Lorig Charkoudian graduated from Pomona in 1995 with a degree in economics. She continued her education at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, where she earned both an M.A. and a Ph.D. in economics.

At present, Ms. Charkoudian lives in Maryland where she serves as the Executive Director of the Community Mediation Program.

She started the program in 1995 in an attempt to empower members of the Waverly/Greenmount neighborhood of Baltimore. Since then, the organization has grown far beyond that one neighborhood and currently services the entire city of Baltimore. Ms. Charkoudian also chairs the Maryland Association for Community Mediation Centers, which develops and supports community mediation programs throughout the state.