YEREVAN, Armenia — The American University of Armenia (AUA) is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Vahe Odabashian as an associate professor in the Manoogian Simone College of Business and Economics (MSCBE). Dr. Odabashian joins the MSCBE faculty after more than a decade as an adjunct assistant professor at AUA.
Dr. Odabashian holds an MBA in Business, Government, and Not-for-profit Management with honors from Willamette University in Salem, Oregon, and a Ph.D. in Economics and Management of Industries from Yerevan State University. He has also held executive positions in American-owned hi-tech companies in Armenia. He has co-authored six textbooks currently used as teaching material for bachelor’s and master’s students at several Armenian universities, as well as scholarly articles published in peer-reviewed journals and numerous other publications. In 2020, Dr. Odabashian received AUA’s Faculty Teaching Excellence Award.
For Dr. Odabashian, the transition to associate professor brings greater responsibility and renewed motivation to find creative and effective ways to support student learning and success.
His research interests include operations management, international business, managing innovation and innovative technologies, and business education. “My research often helps me in my efforts to create a dynamic learning environment that bridges theoretical knowledge with real-world complexity, directly addressing the challenges of a globalized world,” he said. “I always try to leverage my research to enrich classroom discussions, demonstrate the practical implications of management theories, and mentor students toward becoming the innovative and responsible leaders that AUA aims to produce.”
His recent publications include a co-authored article in The International Journal of Management Education, a highly-regarded journal with an impact factor of 7.4. Titled “Mapping core business curricula: A descriptive audit of 100 U.S. MBA programs,” the study presents a descriptive audit of 100 U.S. MBA programs accredited by AACSB, analyzing how core courses are distributed across five major business domains.
The research is planned to continue with a follow-up study involving interviews with selected companies to examine what skills employers expect from MBA graduates, how they evaluate graduates’ readiness for modern organizations, and where they see possible gaps between business education and workplace realities. The study aims to provide a more grounded and practical perspective on the relevance of MBA education.
Dr. Odabashian’s teaching philosophy centers on helping students develop the skills and knowledge they need to succeed in their future careers, whether in business, academia, government, or the nonprofit sector. He emphasizes analytical and out-of-the-box thinking, clear communication, flexibility in decision-making, and the ability to overcome the fear of failure. “For me, it is about what will benefit my students and lay a solid foundation for whatever career they choose,” he explains.
He puts this philosophy into practice through “learning by doing,” bringing real-world examples into the classroom and drawing on his own experience in executive roles at American-owned technology companies. His assignments often involve interacting with organizations, working on group projects that simulate real-world situations, and navigating the kinds of distractions, difficulties, and uncertainties students may encounter in the workplace. His goal is to help students develop not only subject knowledge but also the ability to work effectively with different personalities and as part of a team.
Dr. Odabashian’s commitment to preparing students for the realities beyond the classroom was especially tested during a period of profound uncertainty. The COVID-19 pandemic was one of the most significant challenges of his academic career, creating digital isolation that was later compounded by the outbreak of the 44-day war in Nagorno-Karabakh. In response, he adapted his virtual classroom to provide greater stability and open dialogue while maintaining academic depth and incorporating real-world problem-solving and resilience into coursework. “I learned that an educator’s greatest strength during a crisis is not having all the answers, but creating a grounded space where students feel seen, supported, and capable of looking forward,” he said.
The experience also strengthened his belief in the role of higher education in building institutional and community resilience. For Dr. Odabashian, this includes helping students look beyond the “AUA bubble” and preparing them to engage with the challenges and realities of life beyond the University.
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 (WSCUC) 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.
