With the retirement of Steven Gray, after 30 years of service to Pasadena Christian School, the Board of Trustees is pleased to announce Hovel Babikian as the new chief executive officer and head of school, effective May 15. The Board of Trustees partnered with Context Staffing to search nationwide for the school’s next leader. More than 130 applications were received, and as the selection was finalized, it was the committee’s pleasure to find the right person within the community of the school. Babikian has been involved with Pasadena Christian School as a parent and former board member, and had served an integral role in the school’s capital improvement projects over the years. He brings more than 30 years of experience in education as well as success in the business sector. As the senior most tenured professor in the Department of Civil Engineering at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, Babikian has experience in overseeing curriculum, recruitment, accreditation and community engagement.
As an educator, Babikian has been recognized as an outstanding faculty adviser and career mentor. In addition to his published works, he has led several nationally recognized academic competition teams to first-place accolades. A graduate of Caltech, Babikian is working on his doctorate in strategic planning and leadership. Concurrent with his professorship, Babikian established a successful design- build engineering practice. His competencies as a civil engineer, general building contractor, and real estate broker have allowed him to service high-profile projects as well as work closely with the city of Pasadena. Babikian will be responsible for the school’s spiritual, operational and academic excellence. He is committed to the tradition of PCS as a faith-based school that believes in the transformational power of Jesus Christ in the lives of its students.
First published in the May 18 print issue of the Pasadena Outlook.
