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Ruby Topalian

Ruby Topalian

Co-Founder and President of Uplift WJ

Followers of Ruby Topalian1000 followers
location of Ruby TopalianNew York, New York, United States

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  • Timeline

  • About me

    Incoming NBC Investigations Intern | Columbia University-Trinity College Dublin Dual BA

  • Education

    • Trinity College Dublin

      2022 - 2026
      Bachelor of Arts - BA Middle Eastern and European Languages and Cultures

      Studied the Italian and Arabic languages as part of the degree.

    • Walter Johnson High School

      2018 - 2022
      High School Diploma

      Activities and Societies: Founder & President of Uplift WJ, Senior Opinion Editor "The Pitch" (School Newspaper), Executive Board Member Rho Kappa (Social Studies) Honors Society, Debate Team, Feminism Club, National Honors Society.

    • Columbia University

      2022 - 2026
      Minor Political Science and Government

      Specialization in international politics; interested in international political economy and semiconductor manufacturing efforts globally. Currently (Spring 2025) taking “Rethinking Middle East Politics” with Timothy Mitchell and “International Crises Since the Cold War,” a seminar with Jeremiah Pam.

    • Columbia University in the City of New York

      2022 - 2026
      Bachelor of Arts - BA HISTORY

      Activities and Societies: Columbia Daily Spectator, Alexander Hamilton Society Specialization in international history; interested in U.S. diplomatic history.Dean’s ListClasses taken/currently taking:Cold War in Latin America United States: 1940-1975Rethinking Middle East Politics The Romans and Their World

  • Experience

    • Uplift WJ

      Jun 2020 - Jun 2022
      Co-Founder and President of Uplift WJ

      - Founded and lead a mental health advocacy club that aims to foster discussions surrounding mental health issues in the Walter Johnson community and beyond. - Fundraised approximately $5,000 for international, national and local charities in one year, created social media campaigns to aid in the destigmatization of mental health. - Delivered county Board of Education testimony advocating for more mental health professionals in schools following 3 months of data collection in which students across the county were surveyed about their mental health response experiences at school. - Featured on NBC4 Washington for fundraising efforts.- Earned sponsorship from Our Minds Matter, a national mental health charity. Show less

    • Ashwani Jain for Governor

      Jan 2021 - May 2022
      High School Outreach Director

      Managed 60+ high school volunteers on campaign for the entire state of Maryland; worked with VoteBuilder to cut turf for Harford County canvassing; created “Low-Income Outreach” project to offer disadvantaged high schoolers around the state the opportunity to take part in politics.

    • The MoCo Student

      Mar 2021 - Jun 2022
      Local News Correspondent

      Regularly published articles in the "MoCo News" section to cover events or pressing issues within Montgomery County, Maryland.

    • Congressman Jamie Raskin

      Jun 2021 - Aug 2021
      Democracy Summer Fellow

      Engaged in 6-week political fellowship centered around US Voting Rights (HR-1); canvassed in Frederick and Montgomery Counties using VoteBuilder; phone banked; developed state-flipping plan for New Hampshire 2022 senate race.

    • Walter Johnson High School

      Jun 2021 - Jun 2022
      Senior Opinion Editor, The Pitch

      Developed weekly pitches, edited and managed a team of writers, wrote across sections, well-versed in SnoFlow and InDesign.

    • Gap

      Nov 2021 - Jun 2022
      Sales Associate

    • Montgomery County Commission for Women

      Jun 2022 - Aug 2022
      Intern

    • Trinity News

      Aug 2022 - Jun 2024

      - Managed 50+ writers and two deputy editors, second largest section of newspaper.- Edited minimum five to six, 1200-word pieces per print issue over nine issues annually; utilized WordPress for online issues.Awards earned:“Features Writer of the Year,” Student Media Awards (SMEDIAS)Student Publication Association’s (SPA) national (UK + Ireland) "Highly Commended Best Comment" piece award (the most competitive award of ceremony, 130+ applicants)SPA national (UK + Ireland) "Special Mention Best Feature" piece awardSPA “Highly Commended Best Journalist” award for Ireland and Northern IrelandSPA “Best Article” special mention award for Ireland and Northern Ireland. Show less

      • Features Editor

        Jun 2023 - Jun 2024

      • Deputy Societies Editor

        Aug 2022 - Jun 2023

    • Trinity Women in Law

      Oct 2022 - May 2023
      Mentee

    • Society For International Affairs

      Nov 2022 - Feb 2023
      AmBall Subcommittee Member

      Part of team that organized an annual ball for ambassadors to Ireland. Facilitated conversations between students and ambassadors using knowledge of Middle Eastern geopolitics.

    • TCD Eastern European Society

      Apr 2023 - Jun 2024
      Committee Member

      Organized panel discussion featuring the Armenian Ambassador to the United Kingdom and Ireland in order to raise awareness about ethnic cleansing in the South Caucuses.

    • The Colloquium

      Jun 2023 - Jun 2024
      Opinion Editor

      Edited up to ten articles per two print issues annually on topics ranging from French neocolonialism in the Sahel to pink tide in South America to the future of the Kremlin.

    • Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA)

      Jun 2023 - Aug 2023
      Leo Sarkisian Intern

      - Led revitalization of ANCA media outreach strategy for coverage of Nagorno-Karabakh blockade.- Assembled list of 300+ journalist names and emails, created ‘how to pitch’ guide for fellow interns, and connected ANCA with BBC and NowThis. - Wrote the Armenian Weekly’s most viewed article in four years with 6000+ views on the Armenian Weekly, 25k+ views on Weekly's Twitter, and 31k Twitter views through ANCA social media campaign.

