DR. CHADWICK PRODROMOS
Dr. Chadwick Prodromos MD, renowned world class knee & shoulder surgeon, is board certified in both Orthopaedic Surgery and Regenerative Medicine. Dr. Prodromos received his BA degree from Princeton University, his MD from Johns Hopkins, served his surgical internship at the University of Chicago, his Orthopaedic Surgery residency at Rush Presbyterian St. Luke’s Medical Center and his Orthopaedic and Sports medicine fellowship at the Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital.
He served as Assistant Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery for nearly three decades at Rush University before scaling back to focus on regenerative medicine.
Dr. Prodromos is Editor-in-Chief of both editions of The Anterior Cruciate Ligament: Reconstruction and Basic Science, a standard textbook on the ACL for Orthopaedic Surgeons worldwide. He has authored a host of research papers and serves as a principal reviewer of three primary Orthopaedic Sports medicine Journals.
Dr. Prodromos is President of the Illinois Sports medicine and Orthopaedic Centers and Medical Director of the FOREM (Foundation for Orthopaedics and Regenerative Medicine). FOREM conducts regenerative medicine clinical research as well as informing the public of the benefits of stem cell clinical treatment.
Dr. Prodromos maintains his primary office in the Chicago area with a satellite office in Naples Florida. He is excited to provide cutting edge stem cell and platelet rich plasma treatments at The Nassau Stem Cell Institute, of which he is co-founder with Dr. Graham Cates.
Please join us for a special edition of NHS Talks Stories brought to you in collaboration with the National Hellenic Museum. Dr. Chadwick Prodromos, renowned Orthopaedic Surgeon discusses the benefits of regenerative medicine, stem cells and the bright future and outlook for regenerative medicine advances.
Join us as Dr. Anastassios Sakellaropoulos, Head of the Benaki Museum Historical Archives, and Dr. Maria Dimitriadou, Curator of the Benaki Museum Historical Archives, shed light on artifacts and documents from the period between 1770 and 1880, the first 100 years of modern Hellenism. Dr. George Manginis, Academic Director of the Benaki Museum, kicks off the engaging conversation.
On the occasion of the bicentennial of the Hellenic War of Independence, the Benaki Museum, in cooperation with the Bank of Greece, the National Bank of Greece and ALPHA BANK, presents the exhibition "1821 Before and After". Drs. Anastassios Sakellaropoulos and Maria Dimitriadou, exhibition curators, sheds light on artefacts and documents from the period between 1770 and 1880, the first 100 years of modern Hellenism. The narration follows three axes: the intellectual and economic course of the War of Independence, its development and its milestones, and the first 50 years in the life of the modern Greek State. The NHS Talks Stories will also make a particular reference to Antonis Benakis, a Diaspora Greek and a collector of unique items connected with these 100 years.
DR. DAVID G. HORNER
Dr. David G. Horner, assumed the presidency of The American College of Greece on July 1, 2008. Under his leadership ACG has grown quantitatively and qualitatively, and the College’s social impact has been enhanced significantly.
Previously, Dr. Horner served as president of North Park University (Chicago) from 1987-2004 and Barrington College, his undergraduate alma mater, from 1979-1985. At the time of his Barrington appointment, he was the youngest (age 29) college or university president in the U.S. and led the College into its successful merger with Gordon College (MA). During his North Park presidency, enrollment tripled, major capital projects were completed, and the endowment grew six-fold.
President Horner received a bachelor’s degree (philosophy), summa cum laude, from Barrington College, a MA (philosophy) from the University of Rhode Island, and a MBA and a PhD in higher education administration and policy analysis from Stanford University. Together with his late spouse, S. Sue Horner, he has two grown children and four grandchildren.
DR. ALEXIS PHYLACTOPOULOS
Dr. Alexis Phylactopoulos is President of College Year in Athens since 1986 and of DIKEMES, an educational associate of CYA. His first degree is from the University of Athens and his post-graduate degrees from Princeton University and the University of Cambridge. His specialization is the Law of the Sea. He has served as Director of Press and Information of the Greek Embassies in Washington D.C. and Mexico City. He is Vice-Chairman of the Board of Directors of Athens College, the Greek Archaeological Society, and EUASA (the European Association of Study Abroad). He is also President of the Princeton Club of Greece, and has served as Board member of companies and educational institutions.
