Email: jbaghdas@usc.edu. Mobile: 818.606.4460.
University Of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
Education
2024 - Present
Member of the Armenian Student Association
Member of Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Society
Member of the USC Competitive Ski Team
Philanthropy Chair of Phi Sigma Kappa Fraternity
B.A. in Political Science | GPA 3.87
John Cabot University, Rome, Italy
2023 - 2024
Political Science major. Coursework includes political science, history, composition, psychology, and sociology. Study Abroad Scholarship, Fall 2023 and Spring 2024. Member of Business Club.
La Salle College Preparatory High School, Pasadena, CA
2019 - 2023
Graduated cum laude. National Honor Society, 2021 - 2023. California Scholarship Federation, 2021 - 2023. Honor Roll, 9th - 12th grades.
University of California at Los Angeles Extension (Grade 11)
Summer 2021
Completed the course MGMT X 463.01: “Advertising in the Digital Age” (grade: A+).
Work Experience
Content Licensing & Strategy Intern, MediaNug
Summer 2025
Collaborate with the creative, marketing, casting, and production teams to plan, develop, and schedule high-performing content for Instagram, TikTok, and other short-form platforms. Work closely with MediaNug’s in-house team and external creators to license viral content, negotiating usage rights for top-performing videos that align with client campaigns. Analyze engagement metrics and post-level performance to inform data-driven content strategy and maximize ROI across multiple brand accounts. Stay ahead of platform trends and creator culture to help guide creative development and regularly pitch new ideas that shape the agency’s social-first campaigns.
Cashier/Server, Massis Kabob
2019 - Present
Process customer orders and payments while maintaining a clean and organized counter. Handle phone orders, menu questions, restocking, and customer concerns to ensure smooth day-to-day operations. Oversee the restaurant’s social media presence, managing content and promotions that helped grow the Instagram account to over 32,000 followers through consistent posting and community engagement.
Leadership, Community Service, and Professional Experience
Fall 2021 - Present
Co-founded a microloan program with twin brother in the rural village of Debet, Armenia. Provided seed money for small agricultural businesses, focusing on beekeeping and honey production. Grouped a veteran beekeeper with four novice beekeepers, creating a sustaining cohort. Selected young entrepreneurs eager to adopt modern beekeeping techniques, including young women challenging the male-dominated industry. The microloan project funded five entrepreneurs with zero-interest loans. Repayments are reinvested for future applicants. In 2023, traveled to Armenia for project review.
Presenter, USC Undergraduate Armenian Studies Research Symposium
April 11, 2025
Selected to present original research at USC’s inaugural Armenian Studies symposium. Delivered a case study on diasporan microloans in rural Armenia, highlighting how hands-on diaspora engagement can drive sustainable economic development over traditional charity models.
March 30, 2023
Session: MDA 330: Armenian Heritage Class. Presentation Title: "Engaging Diaspora Youth with Armenia: Perspectives and Motivations." Invited by Dr. Shushan Karapetian, Institute Director. Explored the ties between diaspora youth to rural Armenian communities. Initially, a 30-minute talk, it became a 1.5-hour discussion due to the students' engagement.
Volunteer Ski Instructor, Disabled Sports Eastern Sierra (Grade 12)
Completed training (November 2022). Completed SafeSports Educational curriculum. Trained in DSES adaptive equipment.
2022 - 2023
2019 - 2023
Assisted with Fundraising (Grades 10, 11, 12): Raised funds for a non-profit’s annual project.
Speaker, Chamlian Armenian School (Grades 11, 12)
2022 - 2023
Invited to speak to 8th-grade students in 11th grade. Returned to campus to speak to the Class of 2023 (12th grade).
Sports Camp Coach, Chamlian Armenian School (Grade 11,12)
Summer 2021 - 2024
Responsible for supervising and planning activities for campers ages 7-14.
Leadership at La Salle High School
Founder and Co-President, La Salle Armenian Club (Grades 11, 12) Founder and Co-President, La Salle Ski and Snowboard Club (Grades 11, 12) Student Ambassador, La Salle High School (Grades 11, 12) First Base and Outfielder, La Salle Baseball Team (Grades 9, 10, 11, 12).
Public speaking, PowerPoint Presentations, Social Media Marketing, Customer Relations; Adaptable to New Situations and Challenges. Content Builder for My Website.
Skills
Hobbies
Golfing, Skiing, Wakeboarding, Studying Automotive Systems, Engines, and Car Culture
Languages
English: Fluent. Armenian: Fluent. Italian: Conversational.
