hotel and restaurant service industries, since September 2014. Prof. Montecchi also has prior experience with educational programs in the Middle East, namely in Palestine and Lebanon, supporting the Franciscan and Caritas schools.
Ani Tutunjian-Khachian
Ani Tutunjian-Khachian AJP Graduate Diamonds & Pearls [GIA] is a professional design engineer and the founder and creative director of Ani Fine Jewelry, a 3D design firm making responsible and original custom fine jewelry art in New York City. Ani is also an executive board member of the Armenian Jewelers Association (NYC) and The Jewelry Design Professionals Network (JDPN). Her background includes further connections with the Women’s Jewelry Association (WJA NY Metro Chapter), the Manufacturing Jewelers & Suppliers of America (MJSA), the Jewelers Vigilance Committee (JVC), the Armenian International Women’s Association (AIWA USA), and The Near East Foundation (NEF). She graduated Manhattanville College with a BA in Management, a minor in Mathematics, and a 3rd subject concentration in Philosophy. She lives in Connecticut with her family and keeps a close connection to Manhattanville as an annual moderator for the Westchester County High School Ethics Bowl.
Outside of work, Ani enjoys playing USTA Tennis and helping make connections between people who seek to nurture modern humanitarianism projects that contribute to our future. Her commitment to CINF bloomed when she traveled to Artsakh in 2007 to visit Avery and Stephanie Havens-Kaczka to witness the initial CINF project launch.
Advisory Board
The Baroness Cox of Queensbury
Baroness Caroline Cox was created a Life Peer in 1982 for her contributions to education and has served as a Deputy Speaker of the House of Lords from 1985 to 2005. Lady Cox now sits in the Lords as a crossbencher and is a frequent contributor to Lords debates on Sudan, India, Nigeria, Uganda, and Burma. Baroness Cox’s humanitarian aid work has taken her on many missions to conflict zones, allowing her to obtain first hand evidence of the human rights violations and humanitarian needs. Areas travelled include the Armenian enclave of Nagorno Karabakh; Sudan; Nigeria; Uganda; the Karen; Karenni; Shan and Chin peoples in the jungles of Burma; and communities suffering from the conflict in Indonesia. She has also visited North Korea helping to change the former Soviet Union policies for orphaned and abandoned children from institutional to foster family care. In recognition of her work in the twenty years, she has been awarded the Commander Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland; the prestigious Wilberforce Award; the International Mother Teresa Award from the All India Christian Council; the Mkhitar Gosh Medal conferred by the President of the Republic of Armenia; and the anniversary medal presented by Lech Walesa, the former President of Poland, at the 25th anniversary of the Polish Solidarity Movement. Lady Cox has also been awarded an Honorary Fellowship of the Royal College of Surgeons of England and Honorary Doctorates by universities in the United Kingdom, the United States of America, the Russian Federation, and Armenia.