DR. PANOS VLACHOS
Dr. Panos Vlachos was appointed to the role of 11th President of Anatolia College in May 2013. In this capacity, he serves as the lead administrator of Anatolia’s four educational divisions: Anatolia Elementary School, Anatolia High School, the Pinewood-American International School and the American College of Thessaloniki (ACT). He is currently also serving as the Vice President of the Association of American International Colleges and Universities.
Prior to his appointment as President of Anatolia, he served in a variety of administrative leadership positions at ACT over the past 15 years: Vlachos has worked as a Professor for over 20 years teaching at the graduate and undergraduate level. His teaching and research interests are in the areas of Applied Mathematics & Statistics and the application of information and communication technologies in teaching and learning approaches. His academic research has been published in various academic journals. He holds a B.S. in Mathematics from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, an MSc in Mathematics and a Ph.D. in Applied Mathematical Sciences from the University of Rhode Island in the USA.
Join the National Hellenic Society as Dr. David Horner, Dr. Alexis Phylactopoulos, and Dr. Panos Vlachos discuss what the future of Education and Study Abroad will look like and the opportunities they will bring.
DR. ALEXANDRA TOUROUTOGLOU
Dr. Alexandra Touroutoglou is an Assistant Professor of Neurology at Harvard Medical School. She leads clinical trials to treat patients with Alzheimer’s disease at Massachusetts General Hospital, a teaching hospital of Harvard Medical School. She is the Director of Imaging Operations at the Mass General Center of Translational Brain Mapping and the Director of Imaging Operations at the Frontotemporal Dementia Unit at Mass General. She received her PhD from Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece in 2010 followed by a post-doctoral fellowship at Harvard Medical School.
She has been awarded NIH grants for her clinical research and is the author of highly cited articles in brain imaging.
Her team has discovered older adults who maintain youthful brains, called “Super Agers” and her findings have garnered substantial scientific interest and media attention featured by the BBC, Huffington Post, and The New York Times. She has won several awards for her work, including a Teaching Award from Institute of International Education/Fulbright Foundation in 2016 and 2019 and “Woman of the Year” in Greece in 2017.
She also devotes her time in supporting the scientific community in the Greek diaspora and serves as the President of the Hellenic Bioscientific Association of the USA.
National Hellenic Society Chairman Drake Behrakis welcomes Dr. Alexandra Touroutoglou for an engaging conversation entitled "Youthful brains in super agers: What's their Secret?" Dr. Touroutoglou, an Assistant Professor of Neurology at Harvard Medical School, explains what "super agers" are and how this specific research can help us better understand Alzheimer's disease.
CURTIS RUNNELS
Curtis Runnels is Professor of Archaeology, Anthropology, and Classical Studies at Boston University. He has been a pioneer in the promotion of long-term studies of landscapes through the integration of geological and archaeological approaches, and his fieldwork and publications on the very earliest periods of Greek history (Paleolithic through Neolithic) were recognized in 2019 when he was given the Archaeological Institute of America’s highest award—its Gold Medal for Distinguished Archaeological Achievement.
Professor Runnels' work on Greek prehistory has led to publications on 19th-century pioneers in that field, notably George Finlay and Heinrich Schliemann. He is a prolific collector of early books, diaries, maps, and drawings, which he donated to the Gennadius Library and the Archives of the American School of Classic Studies at Athens.
Professor Runnels is an alumnus of ASCSA, long-standing member of its Management Committee and Overseer of the Gennadius Library in 2019.Join us for a special edition of NHS Talks Stories brought to you by the National Hellenic Society, American School of Classical Studies at Athens (ASCSA) in collaboration with the National Hellenic Museum, as Philhellene and Professor of Archaeology, Curtis Runnels, describes his passion as collector of early books, archives and artifacts which he has contributed to ASCSA. George Orfanakos, ASCSA Executive Director and Arthur Dimopoulos, NHS Executive Director will welcome Professor Runnels for an engaging conversation.
