Irina Mkrtchyan holds a master’s degree in Agribusiness and a bachelor of science in Marketing and Agribusiness from the Armenian National Agrarian University (ANAU), Armenia, and she also holds a master’s in Marketing, PR, and Advertising from the University of Sheffield, United Kingdom. After earning her diploma, Ms. Mkrtchyan worked for four years as an e-commerce unit lecturer at ANAU, where she received a grant from the World Bank to build an experimental winery. She has also been employed as a marketing/business expert, consultant, and trainer to various organizations such as British Council Armenia and Areni Wine Festival. She is also the national winner of the Climate Launchpad international competition, the Armenian General Benevolent Union national “Women empowerment” competition, and she is the recipient of two Erasmus Mundus scholarships. Prior to joining the Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Program, she co-founded the non-governmental organization ISSD, where she is leading various environmental and rural development projects, supported by organizations like UNDP.

During her Humphrey Fellowship year, Ms. Mkrtchyan wants to learn more about circular economy in solid waste management/recycling, environmental protection and policy development, and women’s empowerment. Specifically, she wants to gain more experience and knowledge in improving waste management systems and cooperative development in Armenia. She also hopes to set partnership agreements with U.S.-based organizations to support Armenia and ISSD in the development of the above mentioned fields. 

Available for:

• Speaking on a technical topic (waste management, rural development, marketing grants, NGOs) 
• Speaking on a cultural topic
• Formal classroom visit
• Informal classroom visit
• Meeting with student groups
• Meeting with individual professors/ researchers

Last updated: 2018