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Hasmig Tatiossian
Born:1983 in Los Angeles, CA
Profession: Student
Interests: People and all of our beautiful creations, nature

Hasmig Tatiossian graduated from the University of California at Berkeley, in 2005, with a B.A. degree in Interdisciplinary Studies: International Relations with an Emphasis on Genocide and Human Rights. The synthesis between academia and activism became grounded at this time for Hasmig, as she became a leading student organizer on campus, while immersing herself in the study of human rights. Most notably, she Co-Directed the first annual United Hands Across Cal, a campus-wide project that brought together numerous student organizations for genocide awareness and action. Hasmig also taught an undergraduate course on genocides of the 20th century. She had the opportunity to study in Toronto, Ontario at Zoryan Institute’s Genocide and Human Rights University Program. In addition, Hasmig studied on the topic of international relations and organizations, in Switzerland. Her honor-level thesis was about the denial of the Armenian Genocide, in which she discussed the reasons for and evolution of denial, as well as, its political infiltration in Turkish academia, society, and identity.

Upon graduating, she spent a summer working for the Elizabeth Coalition to House the Homeless, advocating for the homeless, as well as creating a curriculum, based on conflict-resolution and peace, for homeless children. Afterwards, she transitioned into the position of Southern California Regional Assistant Coordinator for the Genocide Education Project. In this capacity, she was able to be put her passion to work by conducting workshops about genocide and genocide education, a characteristic that also emanates during every event on the road.

Following the Journey, Hasmig will begin graduate studies in Global Affairs, with a concentration on Human Rights, at New York University. Her passions for upholding human rights and acting for the prevention of genocide, have put her on a path that she hopes to continue and remain loyal to. She aspires to pursue a PhD, and work in genocide and human rights education, as well as investigative reporting on such issues.

Hasmig seeks to continue a life of discovery, striving to understand humanity—her own as well as that of the collective whole. This spiritual journey, her deep interest in issues surrounding “identity,” as well as her appreciation for history and culture incite a love for people and travel. Her sources of hope and inspiration are her mother, poetry, and those human beings who unleash their inner power to create positive change in the world.

"In my travels and work in education, I hope to inspire people to pursue their passions and realize their full potential, uninhibited by the limitations of 'reality' constructed around us—through our education system, the media, and our consumer culture. Peace is not difficult to achieve, but our paradigm of 'reality' makes it appear so. If only we held on to some of our childhood innocense, we'd find liberation from this trap. Thereby, we would more easily recognize and internalize the interrelatedness of humanity, and peace-making would not seem as difficult of a mission."