JARED JACAVONE
An avid student of the classics, Jared Jacavone has a Master of Arts in History and a Master of Library and Information Studies from the University of Rhode Island. It was during his graduate studies that he developed and published his thesis, The Paid Vote: America's Neutrality During the Greek War for Independence. He currently resides in North Carolina with his wife and their legion of cats, and serves as the Branch Manager and County Librarian fro the Tyrrell County Public Library.
CONSTANTINE (COSTAS) SIDERIDIS
Constantine (Costa) Sideridis is President and CEO of Ferro-Ceramic Grinding Inc., a private Massachusetts firm specializing in the manufacture of advanced ceramic materials supplying the semiconductor, medical, aerospace, defense, electronic, and microwave industries in the US and throughout the world.
Mr. Sideridis has served as a trustee and advisor for a variety of organizations, including president of the Alpha Omega Council from 2020-present, partner at Bridgemedica from 2008 to 2018, founding member of the New England CEO network from 2011 to present, trustee at the Brain Science Foundation from 2011 to present, and Boston regional co-chair for the National Hellenic Society 2014 to present.
Mr. Sideridis is also actively involved within the Greek Orthodox Church as he was bestowed an Archon (2015) by the Ecumenical Patriarchate’s Order of Saint Andrew, a fulfilled member of Leadership 100, a member of the Archdiocesan council of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of New York, a council member of the Metropolis of Boston in Brookline, chairman of the Metropolis camp golf tournament, and parish council board member of the St. George parish in Lynn, MA.
Mr. Sideridis holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Ceramic Engineering (1992) and Bachelor of Arts in Economics (1992) degrees from Rutgers University. He resides in Salem, MA with his wife Allyson and their 2 boys.
Jared Jacavone's Master's Thesis is titled "The Paid Vote: America's Neutrality During The Greek War Of Independence". Jared's fascinating research focused on the level of involvement Americans had in the Greek War of Independence from 1821-1829 despite remaining neutral during the conflict. Primarily focusing on the contributions of individuals and organizations, the thesis will discuss the political actions that occurred to support the Greeks, and how different American citizens contributed to the conflict. In addition, the text will explore why the United States did not formally give support to the war despite the philhellenism of prominent political figures, such as Thomas Jefferson and Daniel Webster. Groups and individuals in the Boston area had competing interests that both helped and hindered aid to the Greek cause. Trade interests with China and Turkey motivated Bostonian elites to press Congress to stay out of the conflict. These same forces, however, along with political likening to the cause, fueled individual efforts that provided private American aid to the Greek Independence Movement. Join Art Dimopoulos, Drake Behrakis, and Costas Sideridis as they delve deep in Jared's findings.
GREGORY MAGUIRE
Gregory Maguire, son of a Greek immigrant mother and an Irish-American father, is a writer of novels for adults and children. His best-known work, WICKED, a novel for adults that inspired the blockbuster Broadway show of the same name. That musical is the fifth longest-running play in Broadway history. In addition to thirty-five other books for children and adults, Maguire has spent his career as an advocate for children’s literature and literacy and for Greek studies. Besides writing and performing original work for National Public Radio’s “All Things Considered,” he has been featured on Oprah and been a profiled in the New York Times Sunday Magazine. His books frequently make the New York Times bestseller lists. Perhaps, however, he is just as proud of his work in advocating for Greek cultural awareness. He is the chair of the Honorary Board of the Examined Life: Greek Studies in the Schools. He has established a Gregory Maguire Writing Center at the American Farm School / Perrotis College in Thessaloniki, supported scholarships for the International Board of Books for Young People’s convention in Athens, been the recipient of the Penelope Delta Award, and was Greece’s nominee for the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award.
Join NHSTalks Stories as we talk to Gregory Maguire, son of a Greek immigrant mother and an Irish-American father, a writer of novels for adults and children. His best-known work, WICKED, a novel for adults that inspired the blockbuster Broadway show of the same name.
JOHN M. GRILLOS
John M. Grillos is a director, mentor and CEO with decades of experience helping companies and management teams reach their full potential. His experience encompasses a wide variety of product and service companies. He has been a highly influential director of 25 for-profit and non-profit organizations. As the CEO he has successfully turned around six companies ranging in size from $3M in sales to over $250M in sales. He is an angel investor, leveraging his considerable experience as a professional venture capital investor.
