Dr. Varsen Aghabekian Shahin

 Holds a Ph.D. is in Administrative & Policy Studies-Education from the University of Pittsburgh/USA and a M.Sc. from Indiana University/Purdue University (IUPUI)/ USA

Worked as an Associate Professor at Al Quds University (1988-1995) and as an Associate Professor (1995-2008).

Served as Dean of the Faculty of Health Professions 1995-1998 and Dean of Graduate Studies 1998-2000 at Al Quds University. Coordinated the Health Human resource Unit at the Palestinian Health Council.

Director of the Palestinian National Plan for Human Resource Development and Education in Health 1999-2000

Directed the Multisector Review and Strategic plan for East Jerusalem (The Orient House and the EU) 2000-2002

Director of Research and Planning at the Welfare Association (Al Ta’awon) 2003-2005

Manager of the Capacity and Institution Building (CIB) project of the Office of the President of Palestine 2006-2009

Executive Director of Al-Quds Capitol of Arab Culture 2009

Commissioner General for the Palestinian Independent Commission for Human Rights 2016-2018

Operations Director and Policy consultant at the Palestinian Negotiations Support ProjectNegotiations Support Unit 2010 onwards

Worked as an Associate professor and head of strategy Dar Al Kalima University-Bethlehem

Selected member of the committee drafting the strategy on strengthening the Christian Presence in Palestine and is a member of the Presidential Committee for the Restoration of the Church of the Nativity and a member of the Presidential Committee for Churches Affairs.

Interested in women’s and human rights issues and has been a member on the boards of several civil society organizations and universities.

Author of several articles, studies, manuals and national reports on: Jerusalem, health, women in politics, Christian migration from Palestine, planning in Jerusalem and Armenia presence and contribution in Palestine .