NVIDIA VP joins board of American University of Armenia

PanARMENIAN.Net - Rev Lebaredian, Vice President of Omniverse and Simulation Technology at NVIDIA, has joined the Corporation Board of the American University of Armenia (AUA), the university announced.

Asked what inspired him to join the AUA Board of Trustees, Lebaredian said that an educated society is vital for Armenia’s survival and prosperity.

“Our country’s only natural resource is our talented and hardworking people. Higher education is the path to unlocking Armenia’s potential, and through collaboration with AUA, I hope to contribute to accelerating this transformation,” he said.

He also shared his vision for the university’s future:

“Armenia’s prosperity depends on having a world-class higher education system. Given our limited human and material resources, we can’t lead in every field. But with a smart strategy, we can select a few core areas and achieve global excellence. I’d like to see AUA focus on one discipline and become the best in the world in that field. Once we prove we can be world leaders in one domain, we can expand to others.”

Reflecting on what professional skills he plans to apply in his new role, he said:

“During my two decades at NVIDIA, I’ve worked with leading computer scientists, engineers, and researchers, and held leadership roles that required navigating the uncertainty of cutting-edge technologies and scientific innovation.

At NVIDIA, we pursue a bold vision of the future while guiding the company through today’s complex realities. I’ve learned how to dream big and stay competitive long enough to make those dreams real. I hope to bring NVIDIA’s strategic mindset and long-term vision to AUA,” he noted.

Lebaredian has more than 30 years of experience in computer graphics. He previously worked at Warner Bros. Digital and Disney Dream Quest Images, and founded Steamboat Software. His rendering and volumetric algorithms were used in major films like Stuart Little, Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas, and X-Men 2.

He joined NVIDIA in 2002, contributing to the development of programmable graphics processors and shader languages. Since then, he has led multiple teams tackling complex problems, including 3D application testing (GTL), real-time physics simulation (PhysX), in-game photography (Ansel), robotics simulation (Isaac Sim), and immersive design (Project Holodeck).

In recent years, his teams have integrated leading-edge solutions in rendering, physics, and AI within NVIDIA to create NVIDIA Omniverse, a unified platform for building and simulating physically accurate virtual worlds.

Lebaredian now heads product, engineering, and research for Omniverse, an open platform that lets developers build and deploy applications for simulating physical AI and robotics systems.

The AUA Board of Trustees plays a vital role in the university’s growth and strategy. Its members contribute expertise, oversee financial sustainability, guide policy development, and reinforce AUA’s position as a leader in higher education in Armenia.