Dr. Aram Attarian has long been a respected force in the world of outdoor education, blending leadership in the field with academic expertise for nearly five decades. His influence is still felt across the North Carolina Outward Bound School (NCOBS) and Outward Bound USA (OBUSA) communities today.  

Aram’s Outward Bound journey first began with a 10-day winter course in New Hampshire. That experience sparked a passion that led him to work for a wilderness program, followed by attending a wilderness EMT course with NCOBS. The following year, he joined NCOBS’s Residential Leadership Program and continued as an instructor and course director until 2000. Aram gathered countless memorable stories over his years of fieldwork with NCOBS, from organizing a service project to remove close to 200 tires from the Linville River to meeting his wife, Linda, as co-instructors of a course.  

Following his days in the field, Aram joined the NCOBS Board of Directors, where he served as chair of the Safety Committee for several years. He soon brought his leadership and expertise to the OBUSA Safety Committee, where he contributed to safety practices and risk management protocols for Outward Bound schools nationwide. In recognition of his impact, he received the John McGrory Safety Award in 2014, an honor given to those who enhance safety across Outward Bound schools.  

Beyond Outward Bound, Aram had a distinguished academic career as a professor at NC State University, where he was known for bridging hands-on field experience with academic rigor. He was a trusted mentor for many students, some of whom went on to join the Outward Bound community. In 2015, Aram was awarded the Order of the Long Leaf Pine, one of the highest honors granted by the Governor of North Carolina, for his lifetime of service to the state and his excellence in wilderness education.  

Now retired, Aram and Linda continue to embody the values of service and stewardship as they continue participating in trail work and volunteering in the Linville Gorge Wilderness Area. Aram remains a trusted advisor and valued member of the NCOBS community today. His legacy is one of deep impact and dedication to the mission of Outward Bound. He once shared, “Not a day goes by that I don’t think about the four pillars. There is a link between where I am today and my experiences with NCOBS.”