Aaron Sherinian
Aaron Sherinian is the Global Communications Director for the Aga Khan Development Network. He was previously Chief Communications and Marketing Officer of the United Nations Foundation. Sherinian led the UN Foundation's public relations efforts, media relationships, strategic outreach, and online presence since 2009. He was involved with the design of the Social Good Summit, #GivingTuesday, Rio+Social, International Day of Happiness,[1] and the Momentum1000 global social media rally. The UN Foundation Public Affairs team won three consecutive honors by PRNews as "Public Affairs Team of the Year" in 2012,[2] 2013,[3] and 2014.[4] Aaron was also named "In-House Professional of the Year" by PRWeek in 2016.[5]
Career
Before joining the United Nations Foundation, Sherinian was the Managing Director of Public Affairs for the Millennium Challenge Corporation, a U.S. government development assistance agency. He oversaw the agency's strategic communications portfolio, media relationships, public relations agenda and a global re-branding. Sherinian's professional background includes a decade as a Foreign Service Officer for the U.S. Department of State. Before returning to Washington, his diplomatic service included tours at U.S. Embassies in Ecuador, Armenia, Costa Rica, Colombia, and in Washington serving two Assistant Secretaries of State. Aaron's experience also included work at the U.S. Embassy to the Holy See (Vatican).
Before joining the Department of State, Sherinian worked at the Washington International Trade Association (WITA). He also held positions as a marketing consultant for the Italian distributors for Apple Computer and as a freelance interpreter and writer in Italy.
He is a member of the Arthur Page Society, the Seminar, the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA), and the National Association of Government Communicators (NAGC).
In June 2017 Sherinian was named global communications director for the Aga Khan Development Network. He is headquartered in Paris, France.
During the Covid-19 pandemic in March, Sherinian and his family founded Quarantine Academy, an online program where participants were taught about a variety of subjects, including art, pasta making, pizza making, poetry, yoga, The Library of Congress, bees, and many more.
Personal life
Sherinian was born in Pasadena, California. He holds degrees from the Johns Hopkins University (School of Advanced International Studies – SAIS) and Brigham Young University. In addition to Spanish, he speaks Italian, Armenian and French. He has four children with his wife Emily and lives in Paris. Sherinian served a full-time mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) in Milan, Italy. He has been featured by the LDS Church in video vignettes as part of their "I'm A Mormon" series.[6]
References
- "International Day of Happiness - 20 March". United Nations. 2015-03-15. Retrieved 2015-09-08.
- "United Nations Foundation - The United Nations Foundation's Public Affairs Team Named PR News Non-Profit Award's Team of the Year". United Nations Foundation. 2012-03-12. Archived from the original on 2015-09-10. Retrieved 2015-09-08.
- "2013 Nonprofit PR Awards: Association/Nonprofit Team of the Year | PR NewsPR News". Prnewsonline.com. 2013-03-11. Retrieved 2015-09-08.
- "PR News Announces Nonprofit PR Awards Finalists and March 12 Awards Luncheon in DC". prnewsonline.com. 2015-01-16. Retrieved 2015-09-08.
- "PRWeek Global Awards 2016: Winners revealed at London ceremony". prweek.com. 2016-04-28. Retrieved 2016-07-08.
- I'm a Mormon, Public Health Advocate & Mother of Three. YouTube. 2010-10-01. Retrieved 2015-09-08.