Founding CEO of TUMO Center for Creative Technologies

Marie Lou Papazian is the Founding CEO of TUMO Center for Creative Technologies, a pioneering network of free after-school programs where teenagers gain hands-on experience at the intersection of technology and design. Under her leadership, TUMO has scaled from its origins in Armenia to a worldwide movement, now recognized as one of the most innovative education models of the 21st century.

With a background in engineering and a Master’s in Computing in Education from Columbia University, Marie Lou has spent her career at the crossroads of technology, education, and urban development. She previously directed large-scale development projects in New York City and led the Education for Development Foundation in Armenia, advancing access and opportunity for youth.

A graduate of Harvard Business School’s General Management Program, Marie Lou is internationally recognized for her contributions to education. She is a recipient of France’s Ordre des Palmes Académiques and, in 2018, was awarded Armenia’s Movses Khorenatsi Medal, the nation’s highest cultural honor, granted for outstanding achievements in education, culture, and the arts. She is passionate about reimagining education for the next generation and believes in the transformative power of creativity and access.