Local resident and Glendale Unified school board member Shant Sahakian was recently named the first executive director of the new Armenian American Museum, according to a statement from the museum.

Sahakian first joined the Armenian American Museum project in 2014 as a member of the Armenian Genocide Centennial Committee.

Since 2016, he has supported the museum’s community outreach efforts. Most recently, he directed the staff, professionals and volunteers to organize a gala and telethon for the museum.