YEREVAN, Armenia — The American University of Armenia (AUA) is pleased to announce the promotion of David Davidian to full-time lecturer within the Zaven P. and Sonia Akian College of Science and Engineering, where he has been a valued faculty member since 2015.
Davidian earned his bachelor’s degree in nuclear engineering from the University of Massachusetts, beginning his professional journey as a reactor engineer at the Connecticut Yankee Atomic Power Plant. He later returned to his alma mater to pursue graduate studies in systems engineering and control systems.
His career in the technology sector includes a 11-years tenure at NEC Electronics, where he transitioned through diverse roles as a diagnostics programmer, hardware and software designer, technical marketing specialist, and engineering manager. In 1992, he collaborated with the Armenian minister of communications to propose a national information infrastructure program — a vision he later introduced in Artsakh.
Davidian’s extensive industry background also includes 11 years at Sun Microsystems, where he served as a field applications engineer and principal engineer in technical intelligence analysis. Between 2006 and 2011, he joined IBM Federal as a technical intelligence analyst and systems architect for the U.S. Air Force, followed by a tenure as a systems architect at Oracle Corporation. In 2014, he relocated to Armenia with his family to dedicate his expertise to local education and development.
Davidian holds several U.S. patents for advancements in feed-forward neural networks, integer division algorithms, and phase-locked loop input memory systems.
Drawing on decades of experience at the forefront of the global Information Technology (IT) revolution, Davidian shares his perspective on the evolution of engineering education, his approach to teaching, and his thoughts on the modern digital landscape.
How do you view your promotion to full-time lecturer, and what does it mean for your work at AUA?
This promotion more accurately reflects the work I perform and the value I bring to the University. It is AUA’s recognition of contributions in light of my workload, responsibilities, and long-standing service.
How does your industry background shape the way you teach engineering today?
It does this in two big ways. First, I have been in the high-technology industry since the start of what we now know today as IT. This has allowed me to have seen and participated in many real transformative technologies, as well as failures. Second, having spent decades presenting cutting-edge technologies to skeptical audiences taught me how to modulate and temper the classroom dynamic and student interaction.
How do you help students connect theoretical knowledge with real-world engineering problems?
The classic question I get every semester in Computer Organization is, “Why do we need to learn so much calculus?” I convey to my students that most of the time, I was cornered by opportunist audience members, usually asking obscure questions that have their basis in differential equations. Without such understanding, I would have been a failure. I also have classroom exercises that demonstrate the use of what students refer to as advanced mathematics in everyday technologies. The strength of a student’s theoretical knowledge directly determines their ability to secure the most challenging positions in their career.
How do you see the role of higher education in Armenia’s technological and scientific development?
Higher education builds and enhances human capital by training scientists, engineers, doctors, and eventually tech leaders. It also links universities with industry, startups, and government. The latter is of high priority for the future of AUA. For Armenia, it enhances evidence-based policy expertise and technical governance. And most importantly, it reduces dependency on foreign technology by fostering domestic innovation capacity.
If you could describe your teaching philosophy in one sentence, what would it be?
Teaching, especially in the modern era, is not the transfer of information, but rather the critical extraction of truth through questioning that will serve students throughout their lives.
What is your primary concern regarding the modern digital transformation of the learning environment?
I have trepidation about the blind use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools in the educational process. The classic dynamic of education has not had time to adjust to what appears to be an easy way out for students who use AI tools. By bypassing the rigor of research and synthesis, students risk reaching conclusions without ever building the mental scaffolding required to understand how they got there. When the “output” becomes the goal, the intellectual endurance necessary for true mastery is never developed.
Founded in 1991, the American University of Armenia (AUA) is a private, independent university located in Yerevan, Armenia, affiliated with the University of California, and accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission in the United States. AUA provides local and international students with Western-style education through top-quality undergraduate and graduate degree and certificate programs, promotes research and innovation, encourages civic engagement and community service, and fosters democratic values.