Executive Board
Rita Balian, President
Donna J. Evans, Chair [bio]
Sonia Crow, Esq., Vice President
Maria Princi, Secretary[bio]
Marie Balian, Treasurer
Anahid Ghazarian, Asst Treasurer

Board Members
Nairi Checkosky
Seda Gelenian
Doris George
Anahid Kalayjian, R.N.

Advisory Council
Vartkess Balian
Hagop Nazarian
Osep Sarafian

The Armenian American Cultural Association, Inc. (AACA) is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization established in February 1995. AACA was founded to foster greater understanding and to strengthen cultural ties between the people of the newly independent Republic of Armenia and the United States through cultural, educational, and scientific exchanges and humanitarian projects.

Since 1996, the primary focus of AACA’s efforts has been directed toward its humanitarian project in Armenia, the Armenian American Wellness Center. The Wellness Center is dedicated to saving, prolonging, and improving the lives of women through the early and accurate detection of breast and cervical cancer and to providing primary health care services to ensure the good health and well-being of women, children and men in Armenia. To learn more about the Wellness Center’s remarkable work, please visit About the Center.

In addition to its humanitarian work in Armenia, AACA also organizes forums and events to promote Armenian artists, scholars, and scientists in coordination with museums, universities, performing art centers and embassies. AACA has hosted numerous events showcasing talents ranging from world-renowned opera stars to emerging young artists in many creative fields. AACA events are often held in Washington, DC at venues including the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, the Freer Gallery of the Smithsonian Institution, the Embassy of the Republic of Armenia, and the Chancery of the Austrian Embassy. Many of AACA’s cultural events are held to benefit the work of the Wellness Center.

The work of AACA is conducted primarily through a network of dedicated volunteers. These volunteers include AACA’s Board of Directors, members of the US Medical Advisory Board, numerous advisors, and members of volunteer “Friends” committees throughout the U.S.

Donna J. Evans

In Dec. 2007, AACA invited Donna J. Evans to become Chair of the AACA Board, in addition to her role as Honorary Chair of the Armenian American Wellness Center. As former President of the World Affairs Council of Washington, DC, Mrs. Evans managed a membership organization of over 2,000 local business leaders, foreign diplomats, young professionals, teachers, students and seasoned policy professionals. She developed and implemented programs on international affairs for the general membership and educational programs for teachers and students. Mrs. Evans has served on World Affairs Councils of America leadership delegations to Israel, Taiwan and Germany.

Mrs. Evans also worked as Development Consultant at the State Hermitage Museum, St. Petersburg, Russia (1995-97); Regional Country Director, Northwest Russia, International Executive Service Corps (1994-95); Founding Executive Director, American Chamber of Commerce, Prague, Czech Republic (1992-94); Associate Director for External Relations, Eastern Europe, Center for Strategic and International Studies, Washington, DC (1987-92); and in the Canadian Foreign Service (1976-88). Accompanying her husband, Ambassador John Evans, to the Republic of Armenia (2004-06), she engaged in various charitable, educational and development projects.

Serving on the Board of the Children of Armenia Fund, New York and on the Orleans Council Task Force for an International Youth Advisory Congress for Online Safety & Security (London, Summer 2008), Mrs. Evans is also a member of the American News Women’s Club, the Women’s Foreign Policy Group and a charter member of the National Museum of the American Indian in Washington.

Maria Princi

Since 2000, Maria Princi has served as the AACA Board Secretary. A fundraising consultant to the American Red Cross and a Realtor with Coldwell Banker Brokerage in DC and VA, Ms. Princi was formerly with the American Red Cross National Headquarters, International Services Department serving as Program Director for the Former Soviet Union from 1990-2000.

Under Maria’s guidance, the involvement of the American Red Cross expanded from initial activities in Armenia following the 1988 earthquake to include the countries of Georgia and Azerbaijan, making the American Red Cross the first American organization operational in all three Caucasus republics of the former Soviet Union. In October 1994, Maria left her position in Washington to spend a year as a delegate for the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) implementing a program in the Northeast border regions of Armenia, along the frontline of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

Upon returning to Washington in 1995, Maria focused on the fundraising necessary to support American Red Cross activities in the former Soviet Union. She secured over $150 million in funding for programs in emergency relief, medical rehabilitation, earthquake reconstruction, refugee assistance, public health training, and institutional development from government, corporate, foundation and individual major donors.

Maria has a Bachelor’s degree in History from Loyola University, New Orleans Louisiana and a Master’s degree in International Relations and Trade from George Mason University, Fairfax, Virginia.