She was born on April 12, 1954 in the village of Sarukhan of Kamo region (now Gavar).

In 1975 she graduated from the Department of Applied Mathematics of Yerevan State University, in 1989 - the Academy of Public Sciences affiliated with Moscow USSR Central Committee, in 1994 - the Law Department.  She is a specialist on mathematics, law and politology, Doctor of Law.

In 1975-1983 she worked as a lecturer-assistant at Yerevan State University (YSU). In 1978-1983 she was elected as a deputy secretary, then secretary of YSU LCYU. In 1983-1985 she was the secretary of the LCYU Central Committee. In 1985-1990 she led the Armenian Youth Organisation. She was member of Bureau of the All-Union LCYU Central Committee Bureau /Moscow/.

In 1986-1990 she was a deputy in the Armenian SSR Supreme Council and was a member of the Presidium of the Supreme Council.

In 1990-1995 she was elected as a deputy of the Supreme Council (electoral district # 203). She worked as a Deputy Chairperson of NA Standing Committee on Health Care and Social Affairs.

In 1995-1996 she was elected as a deputy of the National Assembly (electoral district # 121). She was Chairperson of the NA  Standing Committee on Social Affairs, Health Care and Environment. She was a member of Hanrapetutiun/Republic faction.

In 1995-1997 she was Deputy Chairperson of the Commonwealth Independent States Inter-Parliamentary Union (CIS IPU), from 1996 - member of the Inter-Parliamentary Union.

In 1996-1998 she was appointed Minister of Social Security of the Republic of Armenia.

In 1999-2003 she was elected as a deputy of the National Assembly by majoritarian electoral system (electoral district # 41). She was a member of NA Standing Committee on Foreign Relations. She was also the secretary of the People’s Deputy Parliamentary Group.

In 2003-2007 she was a deputy of the National Assembly (electoral district # 32). She was the Chairperson of NA Standing Committee on Science, Education, Culture and Youth, member of RPA Faction.  In 2003 she was the head of the delegation of the National Assembly to the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), a member of the Coordinating Committee of Women Parliamentarians in the IPU.

On May 12, 2007 she was elected as a deputy of the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia by proportional electoral system from the Republican Party of Armenia.

On June 7, 2007 she was elected as Chairperson of the NA Standing Committee on Science, Education, Culture, Youth and Sport.

On June 27, 2008 by the decree of the RA President she was appointed Chairperson of the State Committee with the Diaspora of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia.

She is a member of the boards of Yerevan State University, Yerevan V. Brusov Lingistic University and Gavar State University.

In 1998 she defended her candidate, and in 2006 her doctoral theses. She is a professor of Gavar State University.

She teaches at Gavar State University and at the Academy of State Management of the Republic of Armenia. She is an author of 4 books and more than 40 scientific articles.

She is the President of the Armenian Women’s International Association, Co-Chairperson of the Women’s Health Preservation Association. She is a trustee of the foundations Yerevan, Cambridge-Yerevan, Armenian Orphanages. She is a Co-Chairperson of the Trustees’ Board of the Armenian-American Health Center.

She has been awarded an order of People’s Friendship, numerous diplomas, acknowledgement letters and medals.