TEDxAUA

Speakers

Speakers may not be confirmed. Check the event website for the latest lineup.

• Aram Serobyan

  Game Designer & Developer

  Aram Serobyan is a game designer and developer focused on educational and commercial games. He holds both a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Computer and Information Science from the American University of Armenia. Throughout his career, he has worked on different small-scale games with different studios and co-founded an educational gaming startup. He currently leads a small team working on Chesstris, a puzzle game that combines chess and tetris. Aram has taught game development at TUMO and, since Spring 2023, has been teaching as an Adjunct Lecturer in the CSE program at AUA, where he shares practical game design and development knowledge with students. He is also involved in organizing game development events such as Game Expo.

• Astghik Atanyan

  Medical Doctor

  Dr. Astghik Atanyan is a medical doctor, public health professional, and a nutritionist. She serves as a Research Associate at the Avedisian Onanian Center for Health Services Research and Development (CHSR) within the Gerald and Patricia Turpanjian College of Health Sciences at the AUA, where she contributes to a range of public health research and development initiatives. In addition, Dr. Atanyan is a Research Assistant Professor at AUA, where she teaches the PH101: Basics of Healthy Lifestyle course. Alongside her academic responsibilities, she provides guidance to individuals seeking to improve their nutrition and foster sustainable healthy behaviors. Dr. Atanyan is deeply committed to her profession and is dedicated to promoting healthier lifestyles within the community and beyond.

• Kyle Khandikian

  Director of Alumni Relations of the American University of Armenia

  Kyle Khandikian is the Director of Alumni Relations at the American University of Armenia and the Founding Director of The Rug Code, an online shop for handmade rugs from rural Armenia. Born and raised in Los Angeles, he studied Communication Studies and Asian Humanities at the University of California, Los Angeles before traveling to Armenia in 2015 in search of connection with his heritage. Since then, he has worked on a range of socio-economic development initiatives—from supporting small businesses in border villages to contributing to demining efforts in Artsakh, as well as promoting Armenia through experiential tourism. In 2024, he founded The Rug Code to reimagine traditional Armenian rug making through contemporary design and ethical handmade production. Collaborating with rural weavers and international artists, Kyle aims to bring new life to a craft on the verge of disappearing. For him, rugs are not just objects, but living records of identity, memory, and storytelling.

• Meline Afrikyan

  Computer Scientist & iOS Developer

  Meline Afrikyan is a senior Computer Science student at the American University of Armenia and an iOS developer with a passion for mathematics, history, and education. Alongside her work in technology, she teaches mathematics, where she enjoys helping students discover the patterns and ideas behind the subject. She is particularly interested in how analytical thinking, historical perspective, and curiosity shape the way we understand complex problems.

• Michael Kouchakdjian

  Professor of Business and Management, Investor, and Entrepreneur

  Dr. Michael Kouchakdjian is Professor in the College of Business and Economics at the American University of Armenia, where he teaches courses in business, management, and entrepreneurship. He has a background in the biotechnology industry and is the founder and former president of Blue Stream Laboratories in Cambridge, Massachusetts which was acquired by a large multinational in 2016. At AUA, he has held several senior leadership roles, including Director of Administration, Director of the Center for Business Research and Development, and Project Executive for the establishment of the AUA Business Center. He also helped establish AUA’s Entrepreneurship and Product Innovation Center (EPIC), where he previously served as Director for 8 years. More recently, he is co-founder and chairman of eqwefy, an investment platform for Armenian startups.

• Sevagir Band

  Musical Band

  Sevagir is an Armenian rock band founded in Yerevan in 2022. With roots in alternative rock filled with progressive elements, and at times leaning towards metal, the band still appeals to fans of indie, alternative, and even rap music. Their music takes listeners through a wide emotional range, from sadness and agony to love and revenge. These experiences are brought to life through Em Kalmukhyan's expressive vocals, lyrics, and guitar work, supported by the musical backbone of the band, Sahak Ghazaryan and Koryun Bobikyan, forming the rhythm section, and Vahe Karapetyan enriching the instrumentals with the solo guitar. In just four years, the band has built a substantial fan base, performed over 50 concerts, become a recurring participant in the Erebuni-Yerevan celebrations, released an album and several singles, and gained wide exposure through participation in Depi Evratesil 2025 and the annual Khazer Music Awards. They are currently recording their second album - Dzeragir.