Hrag Hamalian joins TGR Foundation as president, TGR Learning Labs and national programs
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 programming to students from under-resourced communities nationwide.
“I am excited for Hrag to bring his experience and leadership to TGR Foundation as our president of TGR Learning Labs and national programs,” Cyndi Court, TGR Foundation CEO, said. “He shares our vision to build a world where opportunity is universal and potential is limitless and will lead us through this exciting season of programmatic growth and expansion in Los Angeles and Philadelphia.”
Hrag brings nearly two decades of experience in K-12, higher education and social innovation to TGR Foundation’s executive team. Prior to joining TGR Foundation, Hrag served as the 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 transitional kindergarten to 12th grade education, plus six years of higher education and workforce support, for nearly 4,000 students across Los Angeles. Hrag previously founded Valor Academy Middle School, a high performing 5th through 8th grade charter 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 a profound respect and gratitude for education and the impact it has had on his life and career. After attending public schools in New Jersey as an English Language Learner, he graduated from Boston College where he was a double major 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 the alumnus of the decade through the prestigious Gold Award.
“I am proud to be named president, TGR Learning Labs and national programs and am excited to guide the organization towards actualizing 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 TGR Learning labs and our education programs nationally. I am excited to be a part of the TGR Foundation team.”
Hrag will be based in TGR Foundation’s national headquarters in Irvine, CA, while leading its team of educators and programs staff nationwide. 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 have responsibility for the Foundation’s national education programs, including the Earl Woods Scholar Program and educator professional development.
