Thelma Tajirian

Graduate of American University of Beirut, Thelma Tajirian (BA ’78) has been in the US working in banking since 1978, and has been with Wells Fargo Bank for the last 18 years. Tajirian took a six-month paid leave of absence in the fall of 2002 and traveled to Yerevan, Armenia, to start the Women’s Entrepreneurship Program. Working with the American University of Armenia and the Armenian International Women's Association, classes ran from September to December, and finished with a business plan competition. The program was such a success that plans are underway to continue and expand throughout Armenia over the next three years. She also serves on the board of the Armenian International Women’s Association in San Francisco.

Thelma Tajirian was asked to speak at the United Nations Annual NGO Conference in New York in September 2003 about her successful launch of the program in Armenia. The Women’s Entrepreneurship Program is implemented through a partnership between the Armenian International Women’s Association and the American University of Armenia.

Thelma is also the vice-chair of Berkeley's Commission on the Status of Women.