Armenian-American educator Hrag Hamalian has been named the new Chief Executive Officer of TGR Foundation, the national education nonprofit founded by golf legend Tiger Woods, reports Zartonk Media.
Hamalian, a nationally recognized education leader and social impact entrepreneur, will lead the next phase of the organization’s expansion while strengthening its impact for students from under-resourced communities across the United States.
He previously served as President of TGR Learning Labs and National Programs since October 2023, overseeing all education programming across the foundation. In that role, Hamalian helped scale the organization’s flagship TGR Learning Lab model, originally established more than 20 years ago in Anaheim, California, to its second full-service site in West Philadelphia. He also played a key role in developing a more sustainable and replicable operating model designed for multi-site growth.
Building on that momentum, TGR Foundation is preparing to open three new Learning Labs in Los Angeles, Atlanta, and Augusta, Georgia, significantly expanding its national footprint. The Los Angeles expansion carries special significance for Hamalian, who spent more than two decades working as an educator and school leader in the region.
“Hrag brings experience, deep institutional knowledge and a clear vision for the significant expansion we are experiencing now and for the long-term future,” said TGR Foundation Board Chair Mike McKee. “We are excited to have Hrag leading the Foundation forward into our next chapter.”
Hamalian has more than 20 years of experience across K–12 education, higher education, and workforce development. Throughout his career, he has focused on building and scaling mission-driven organizations that connect education, technology, and economic mobility.
At just 23 years old, he founded Valor Academy Middle School, a high-performing public charter school in Los Angeles. He later helped lead the strategic merger of Valor and Bright Star Schools, the first merger between two successful charter organizations in Los Angeles. Hamalian went on to serve as Chief Executive Officer of Bright Star Schools, expanding the network from four to nine schools serving more than 3,500 students, with a vertically aligned model supporting students from transitional kindergarten through high school and into postsecondary success.
Throughout his work, Hamalian has emphasized connecting classroom learning with real-world opportunity. His efforts have included designing career-connected learning frameworks, launching workforce-aligned partnerships, and integrating innovative technology-driven education models aimed at expanding access and improving outcomes for underserved communities.
“It is an honor to step into this role at such an important moment for TGR Foundation,” Hamalian said. “For nearly 30 years, we have worked to empower students through education in service of Tiger’s vision of positively impacting the lives of young people from under-resourced communities. As we expand into new regions, our responsibility is to ensure every TGR Learning Lab reflects both local community needs and a scalable national model.”
Hamalian succeeds Cyndi Court, who retired on February 28 after leading the organization through a period of significant growth. During her tenure, TGR Foundation strengthened its student outcomes measurement systems, implemented new technologies to track engagement, and opened the Smilow Woodland TGR Learning Lab in West Philadelphia.
Founded in 1996 by Tiger Woods, TGR Foundation aims to empower students to pursue their passions through education. Through its TGR Learning Labs and national education programs, the organization has served more than 217,000 students from under-resourced communities across the United States.
