Hrag Hamalian joins the TGR Foundation as president, TGR Learning Labs and national programs

The TGR Foundation has announced the appointment of Hrag M. Hamalian as its new president, TGR Learning Labs and national programs. Hrag is a dynamic leader in education who will oversee TGR Foundation’s education programs and the team responsible for delivering programs to students from under-resourced communities across the country.

“I am excited for Hrag to bring his experience and leadership to the TGR Foundation as our president TGR Learning Lab and national program,” said Cyndi Court, CEO of the TGR Foundation. “He shares our vision of building a world where opportunity is universal and potential is limitless and will carry us through this exciting season of program growth and expansion in Los Angeles and Philadelphia.”

Hrag brings nearly two decades of experience in K-12, higher education and social innovation to the TGR Foundation executive team. Prior to joining the TGR Foundation, Hrag served as CEO of Bright Star Schools. In this role, he strategically grew Bright Star Schools from four to nine schools and created a community-based school model that provides a kindergarten to 12th grade educational transition, plus six years of higher education and workforce support, for nearly 4,000 students throughout Los Angeles. Hrag previously founded Valor Academy Middle School, a high-performing 5th to 8th grade public school in Los Angeles. In 2013, Hrag helped lead the strategic merger of Valor and Bright Star, the first merger between two successful charter organizations in Los Angeles. Additionally, Hamalian has founded, co-founded, and advised on technology solutions and start-ups that create greater access to education.

Hrag immigrated with his family from the Middle East at a young age and has great respect and gratitude for his education and the impact it had on his life and career. After attending public schools in New Jersey as an English Language Learner, she graduated from Boston College where she double majored in biology and honors English. He later earned a master’s degree in secondary education from Loyola Marymount University and a master’s in business administration from the University of California, Los Angeles. In 2011, Hrag was honored by Boston College as its alumnus of the decade through its prestigious Gold Award.

“I am proud to be named president, TGR Learning Labs and the national program and I am excited to guide this organization in realizing its mission of empowering students to pursue their passions through education,” said Hamalian. “This is an important time for us to expand our reach and serve more students in under-resourced communities through the expansion of our TGR Learning labs and educational programs nationwide. I am thrilled to be part of the TGR Foundation team.”

Hrag will be based at TGR Foundation’s national headquarters in Irvine, CA, while leading a team of educators and program staff across the country. In his role, Hrag will oversee the flagship TGR Learning Lab in Anaheim, CA and future TGR Learning Labs at Lulu’s Place in Los Angeles and at Cobbs Creek in Philadelphia. He will also be responsible for the Foundation’s national education programs, including the Earl Woods Scholars Program and educator professional development.