JUDGE ALETA A. (GRILLOS) TRAUGER
Judge Aleta A. Trauger was recently selected as the 2020 recipient of the Sixth Circuit American Inns of Court Professional Award. This award recognizes Judge Trauger’s distinguished public service career, exemplified by the values of professionalism, ethics, and civility.
Judge Trauger’s career is characterized by being the first, or one of the first women, to hold each position she has held. She was the first woman to serve as Criminal Chief and First Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Middle District of Tennessee, the first female chief of staff to the Mayor of Nashville, the first woman selected to be a Middle District of Tennessee Bankruptcy Judge, and the first woman to serve on the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee. Judge Trauger was a founder of the Nashville Lawyers’ Association for Women, a founding member of the Tennessee Lawyer’s Association for Women, and has been a long-time member of the National Association of Women Judges. She is now the first woman to be selected by the Sixth Circuit for this important award.
Join NHSTalks Stories as we speak with John Grillos and Judge Aleta A. Grillos Trauger about the history of their family. This is a part of our Oral History Collection, a collaboration with the National Hellenic Museum to help preserve and convey the Greek American Story.
VASSY
Award-winning Greek-Australian singer, songwriter and producer whose career started after winning an Australian radio contest. Since then, Vassy’s records have gone Gold and Platinum and her song “Lost” with Afrojack has been on the top of the Billboard Charts worldwide, with her current new single, “Oxygen” #2 on Billboard’s Dance Charts. Vassy’s work as a composer is prolific in television, film, commercial and even video game productions.
Award-winning Greek-Australian singer, songwriter and producer whose career started after winning an Australian radio contest. Since then, Vassy’s records have gone Gold and Platinum and her song “Lost” with Afrojack has been on the top of the Billboard Charts worldwide, with her current new single, “Oxygen” #2 on Billboard’s Dance Charts. Vassy’s work as a composer is prolific in television, film, commercial and even video game productions.
DR. GEORGE DEMACOPOULOS
Dr. George Demacopoulos received a Master of Theological Studies, with highest honors, at Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology in 1995 before enrolling at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he earned his Ph.D. in Religious Studies in 2002. Today, Dr. Demacopoulos is Fr. John Meyendorff & Patterson Family Chair of Orthodox Christian Studies at Fordham University.
Dr. Demacopoulos’ research and teaching interests are in the fields of Early Christian and Medieval Church History. He specializes in the relationship between Orthodox and Roman Catholics during the middle ages. He has published nine books and dozens of scholarly articles that focus on a range of topics including monasticism, the papacy, the Crusades, and the construction of modern Orthodox identity.
Along with Aristotle Papanikolaou, Dr. Demacopoulos co-founded the Orthodox Christian Studies Center at Fordham University, which is the only research university-based center of Orthodox Studies in the United States. The Center offers an interdisciplinary minor in Orthodox Christian Studies and a host of research-related initiatives that are bringing the insights of the history, thought, and culture of Orthodox Christianity into a broader academic conversation.
In 2010, Dr. Demacopoulos was named an Archon of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, Didaskalos tous Genous (Teacher of the Nation), and now serves as the Historian for the Order of St. Andrew.
ARISTOTLE PAPANIKOLAOU
Aristotle Papanikolaou is professor of Theology, the Archbishop Demetrios Chair of Orthodox Theology and Culture, and the Co-Director of the Orthodox Christian Studies Center at Fordham University. He is also Senior Fellow at the Emory University Center for the Study of Law and Religion.
In 2012, he received the Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching in the Humanities. Among his numerous publications, he is the author of Being with God: Trinity, Apophaticism, and Divine-Human Communion, and The Mystical as Political: Democracy and Non-Radical Orthodoxy. He is also co-editor of Political Theologies in Orthodox Christianity, Fundamentalism or Tradition: Christianity after Secularism, Christianity, Democracy and the Shadow of Constantine (Winner of 2017 Alpha Sigma Nu Award in Theology), Orthodox Constructions of the West, Orthodox Readings of Augustine, and Thinking Through Faith: New Perspectives from Orthodox Christian Scholars. He enjoys Russian literature, Byzantine and Greek music, and is a bit of a foodie.
