Educator and health care leader will become Glendale’s first Filipina American elected to public office

GLENDALE — Dr. Aileen O. Dinkjian, an educator, health care leader and longtime South Glendale resident, is scheduled to be sworn in July 14 as the Glendale Unified School District’s new Trustee Area D representative.

Her election marks a first for the city: Dinkjian is the first Filipina American elected to public office in Glendale.

Dinkjian finished first in the June 2 nonpartisan election with 3,185 votes, or 42.53 percent, according to the latest Los Angeles County count. Janet Balekian received 2,183 votes, or 29.15 percent, while Shant Kevorkian received 2,120 votes, or 28.31 percent.

The county is scheduled to certify the results June 26.

Dinkjian will take the oath of office at 5 p.m. Tuesday, July 14, at the Glendale Unified district office, 223 N. Jackson St. in Glendale. Assemblymember Jessica Caloza is scheduled to administer the oath.

A parent of three Armenian-Filipino students in Glendale Unified, Dinkjian holds a master’s degree in public health and a doctorate in education. Her 25 years of professional experience span education, health care, policy, governance and organizational leadership.

She has also served on the district’s Budget Committee and participated in the PTA, experience that placed her inside discussions over school finances and the concerns of Glendale families before her campaign for the board.

Dinkjian ran on a platform centered on student safety and belonging, support and retention for teachers, student health and well-being, workforce preparation and closer financial oversight. She also called for campuses better equipped to protect students during extreme heat and for expanded partnerships connecting young people with higher education, health care and local industries.

Trustee Area D stretches from Glenoaks Canyon through South Glendale and includes the communities served by Glendale High School and Glenoaks, Mann, Marshall and Muir elementary schools.

Glendale Unified adopted geographic trustee areas in 2016, replacing its former system of electing board members districtwide. Although each member is elected from a designated area, all five trustees serve the district as a whole.

Once sworn in, Dinkjian will help set district policy and oversee decisions involving instruction, student services, staffing, facilities and the budget.