![Alice Petrossian]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1597657129/uwcdilijanorg/vyz0l1mlp1o8cidi7mo1/Alise-Petrosian.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1597657129/uwcdilijanorg/vyz0l1mlp1o8cidi7mo1/Alise-Petrosian.jpg","width":450}])
Full Board Member
Education Consultant
Alice Petrossian immigrated to the United States at the age of nine and did not speak a word of English. She entered public schools in Los Angeles and graduated from California State University majoring in Speech and Drama. Alice went on to receive Multiple Teaching and Administrative Credentials, Masters Degree in Educational Administration and completed her course work towards a PhD in Educational Policy at the University of Southern California. In July 2013, California Chief Justice Cantil-Sakauye appointed Alice to the California Task Force on K-12 Civic Learning. Alice is a Member and Immediate Past President of the Los Angeles County Commission for Women; Chair, ANCA Western Region Education Committee; Member LA County Women & Girls Initiative; Past President of the Glendale Adventist Hospital’s Founder’s Guild; and serves on the Board of Directors of Teach for Armenia, Foundation Board for California State University Los Angeles, School of Education and Governing Board for Armenian International Woman’s Association.
Alice retired from the Pasadena Unified School District (PUSD) as Chief Academic Officer-Deputy Superintendent. Prior to joining PUSD, she served in multiple administrative positions in Glendale Unified School District, including 10 years as the Assistant Superintendent-Educational Services. Throughout her 44-year career, Alice has been an educational leader and advocate for all students. She is most passionate when working for and with disenfranchised, minority and limited English speaking students. She continues to consult on education issues.
Alice was appointed to several state boards and commissions by Governors Jerry Brown, George Deukmejian, Pete Wilson and Gray Davis. Alice served as Chair of the California Commission for Teacher Credentialing, President of the California Community Colleges Board of Governors, and Trustee of the California State University System and many other commissions and boards.
For her service to the community, Alice was honoured twice as Legislative Woman of the Year-43rd Assembly District in 1998 by Assemblyman James Rogan (Rep) and in 2008 by Assemblyman Paul Krekorian (Dem). In 2013, she was selected by Senator Carol Liu as her district’s Woman of the Year. In 2011, Alice was elected State President of the 18,000-member Association of California School Administrators (ACSA). In 2005, ACSA awarded Alice with its Most Outstanding Administrator Award and in 2014 with its Marcus Foster Award for Administrator Excellence. In May 2012, Alice was awarded the prestigious Ellis Island Medal of Honor.
Alice has served community organisations, including the Boards of the Glendale Healthy Kids, Glendale Community Foundation, YWCA, PTA and many others. Most recently, she is active in collecting and shipping school supplies and clothing to orphanages and village schools in Armenia as well as providing professional development seminars for educators. For her volunteer work, Alice has received numerous prestigious awards and honours by community organisations, including California PTA, YWCA, Glendale Chamber of Commerce, American Red Cross, LA County Human Relations- John Anson Ford Award, Soroptimist International, Altrusa, Glendale NewsPress, California State University-Hayward, California State University-Los Angeles, USC, Armenian General Benevolent Union-Generation Next, Armenian Professional Society, Armenian Educational Foundation, Armenian National Committee, Armenian Relief Society, and many others.
Alice travels to Armenia multiple times every year to volunteer on several education projects, and lectures at the American University of Armenia and other organisations.