Dr. George Demacopoulos and Aristotle Papanikolaou are the co-founders of the Orthodox Christian Studies Center at Fordham University, which is the only research university-based center of Orthodox Studies in the United States. They joined the National Hellenic Society to discuss the promotion of Christian Unity.
CHRIS HILLMAN
Christopher "Chris" Hillman is an American musician. He was the original bassist and one of the original members of The Byrds, which in 1965 included Roger McGuinn, Gene Clark, David Crosby and Michael Clarke. With frequent collaborator Gram Parsons, Hillman was a key figure in the development of country rock, defining the genre through his work with The Byrds, The Flying Burrito Brothers, Manassas and the country-rock group The Desert Rose Band.
CONNIE HILLMAN
Connie Hillman began her career working for Elton John's agent, Howard Rose, and was just 24 when she moved on to the recording side as Executive Vice President of The Rocket Record Company, joining John Reid (Elton's former manager). She was appointed Executive Vice President of John Reid Enterprises, co-managing Elton John, Bernie Taupin, Queen, Kiki Dee and Carole Bayer Sager. Ms. Hillman's notable accomplishments at JRE included the co-production of Elton John's Troubadour Benefit Concert in 1974 and his historic concert at Dodger Stadium in 1975. She was appointed Vice President of Rocket Music publishing company and Vice President of Poptropolis Enterprises, overseeing television development for The Hudson Brothers. In this chapter of her career, Connie Hillman was one of the few women in the music industry to hold such an impressive series of positions.
Join NHS Talks as we interview music industry veteran Connie & American Musician Chris Hillman. Connie (Pappas) Hillman has a rich history as a music executive and worked over four decades with legendary recording artist Elton John. Her husband, Chris Hillman, is a pioneer of the country rock music genre and has carved a permanent niche in the history of contemporary American music through his works with notable bands The Byrds, The Flying Burrito Brothers, and The Desert Rose Band.
DR. JOHN CAMP
John Camp is Director of the Athenian Agora Excavations at the American School of Classical Studies at Athens and the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Professor of Classics at Randolph-Macon College. He holds an A.B. in Classics from Harvard University (1968) and an M.A. (1972) and Ph.D. (1977) in Classical Archaeology from Princeton University. Dr. Camp is regarded as the foremost expert on the topography of Athens and Attica. His long association with the American School’s Athenian Agora excavations dates back to 1966 when he joined the staff as an excavator. He continued as Agora Fellow in 1972, then as Assistant Director from 1973, and has served as Director since 1994. He was also the School’s Andrew W. Mellon Professor of Classical Studies from 1985 to 1996. Dr. Camp has published and lectured widely, and he has received many awards and honors for his work, including the Aristeia Award for Distinguished Alumni/ae of the American School.
JACK L. DAVIS
Jack L. Davis is a former Director of the American School and Carl W. Blegen Professor of Greek Archaeology at the University of Cincinnati. He is an expert in Bronze Age archaeology and archaeological survey and received the Archaeological Institute of America’s 2020 Gold Medal Award for Distinguished Archaeological Achievement. Dr. Davis has directed or co-directed archaeological surveys and excavations at locations across Greece and Albania, including the Nemea Valley, Kea, Messenia, Dyrrachium, and Apollonia. He is currently the co-director, with Dr. Sharon R. Stocker, of the Palace of Nestor Excavations at Pylos, responsible for the recent discoveries of the famous Griffin Warrior grave and two previously unknown tholos tombs.
WILLIAM T. (ROB) LOOMIS
Rob Loomis is President of the American School’s Board of Trustees and the Managing Partner of Loomis Associates, a family business. Earlier, he was a trusts and estates lawyer in Boston and a visiting professor of Classics and Ancient History at Union College and the University of Michigan. He has published two books (The Spartan War Fund and Wages, Welfare Costs and Inflation in Classical Athens) and a number of articles on topics in Greek and Roman history, law, economics, epigraphy, numismatics, and textual criticism. He holds A.B., J.D., and Ph.D. degrees from Harvard. An alumnus of the American School (Summer Session 1965, Regular Member 1967–1968, Associate Member 1988–1990), he has been a Trustee since 1975 and an ex officio Overseer of the Gennadius Library since 2015. He served as Secretary (1979–2017) and Acting President (2015–2017) of the Trustees before being elected President in 2017.
