Natasha Akopian was born in Tbilisi, Georgia (one of the Soviet Republics) and grew up in Nizhny Novgorod, Russia (former Gorky).  She received her first Master's degree in History from Nizhny Novgorod State University, defending a thesis on Plato's ethics.

After coming to the United States in the spring of 1992, she worked as an interpreter in New York City.  She moved to Gainesville soon thereafter, where she worked with various non-profit organizations, including the National Association for Graduate and Professional Students (NAGPS), Intelligentsia International, Inc., and Alpha Epsilon Lambda, the academic honor society of graduate and professional students. 

In May 1998, Natasha received her second Master's degree, this one in Mass Communications, from the University of Florida, College of Journalism and Communications.   Her research focused on the changes in the content of Russian print media during the last 15 years. 

Currently Natasha is a Research Associate at the Media Research Institute, Inc. in Gainesville, Florida.