    • Oklahoma Watch

      Jun 2024 - Aug 2024
      Scripps Howard Intern

      The Scripps Howard Fund internship is a 10-week program in which 24 students selected out of an application pool of hundreds are sent to newsrooms nationwide. I was one of eight selected for the non-profit newsroom program and was placed at the investigative outlet, Oklahoma Watch.

    • Columbia Daily Spectator

      Sept 2024 - now
      Associate Writer, The Eye

      The Eye is the investigative wing and narrative magazine of the Columbia Daily Spectator. During the fall 2024 semester, I will complete a mandatory ten-week staff training program and begin publishing investigations in the spring.

    • NBCUniversal

      Jan 2025 - now
      Incoming NBC Investigations Intern (Summer 2025)

  • Licenses & Certifications

    • SOC2085A: Secrets, Leaks and Whistleblowers: Reporting on National Security

      The School of the New York Times
      Sept 2021
      View certificate certificate

    • EXP1513A: International Relations/Development

      The School of the New York Times
      Sept 2020
      View certificate certificate

  • Honors & Awards

    • Awarded to Ruby Topalian
      Honor Society Columbia University Oct 2025 Formed to celebrate exceptional undergraduates committed to intellectual discovery and academic excellence. The only group of its kind at the University, the Honor Society fosters a community of scholars, providing a unique opportunity for students to interact with other members, faculty associates, and alumni.
    • Awarded to Ruby Topalian
      Print Outstanding Investigative Report Society of Professional Journalists, Oklahoma Pro Chapter Sep 2025 Awarded third place for investigation, "Pay or Your Son Dies: Oklahoma inmates extorted by inside gangs." SPJ Oklahoma Pro Chapter received more than 400 entries across all categories in 2025.
    • Awarded to Ruby Topalian
      Clavey-Martin Endowed Scholarship Columbia University Jul 2025
    • Awarded to Ruby Topalian
      2024 A-Mark Prize for Investigative Journalism Oklahoma Press Association Jun 2025 I won this award in competition with full-time, professional journalists across the state for my investigation, "Pay or your son dies: Oklahoma inmates' families extorted by inside gangs."
    • Awarded to Ruby Topalian
      Albert E. Gollin Prize Columbia University, School of General Studies May 2025 The Albert E. Gollin Prize is awarded to a junior with promising talent in sociology, media, or journalism.
    • Awarded to Ruby Topalian
      Features Writer of the Year - News & Current Affairs SMEDIAS/Oxygen.ie Apr 2024 Selected out of hundreds of applicants across Ireland as the winner of this prestigious Student Media Award (SMEDIA). The SMEDIAS are sponsored by the Irish Times, Virgin Media, the European Commission, and other notable organizations. Winners are selected by renowned Irish journalists.
    • Awarded to Ruby Topalian
      Highly Commended Best Comment Piece (UK + Ireland) Student Publication Association Apr 2024 One of two selected as a winner out of an applicant pool of 130+ across the United Kingdom and Ireland. The most competitive award of the conference.Winning piece: "Women should not be shamed for using disposable period products" https://trinitynews.ie/2023/03/women-should-not-be-shamed-for-using-disposable-period-products/
    • Awarded to Ruby Topalian
      Highly Commended Best Journalist in Ireland and Northern Ireland Student Publication Association (SPA) Feb 2024 Chosen from application pool of student journalists from across Ireland and Northern Ireland.
    • Awarded to Ruby Topalian
      Special Mention “Best Article” (Ireland + Northern Ireland) Student Publication Association (SPA) Feb 2024 Awarded to article titled “The USSR flag and student communism: a controversial combination.”
    • Awarded to Ruby Topalian
      Shortlisted ‘Rising Star’ Award (UK + Ireland) Student Publication Association (SPA) Mar 2023 Nominated for the SPA’s ‘Rising Star’ award which recognizes a student journalist from Ireland or the UK who has had a significant impact on their publication in the short time they have been on it.
    • Awarded to Ruby Topalian
      2022 Masonic Charities of Maryland Scholarship Winner Masonic Charities of Maryland May 2022 Masonic Charities of Maryland (MCM) awards $50,000 in scholarship funds annually to Maryland public high school graduating seniors who are pursuing a post-secondary education.
    • Awarded to Ruby Topalian
      Dual BA Program Student Ambassador Trinity College Dublin Mar 2022 Awarded a scholarship by the Office of the Vice President for Global Relations at Trinity College Dublin and joined a small group of Student Ambassadors who champion the Dual BA Programme.
    • Awarded to Ruby Topalian
      AP Scholar w/ Distinction Award College Board Jul 2021 Earned an average score of at least 3.5 on all AP Exams taken, and scores of 3 or higher on five or more of these exams.
    • Awarded to Ruby Topalian
      National Honors Society - Dec 2020
    • Awarded to Ruby Topalian
      AP Scholar w/ Honor Award College Board Aug 2020 Earned an average score of at least 3.25 on all AP Exams taken, and scores of 3 or higher on four or more of these exams.
    • Awarded to Ruby Topalian
      Rho Kappa Honors Society - Jan 2020 Served as member of leadership board to plan meetings, fundraisers, and charity projects.
    • Awarded to Ruby Topalian
      Spanish Honors Society - May 2019