Courses Taught
PSYCH 1 - General Psychology
PSYCH 25 - Human Sexuality
About Dr. Arakelyan
Dr. Hasmik Arakelyan (she/her/hers) is a Professor at Santa Monica College and California State University LA. She holds doctorate degrees in Journalism, Psychology and Law and is a passionate advocate for the rights and representation of the LGBTQ+ community. She has created Intro to LGBTQ+ studies curriculum that will be offered for the first time in the 9 LA district colleges next Fall. Dr. Has presented at conferences across the country on issues facing LGBTQ+ youth, female sexuality and pleasure, and how to create a supportive curriculum for the community. She is the author of the very first LGBTQ+ Program at LA Valley College. She also consults, most recently for the TransCanWork conference centered on how businesses can introduce best practices for hiring transgender workers and guarantee equal access to employment. Believing that education is the best form of evolution, she has conducted sensitivity and safe zone training for myriad professional groups from administrators, faculty to LA Community College District, UCLA and Pepperdine University. She also educates future therapists on the specifics of supporting the community in a clinical setting. Dr. Has is also on the Chancellors advisory committee for LGBTQ+ affairs at the LACCD District.
In addition to other institutional commitments at Valley College, she coordinated and managed the first LGBTQ+ Conference, set up a campus safe space with an extensive LGBTQ+ library, created the Rainbow Pride Scholarship, created the very first LGBTQ+ program at LAVC and is faculty co-advisor to the gender and sexuality club. She is an active member of the West Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, Human Rights Campaign, and on the boards of AFIC, United Nation’s Women’s Chapter in LA, AFT and CFT. Dr Arakelyan was honored as a woman of outstanding leadership by WILA (Women’s International Leadership Association) and in 2019 voted Woman Hero of the Year for her contribution to the LGBTQ+ community by KNAX/CBS Radio station and recently she was also honored by a Proclamation by West Hollywood Mayor Pro Tem Sepi Shyne.
Born in Yerevan Armenia, Dr. Arakelyan loves Californian life and the richness of time spent with friends, dancing, travel, stand-up comedy shows, and long hikes.