DR. NATALIA VOGEIKOFF-BROGAN
Natalia Vogeikoff-Brogan is the Archivist of the American School of Classical Studies at Athens and has worked in its archives since 1994. Dr. Vogeikoff-Brogan holds a Ph.D. in Classical and Near Eastern Archaeology from Bryn Mawr College and is a specialist in Hellenistic art, pottery, and architecture in Athens and Crete. She has participated in archaeological fieldwork at Mochlos, Trypitos, Corinth, Thasos, and in the Nemea Valley and has published widely, including historical articles based on School archival material. Dr. Vogeikoff-Brogan has directed numerous archival and digitization projects for the School funded by the U.S. Department of Education (D.O.E.), the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Institute for Aegean Prehistory (INSTAP), and the Council of American Overseas Research Centers (CAORC). She has been responsible for the cataloguing and promotion of the School’s archival collections. Dr. Vogeikoff-Brogan is a member of the Society of American Archivists, the Canadian Archivists Association, the European Commission of Preservation and Access, and the Greek Archival Society.
This edition of NHS Talks focuses on the history of the ASCSA, Athens' best-kept secret. This special edition of NHS Talks features a panel of distinguished, renowned and dedicated scholars including: Dr. Natalia Vogeikoff-Brogan, ASCSA's Archivist; Dr. John Camp, Director of the ASCSA's Athenian Agora Excavations; Jack Davis, former Director of the ASCSA and Co-Director of the Palace of Nestor Excavations at Pylos; and William T. (Rob) Loomis, President of ASCSA's Board of Trustees. Hosts of this special edition are Drake Behrakis, Chair of the NHS, and George Orfanakos, ASCSA Executive Director. Don't miss this special opportunity to explore Greece through very special eyes as their dedication, commitment and work will surely inspire you.
DR. DIANE CLINE
Dr. Diane Cline received her B.A in Classics from Stanford and Ph.D. in classical archaeology from Princeton. She is an Associate Professor of History at the George Washington University, and an Ancient Greek historian and classical archaeologist. Cline is the author of two books, The Treasures of the Parthenon and Erechtheion (Oxford) and The Greeks: An Illustrated History (National Geographic). She has won two Fulbright awards for her research in Greece, where she also serves as an expert study leader for Smithsonian Journeys and National Geographic Expeditions. Dr. Cline has taught a wide range of courses on Greek and Roman history, archaeology, religion, mythology, literature, and culture. She has won teaching awards at GWU, including the Columbian Prize for teaching and mentoring advanced undergraduate students in 2017 and the Morton A. Bender award for Excellence in Teaching in 2018. For her research Cline was a Fellow in Hellenic Studies at the Harvard Center for Hellenic Studies in 2018, and in 2019 she was a Fulbright Scholar in Greece at the University of Crete, Rethymno.
DR. ERIC H. CLINE
Dr. Eric H. Cline is a Fulbright scholar, National Geographic Explorer, Getty Fellow, and NEH Public Scholar. He is Professor of Classics and Anthropology, former Chair of the Department of Classical and Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations, and current Director of the Capitol Archaeological Institute at The George Washington University. Dr. Cline received degrees in Classical Archaeology, Near Eastern Archaeology, and Ancient History, from Dartmouth, Yale, and the University of Pennsylvania. He is an active field archaeologist, with more than 30 seasons of excavation and survey experience in Greece, Crete, Israel, Egypt, Jordan, Cyprus, and the United States. Early in his career he dug at the Agora in Athens and at Palaikastro on Crete. He is a former co-director at Megiddo, where he dug from 1994 through 2014, and is currently co-directing the excavations at Tel Kabri in northern Israel, site of a 4,000-year-old Canaanite palace, where they have discovered the remains of the oldest and largest wine cellar so far known from the ancient Near East. Dr. Cline is an author of ten books and co-author of four, in addition to editing or coediting eight others, and publishing nearly 100 articles. Both Eric an Diane served as the ASCSA Alumni Association Secretary-Treasurers from 1997-2000.
