BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Talin Keshishian-Walker founded Allied Cultures shortly before graduating with a Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology from California State University, Northridge (CSUN). Her desire to enter the nonprofit sector was fueled by an intent to develop a career enhanced by service and goodwill. After one year of organizational planning and program development, Talin returned to CSUN to obtain a Master’s Degree in Public Administration and Nonprofit Management. Professionally, she has worked for several nonprofit organizations in Los Angeles County, facilitating the expansion of housing and relief services to hundreds of homeless, displaced or otherwise marginalized individuals and families. She has channeled her experience and knowledge to advance Allied Cultures and develop its programs on an international platform.
Born and raised in Lebanon by Armenian parents, Talin has fostered her interest in culture and respect for refugees and immigrants to develop a scalable set of programs making change for students, families and disaster victims.
Talin believes culture is best experienced through food and travel. She is married to a Chef and enjoys traveling to different countries to celebrate and be enriched by their culture and traditions.
Talin
Keshishian-Walker,
Board President
Eliza Sahagian,
Vice President
Eliza has joined Allied Cultures from its conception as Treasurer. Graduated from the American University of Beirut in Lebanon with a Bachelor of Science degree in Geology. After graduation she was one of the first female geologists working in the field of engineering geology in the area. During the time she led the revival of the Lebanese Geological Society (LGS), which had stopped activities during the civil war. Unfortunately, due to the country’s situation, LGS activities stopped again.
Because of her work, she had the opportunity to travel to different countries and experience different cultures.
She moved to the United States in 2001 and continued working as a geologist and was involved in environmental assessment and cleanup. In addition to soil, geology, she is skilled in environmental awareness, environmental policy, and waste management, which allows her to do her part in providing a better environment to live in.
Similarly, she believes Allied Cultures will provide a safe environment for helping, awareness and understanding, bringing together different cultures, races and ethnicities.
Dr. Chrispin Dambula is a development expert and scholar trained in Africa and the United States. He brings to Allied Cultures six years of field-based experience in development practice, having worked with Malawi Government/UNICEF and World Vision International as a coordinator for WASH, literacy boost, food security, and emergency preparedness projects. His skills include development research and policy formulation, project designing, proposal writing, grant acquisition and management, project monitoring and evaluation, and financial management.
As a development scholar, Dr. Dambula has three years of experience in teaching and mentoring students at graduate level. He is interested in economic development and human wellbeing research with a specific focus on the role of identity or self-concept.
All his educational qualifications have an emphasis in development studies and behavioral sciences.
He holds a BSc., an MA., and a PhD. In addition, he has published several insightful papers in peer-reviewed journals in the field of development studies. His passion for development is inspired by his own experience of poverty in his childhood. He envisions a world of opportunities and capabilities for all where every human can achieve their wellbeing aspirations.
Dr. Chrispin Dambula,
Board Member
Nassif Dow,
Board Member
Nassif Dow is a Senior Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch, with more than 15 years of Financial Services experience.
A proud alum of the Fox School of Business at Temple University, Nassif originally hails from Philadelphia but now calls Toluca Lake, CA, home.
Married since 2021 and a father to a lovely daughter, Nassif is passionate about making a difference in his community, particularly through helping homeless and displaced families.
When he's not crunching numbers, Nassif enjoys immersing himself in the world of TV and movies, all while maintaining a deep love for his hometown of Philadelphia.
Amelia Hensler graduated summa cum laude from Southern Oregon University with her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a Focus in Public Accounting. She began her career as a tax associate in public accounting before joining Mercer as a human capital consultant. Her diverse projects at Mercer have spanned from employee compensation, pay equity, to diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, showcasing her strategic thinking and project management skills.
Passionate about community service, Amelia was drawn to Allied Cultures' mission addressing homelessness in Los Angeles. She offers a fresh perspective as a young Los Angeles resident, and her genuine concern for community welfare, coupled with consulting expertise, positions her as a valuable asset to the board.
Amelia is honored to join Allied Cultures, leveraging her skills and passion for positive community impact. Eager to contribute, she looks forward to collaborating on an initiative aimed at providing opportunity to aspiring entrepreneurs in need.
In her free time, Amelia enjoys indoor bouldering, reading, cooking, and spending time with her family, friends, and 8 month old puppy, Roo.
