Arman Barsamian

Arman is a first-generation Armenian-American for his family, which emigrated from Turkey to the U.S. in the 1970s. He was born and raised in New York City’s bedroom communities in Northern New Jersey. He likes to learn about the history that passed through these towns. He had a high school football scrimmage atop the entrance to the Lincoln Tunnel: a place where about a couple centuries before Burr-Hamilton had their duel. The area had at least three national flags hoisted on them much like the Albuquerque area. Both areas had multiple Indigenous and sovereign nations call them home, too. After high school, Arman came to Albuquerque to start my college at UNM. He was originally going to be a history major, but meandered through college and found himself back in New Jersey after a few years. Arman worked at a private accounting firms when he returned to New Mexico, but it only took him about a couple years to find his connection back to UNM at an Office of the Vice President for Research (OVPR) Research Center. Arman tried some different private account ideas after that, but really enjoy community and service, as there is a unique shared energy on campus that’s hard to find elsewhere. After a break in service – and experiment with on his own private sector accounting -- Arman is excited to return to service to the Maxwell Museum of Anthropology at UNM. His work with the Research Office had him working with administrative contacts in other area museum’s while they constructed some new and interactive exhibits. He hopes over time that the Maxwell gets to showcase something like that as it enjoys its 90th anniversary and looks forward to its 100 years of service to the community. Arman is a social scientist at heart with undergraduate degrees in general social science (Thomas Edison State College) and economics (University of New Mexico). While he hasn't yet figured out which degree to pursue next, he will figure that out in the near future. In his spare time, he enjoys seeing more of New Mexico and is planning a trip to Bottomless Lakes State Park soon. He also likes to watch movies both old and new and looks forward to serving the Maxwell and the community.