DR. KEVIN GLOWACKI
Dr. Kevin Glowacki received his AB in Greek and Latin and M.A. in Greek from the Loyola University of Chicago and his M.A. & Ph.D. in Classical and Near Eastern Archaeology from Bryn Mawr College. He is an Associate Professor in Architecture at Texas A&M University, where he also serves as the Director of the Center for Heritage Conservation. Professor Glowacki is a member of the Managing Committee of the American School of Classical Studies at Athens. He has participated on several archaeological projects in Italy and Greece and is a member of the excavation and publication teams for the sites of Kavousi Vronda and Gournia on Crete.
DR. NANCY KLEIN
Dr. Nancy Klein received her AB in Classical Studies and French from the University of Michigan and her M.A. & Ph.D. in Classical and Near Eastern Archaeology from Bryn Mawr College. She is an Associate Professor in Architecture at Texas A&M University. Professor Klein is a member of the Managing Committee and the Executive Committee of the American School of Classical Studies at Athens. She has participated in fieldwork and excavations in North America, England, France, and Greece. She is a member of the excavation and publication team for the site of Kavousi Vronda on Crete and is also publishing a study of the architecture of the Acropolis of Athens in the archaic and early classical periods.
This weeks special edition features part II of Classics Couples: renowned classical archaeologists and scholars that are also married to one another!. NHS is pleased to host four leading classical archaeologists, scholars/scientists and authors: Dr. Eric Cline joined by his wife, Dr. Diane Cline. Eric and Diane are Professors at George Washington University. Also joining are Dr. Kevin Glowacki, and his wife, Dr. Nancy Klein. Kevin and Nancy are Professors at Texas A&M University. The group will discuss their backgrounds, work and connections to Greece, Cyprus and other locales.
DIANE KOCHILAS
Diane Kochilas is considered one of the foremost Greek and Mediterranean master chefs and the creator, co-producer and host of the celebrated television program: My Greek Table.
She was born and raised in New York and moved to Greece to be closer to her roots on the famed Isle of Ikaria, where it said that its denizens "forget to die" owing to the food, lifestyle and lack of stress.
Diane is the celebrated author of 18 cookbooks centered around Greek & Mediterranean Cuisine. Her recipes include several original creations and she adds her own unique twists to time tested favorites.
Diane is the host of unique cooking school located on the Island of Ikaria where students from all over the world come to learn about the fabulous and healthy cuisine, culture and way of life on Ikaria.
Diane serves as a restaurant consultant to several of the nation's leading Greek brands and is part of the growing campaign to bring wholesome, fresh and nutritious food, especially Greek cuisine, to schools and college campuses nationwide. She has been featured on The Today Show, Martha Stewart and a host of other mainstream television programs and shows and is a regular contributor to leading culinary publications.
Diane has led cooking demonstrations for the visiting NHS' Heritage Greece Program participants at the American College of Greece in Athens. She is also a regular visitor to NHS Chapters in support of the NHS' mission and programs.
This week's edition features celebrity chef, renown author, and host of My Greek Table, Diane Kochilas. My Greek Table is an award-winning television series of 13 episodes, now in its third season which airs on PBS stations nationwide. The series has dazzled audiences as Diane brings Greece's culinary legacy to life for mainstream audiences. NHS and several NHS members are proud sponsors of My Greek Table since the series' inception.
ELLEN KARIS
Ellen is one of the few Greek American female stand-up comedians. She performs extensively for Greek-American audiences and her parodies of Greek American life resonate with all audiences. Ellen has performed throughout the country and has been featured alongside noted comedians such as Drew Carey, Jimmy “JJ” Walker, Sebastian Maniscalco and many others. She's been dubbed, little dynamo given her petite stature, strong improvisational skills and ability to interact with audiences. Her observational humor, wit and reflective sarcasm has been compared to comedy legends Joan Rivers and Richard Lewis. Ellen's comedy special “By the Way, I’m Ellen Karis, received rave reviews. She has worked in television, film and theater and has a featured role in Amazon Prime's The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel and in Martin Scorsese’s film, The Irishman, Marvel Comics Netflix series, The Punisher, Showtime’s, Billions, NBC’s, Blacklist, HBO’s, The Sopranos and with Tina Fey and Amy Poehler in Sisters. Ellen's repertoire includes a children's book and one on humor. Ellen left a career on Wall Street to pursue her dream as an artist and performer.
