Araksya Nordikyan and Seymour Amster

Seymour Amster and Araksya Nordikyan are informal mentors to Monserrath Ramirez. All three are colleagues at Parents, Educators/Teachers and Students in Action (PESA,) a fascinating nonprofit organization founded by Seymour Amster. The effects that each mentor has had upon Monserrath are as different as her colleagues themselves.

My mentors are Araksya Nordikyan and Seymour Amster.

My name is Monserrath Ramirez, and I serve as the Social Media Strategist at Parents and Educators/Teachers and Students in Action (PESA).

In this role, I oversee all things related to media and communications for our organization, from managing our social platforms to shaping the way we share our story with the community. But my work extends far beyond social media. At PESA, I wear many hats: I lead the Equity and Inclusion Committee, write and manage our newsletters, and participate on the funding committee. Each of these responsibilities has allowed me to contribute to PESA’s mission in unique ways and deepen my skills across different areas of nonprofit work.
One of the greatest blessings of my professional journey at PESA has been the mentors who have guided me along the way. Two individuals in particular, Araksya Nordikyan and Seymour Amster, have played a transformative role in both my personal and professional growth. Their mentorship has shaped not just the way I approach my work, but also the way I view leadership, community, and the impact we can make.
From Seymour, I have learned how to see and think about the bigger picture. Our conversations often leave me feeling inspired and more deeply aware of the political and social dynamics that affect our work. He has helped me understand the complexities of how the city navigates its challenges and, most importantly, how we can use our position at PESA to create meaningful change. His guidance has pushed me to think more critically and to ground my work in strategy and purpose.
With Araksya, my growth has been more rooted in the day-to-day discipline of professionalism. She has modeled the importance of time management, organization, and showing up with consistency and excellence. Through her mentorship, I’ve learned how to better manage my workload, stay on top of deadlines, and take pride in even the small details of my work. These lessons have not only made me a stronger professional but have also influenced the way I carry myself in every environment.
I often say that Seymour helps me see the vision, while Araksya equips me with the tools to achieve it. Together, their mentorship has given me both the perspective and the practical skills I need to thrive in my role. I’ve been able to grow in areas I never expected to—learning not just how to manage social media, but how to lead committees, write with impact, and support funding initiatives.
What I value most about their guidance is that it extends beyond professional advice. Both Araksya and Seymour have invested in me as a person, encouraging me to become more confident, more disciplined, and more intentional. They have shown me the balance between dreaming big and executing with focus, which I believe is the heart of what makes me effective in my role.
Because of their mentorship, I feel equipped not only to manage the responsibilities I hold at PESA but also to make a real difference for the communities we serve. Their influence has given me a stronger foundation and reminded me that leadership is just as much about who you are as it is about what you do.