Dr. Ara Barsam is the Global Executive Director of the Armenia Tree Project (ATP), where he leads efforts to regreen Armenia, advance environmental sustainability, and empower communities through tree planting, education, and climate action.
Ara brings over 20 years of experience leading complex, multi-stakeholder initiatives. Before ATP, he was Global Executive Director of COAF (Children of Armenia Fund),. His international experience also includes serving as Chief of Party at Kenan Foundation Asia on the Thailand Partnership Initiative, a five-year, $30 million private-public partnership. As Assistant Dean and Associate Research Professor at Arizona State University, he co-founded the Center for Advanced Studies in Global Education with partnerships and projects exceeding $100 million across 30 countries.
Ara’s work in Armenia spans decades, including roles with the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and the U.S. Embassy, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Tavitian Foundation.
A native of Belmont, Massachusetts, Ara holds a BA summa cum laude from Tufts University and an MA and PhD in Philosophy from Oxford University. He has published widely, including a definitive work on Albert Schweitzer’s ethical thought. He currently lives in Yerevan with his family and their German Shepherd