Retiring AGBU Principal Dr. Nadya Sarafian Leaves Behind 20 Year Legacy of Learning

After 20 years of devoted service as Principal of the AGBU Alex and Marie Manoogian School (www.manoogian.org) in Southfield, Michigan, Dr. Nadya Sarafian announced her retirement this past spring. Thanks to her unwavering commitment to quality education and family values, the School, recently celebrating its 35th anniversary, marked several significant achievements over her two-decade tenure.

From the moment Dr. Sarafian immigrated to the United States in 1980, she immersed herself in AGBU Southfield School affairs. Appointed Representative of the Independent Michigan Schools Parents League, followed by key roles as PTO Member, PTO President and Board of Education Member, Dr. Sarafian was appointed Principal in 1985.

Her numerous scholastic achievements include establishing accreditation as a charter school in 1995; earning the school two consecutive Golden Apple Awards in 2000 and 2001 for outstanding student scores on the Michigan Educational Assessment Program (MEAP) test; securing a $153,000 grant in 2004 from the Walton Family Foundation based on academic excellence; and establishing unique educational partnerships with Lawrence Technological University (INSPIRE Program) in 2004 and the Oakland Technical School and University of Michigan-Dearborn in 1998.

Coming from a long line of educators, Dr. Sarafian has dedicated her life and career to the pursuit of education. Born in Istanbul, Turkey, she attended the Essayan Lycée and the American College for Girls, and in 1960, graduated from the University of Istanbul with a major in Psychology. Awarded a Fulbright Scholarship, Dr. Sarafian continued her higher education in the United States at Wichita State University in Kansas earning her Master’s Degree in Psychology. After receiving her Ed.D. in Clinical Psychology and Higher Education from Oklahoma State University in 1967, she taught Psychology at Robert College (Istanbul) from 1971 to 1975, and Lawrence Technological University from 1981 to 1987.

With an innate ability to foster a nurturing, family-oriented environment, the AGBU Alex and Marie Manoogian School flourished under Dr. Sarafian’s leadership. During her tenure as Principal, she successfully combined her expertise in child psychology with her love of education, finding great reward in contributing towards the academic and personal growth of the students and faculty alike. Establishing a caring, safe and challenging atmosphere each and every school day, Dr. Sarafian maximized the potential of all who surrounded her effortlessly with an engaging spirit that inspired and motivated.

In addition to her role as Principal of the AGBU Alex and Marie Manoogian School, Dr. Sarafian has also admirably served AGBU as the Co-Chairwoman of the AGBU Detroit Chapter for 25 years, known best for spearheading the fundraising of $1.2 million in surgical instruments and medical supplies for 1988 Armenian earthquake relief efforts.

On October 21, 2005, declared Nadya Sarafian Day by Southfield Mayor, Brenda Lawrence, Dr. Sarafian was honored at a gala banquet attended by over 300 AGBU School faculty, students, alumni, parents and friends at St. John’s Armenian Church Cultural Center.

Throughout the evening’s program, Dr. Sarafian was showered with accolades by prominent community leaders and clergy, including His Eminence, Archbishop Khajag Barsamian of the Armenian Apostolic Church (Eastern Diocese); Master of Ceremonies Edmond Azadian, School Board Vice Chairman; Orlando Castellon, Central Michigan University Charter Schools Contract Analyst; Daniel Quisenberry, Michigan Association of Public School Academies President; Dr. Richard Marburger, School Board President and President Emeritus of Lawrence Technological Institute; and Carol Aslanian, AGBU Central Board of Directors Member.

In his tribute, Dr. Richard Marburger reflected on his longtime friendship with guest of honor Dr. Sarafian remarking, “We are certain that she personifies greatness in our time.”

Describing her as an Armenian woman of distinction, Carol Aslanian, who oversees AGBU’s 16 day schools worldwide, extended praise for Dr. Sarafian’s key role in achieving charter school status for the AGBU Alex and Marie Manoogian School, and in so doing, reaching larger numbers of students of both Armenian and non-Armenian background, thereby producing a strong and vital academic setting.

In recognition of her dedication to the preservation of the Armenian language, Archbishop Khajag Barsamian presented Dr. Sarafian with the distinguished St. Sahag-St. Mesrob Medal of Honor, along with an encyclical from His Holiness, Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians.

In the early 1980’s, the AGBU Southfield School had 70 pupils. Tripling its enrollment and with a waiting list of hopeful applicants, Dr. Sarafian, a role model for the next generation of future educators, departs with a student body of 375 and faculty and staff of 50.