Past Mentees and Mentors
Meet the mentees and mentors from the program’s previous years.
2025
The class of mentees for IALA’s fifth annual mentorship program, which ran from July 1 until August 31, 2025, included Milena Abrahamyan, Georgi Bargamian, Nanore Barsoumian, Marie Davtyan, Aline Keledjian, Armenak Menechyan, Elina Mir, E.C. Salibian, Siranush Sargsyan, Judith Saryan, Mariam Vahradyan, and Karin Vosgueritchian. Learn more about them.
The mentors who made our fifth mentorship program possible were Nancy Agabian, Sylvia Angelique Alajaji, Haig Chahinian, Talar Chahinian, Tina Demirdjian, Arminé Iknadossian, Arthur Kayzakian, Nancy Kricorian, Gina Srmabekian, Dr. Alene Terzian-Zeitounian, Lori Yeghiayan Friedman, and Aida Zilelian. Learn more about them.
The mentees read their work at our fifth annual Emerging Writers Showcase, which took place on October 26, 2025.
2024
The class of mentees for the fourth annual mentorship program, which ran from July 1 until August 31, 2024, included the following writers and translators who worked on fiction, poetry, nonfiction and literary translation: Elina Arbo, Lena Dakessian Halteh, Hasmik Djoulakian, Astghik Hairapetian, Garinè Isassi, Shushanik Karapetyan, Aleen Markarid Khachatourian, Susanna Khachatryan, Norayr Manvelyanl, Danielle Mikaelian, Amara Possian, Lori Yeghiayan Friedman, and Melineh Yemenidjian. Learn more about them.
The mentors who made our fourth annual mentorship program possible were: Tina Demirdjian, Ariel Djanikian, Arminé Iknadossian, Arthur Kayzakian, Dawn Anahid MacKeen, Jennifer Manoukian, Markar Melkonian, Arthur Nersesian, Jen Siraganian, Gina Srmabekian, Meline Toumani, Patricia Sarrafian Ward, and Aida Zilelian. Learn more about them.
The mentees read their work at our fourth annual Emerging Writers Showcase, which took place on October 13, 2024.
2023
The class of mentees for the third annual mentorship program included the following writers and translators: Sarkis Antonyan, Karine Armen, John Ohan Danho, Sarah Elgatian, Carolina Gazal, Juliette Hagobian, Pattianna Harootian, Sarah Ignatius, Byurakn Ishkhanyan, Alexia Kevonian, Michelle Khazaryan, Rafi Mankassarian, Roza Melkumyan, Sarah Mnatzaganian, Asbed Pogarian, Rachel Sona Reed, Marina Terteryan, Lilly Torosyan, Lusine Vanyan, and Alen Voskanian. Learn more about them.
The mentors who made our third annual mentorship program possible were: Nancy Agabian, Nyri Bakkalian, Susan Barba, Tamar M. Boyadjian, Victoria Howard Butler-Sloss, Gregory Djanikian, Arminé Iknadossian, Aris Janigian, Olivia Katrandjian, Arthur Kayzakian, Lola Koundakjian, Jennifer Manoukian, Arthur Nersesian, Veronica Pamoukaghlian, Jen Siraganian, Hrayr Varaz, Dana Walrath, and Aida Zilelian. Learn more about them.
The mentees read their work at our third annual Emerging Writers Showcase, which took place on October 22, 2023.
2022
The class of mentees for the second annual mentorship program included Anna Matevosyan, Tenny Minassian, Jen Siraganian, and Hrayr Varaz. Learn more about them.
The mentors who made our second annual mentorship program possible were Tamar M. Boyadjian, Arthur Kayzakian, Carolyne Topdjian, and Aida Zilelian. Learn more about them.
The mentees read their work at our second annual Emerging Writers Showcase, which took place on October 8, 2022.
2021
The class of mentees for the firsrt annual mentorship program included the following writers: Nyree Abrahamian, Sophia Armen, Tatevik Ayvazyan, Nayiri Baboudjian Bouchakjian, Araxie Cass, Peter Hajinian, Perla Kantarjian, Arthur Kayzakian, Lilit Markosian, Elizabeth Mkhitarian, and Elise Youssoufian. Learn more about them.
The mentors who made our first annual mentorship program possible were: Nancy Agabian, Armen Davoudian, Gregory Djanikian, Mashinka Firunts Hakopian, Arminé Iknadossian, Lola Koundakjian, Nancy Kricorian, Markar Melkonian, Aline Ohanesian, Alene Terzian-Zeitounian, and Aida Zilelian. Learn more about them.
The mentees read their work at our first annual Emerging Writers Showcase, which took place on September 25, 2021.