From Student to Senior Leader: Jackie Azizyan’s 30-Year Journey at IEC

In the heart of the San Fernando Valley, a sprawling, sun‑drenched basin in Los Angeles County known for its suburban neighborhoods and diverse communities, Jackie Azizyan arrived in the United States with her family at age 12. She was a young immigrant from Armenia grappling with a new language and a world that felt impossibly vast. It was 1989, and the junior high hallways buzzed with voices she couldn’t yet decipher. Still, within that uncertainty bloomed a resolve that would come to define her life.

Today, she is one of IEC’s most respected leaders, serving as Regional Vice President of Operations for the Pacific Region. Her story is not simply one of education and career advancement coming full circle. It is a testament to perseverance, loyalty, humility, and an unshakable belief in the power of education to transform lives.

Her IEC story began in 1994, not as an employee but as a student at the former UEI College Van Nuys campus (now located in Reseda). She enrolled in the Business Office Administration (BOA) program. Fresh out of high school and still perfecting English as a second language, Jackie was working at a children’s clothing store and attending community college. But her family’s financial struggles were a constant weight. Her father considered moving the family back to Armenia, but Jackie was determined to stay in California, unsure of how until she discovered UEI College. At UEI, she found not only an education but also a calling; one that endures more than 30 years later.

“UEI changed my life,” she said. “They gave me the skills and confidence I didn’t know that I needed. They also gave me a chance as a student worker, which only helped me thrive here. I really started to change my outlook.”

Driven to Succeed

That change wasn’t just personal. It became her mission. After graduating in 1995, Jackie was hired as a front desk receptionist at UEI, a role she embraced with the same fervor she brought to her studies. Within a year, she set her sights on becoming an admissions representative, despite skeptics who doubted her because of her Armenian accent.

“They said I couldn’t succeed,” she said. “I told them, ‘I want to change lives, just like mine was changed.’” And she did. Then, she stepped up again and served as Director of Admissions for the next eight years, guiding countless students toward their own transformations while raising two daughters, and earning Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Business Administration and Educational Leadership as an adult student.

Jackie’s ascent didn’t stop there. In 2005, she took on the role of Director of Education, another move that raised eyebrows. “How can someone from admissions lead education?” critics asked. Her response was simple: “I’ll show you.”

For the next five years, she fostered a culture of excellence among faculty and students as the Director of Education. By 2010, she was selected as the Campus President, first at the Van Nuys campus, which then became Encino, and is now in Reseda. She would hold that position for several years until being promoted to Senior Campus President in 2020.

In 2025, Jackie was tapped for a new challenge: RVP for the PAC Region, overseeing nine campuses. It was a role she initially resisted because her heart was deeply tethered to the Reseda Campus that she had successfully nurtured for so many years. But when her mentor urged her to carry forward his legacy when he was preparing to depart IEC, she couldn’t say no. “How do you say no to that?” she laughs, though the weight of the responsibility is clear. “Some days are more challenging than others, but I love every campus like it’s my own.”

“Jackie’s leadership is rooted in service—she doesn't just manage, she supports, uplifts, and empowers everyone in her community,” said Jose Del Castillo, UEI National Director of Electrical Training. “She is deeply invested in the success and well-being of her entire community, and her actions reflect a commitment to growth, collaboration, and shared success.”

“The students must come first.”

Jackie is known within UEI as a “mama bear,” fiercely protective of her campuses and the people in them, students and staff alike. She created environments where students feel at home and staff feel supported.

“They are away from their families for more than eight hours a day,” she said. “This has to feel like home.” This must be a place where they feel they belong.”

“When people ask me what the secret sauce to my success is, I tell them all the same thing: the students must come first,” she said. “When you put students and their success first, everything else falls in line to support that. Students are the reason I get up every morning and have worked hard for so many years. They are the ‘why’ in what we do and for every decision we make. We wouldn’t be doing our job as educators if that weren’t so.”

For those just beginning their journey at IEC, Jackie offers advice that reflects her own path: be open, ask questions, stay humble, and never settle for mediocrity. Aim high, work hard, and let your actions speak for you.

“Working under Jackie at UEI Reseda has truly been an incredible experience. She is an exceptional leader whose strength, vision, and commitment to excellence continue to inspire me,” said Vanessa Zamarripa, Career Services Specialist at UEI College Reseda. “From the very beginning, she empowered me to grow in my position, supported my development, and trusted me with opportunities that have had a lasting impact on my professional growth.”

Loyalty Begets Loyalty

What keeps her at IEC after three decades? Loyalty, she says, and a deep belief in the mission. “I had nothing when I started, and now I’m here. UEI opened doors I didn’t even know existed.” Jackie’s loyalty to IEC runs deep. Over the years she has been offered opportunities elsewhere, often with attempts to lure her away from IEC with higher pay, yet she has never considered leaving. She credits strong leadership, a culture of support, and the company’s rare generosity toward employees through the many unique benefits IEC has to offer.

“I’ve certainly been loyal to IEC, but IEC is loyal to its people,” she said. “Why else would I have stayed here for all of these years?”

As an employee-owned company through its Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP), IEC invests in its staff’s futures, a gesture Jackie finds profoundly generous.

“Not only do they give you a rewarding job to build a better life,” she said, “but they’re helping you build your retirement beyond the 401k match. That’s rare. The ESOP is a symbol of the company’s belief in its employees’ long-term success.”

For Jackie, the top perks also include the Pinnacle events, IEC’s annual celebrations of excellence, where she’s been recognized many times as a “five-star guest” at venues from cruise ships to resorts in Hawaii. “It’s like being a queen for a weekend,” she says, urging staff to set their sights on achieving the results that will earn them a spot at the annual Pinnacle Leadership Conference.

Beyond her professional triumphs, Jackie is a lifelong learner and a devoted mother. She raised two daughters while earning her degrees, one of whom recently graduated with a Master’s in Healthcare Administration from USC. She enjoys playing the piano, a skill she honed during her youth and continued to refine for many years. She loves to travel the world and go on cruises. To date, she and her husband have visited over 30 countries and counting.

Legacy of Leadership

"Jackie believed in me long before I believed in myself. She didn’t just teach me how to lead a campus, she showed me what it means to care for every student and every team member like family,” said Crystal Ramirez, Executive Director at UEI Reseda. “Her example is the reason I am where I am today, and I will always carry her lessons forward."

"Jackie has inspired everyone around her with her remarkable character, earning their deep love and respect,” said IEC CEO Shoukry Tiab. “I am grateful for her three decades of service, unwavering loyalty, steadfast commitment, and her pursuit of excellence."

"Jackie embodies the heart and soul of IEC. Her leadership blends discipline with compassion, and her loyalty to our mission has never wavered,” said Christa Jones, Senior Vice President of Operations. “For 30 years she has inspired teams, changed lives, and raised the bar for all of us. The Pacific Region is stronger, and our company is better, because of her unwavering commitment."

Her journey through UEI and then on to the highest ranks at IEC is a masterclass in dedication and determination. “Don’t let your ego get in the way,” she tells new employees. “Raise your hand, ask for help, and aim for the top.”

Jackie’s journey mirrors those of students that UEI serves, many of whom face language barriers, financial hardship, or limited options. Her story is a beacon for them, proof that barriers can be broken with determination and support. As Jackie marks her 30th year at IEC, her legacy is clear: a student who became a leader, a woman who turned obstacles into opportunities, and a “Mama Bear” whose love for her campuses and their people has created a ripple effect of change. For the students who walk through UEI’s doors, for the staff she mentors, and for the communities she serves, Jackie Azizyan is living proof that with hard work and heart, anything is possible.