BASILE KATSIKIS
Fresh off of filming his new comedy TV show for SpiceRack Entertainment, Basile's performance range is as diverse as are the many characters he portrays. He is an actor, comedian, and renown voice over artist. Basile's recent Dysfunctionally Yours World Tour has performed to sold-out audiences throughout North America. Basile’s critically acclaimed series, Growing Up Greek in America--has gone gold with a million plus copies in distribution. He has entertained the troops on Armed Forces Radio and Television, syndicated radio and has performed all over the world. He is the caricature voice of the Godfather of Soul, James Brown, and his comedy is featured on XM/Sirius Satellite Radio's comedy channels. Basile has over 100 television appearances on HBO, Showtime, Comedy Central, A&E, and NBC's Tonight Show. Basile is the voice of the legendary cartoon character, Bullwinkle J. Moose, and several other cartoon characters on the Cartoon Network and syndicated Japanese Anime series. Basile was nominated for an EMMY Award for his portrayal of The Legend of Jimmy the Greek on ESPN as the voice of the famous odds-maker, Jimmy the Greek Snyder/Syionidis.
YANNIS PAPPAS
Yannis Pappas is a stand-up comedian, actor & writer best known among Greek audiences worldwide as the incomparable and hilarious character, Mr. Panos. Yannis' 2019 hour stand-up special, Blowing the Light, produced and directed by fellow comedian, Andrew Schulz is available on Youtube. Yannis is the host of NextVR's virtual reality live stand-up series, Live In Gotham and the host of AOL's Award-Winning Original sports comedy series, 2 Point Lead. Yannis' special has aired on Comedy Central and is available on Amazon Prime, iTunes, and on ComedyCentral.com. His album Let Me Be Yannis is available on iTunes and Spotify. Yannis has been part of the Just For Laughs Festival which has toured through the U.S. and world. Yannis is known for his immensely popular characters Mr. Panos and Maurica. Yannis latest venture is the podcast series, History Hyenas with fellow comedian Chris Distefano.
ANGELO TSAROUCHAS
Angelo Tsarouchas, is a first generation Greek Canadian comedian, actor, writer and producer. His familiar face has been featured in a host of films, television shows and commercials. His high energy performance, characteristic voice and delivery resonate with audiences worldwide from Greece to Australia. Angelo left his native Montreal to be closer to opportunities in film, television and the comedy circuit. He is featured in the films, The Recruit, Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle, The Prince and Me, Cinderella Man and as a memorable character on Vincent Vaughn's TBS Comedy, Sullivan & Son. Angelo produced and starred in several comedy specials including Bigger is Better, A Night in Athens and others that have garnered nearly 25 million YouTube views. He has appeared on a host of comedy shows on television and leading comedy clubs nationwide.
They make us laugh and reflect on ourselves and those around us. They make us deliberate about what is good and bad in life, society, the world and the human condition: certainly about growing up Greek. Since ancient times until today, the role of the comedian and comedy has influenced and enriched our lives giving it meaning, context and helping us reflect and think. This special edition will feature comedians: Basile Katsikis, Ellen Karis, Yannis Pappas and Angelo Tsarouchas.
DR. JOHN CAMP
Dr. John Camp received his B.A. from Harvard University in 1968, his M.A. and Ph.D. in Classical Archaeology from Princeton University. Professor Camp has has been actively working in the world famous site at the Athenian Agora since 1966, first as an excavator, later as Assistant Director, and now as the Agora Excavations' Director. Dr. Camp has taught and lectured throughout the United States is a Classics Professor at Randolph-Macon College. He is the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Professor of Classics and is a leading expert on the Agora and ancient Athens. He is featured in several episodes of the NHS/National Geographic's Greek Guide to Greatness co-production and a regular contributor on a host of documentary films about ancient Greece and democracy.
KEVIN DALY
Dr. Kevin Daly received his B.A. from UCLA and Ph.D. from Harvard University. He the Chair of the Classics & Ancient Mediterranean Studies and Professor at Bucknell University. Dr. Daly was the distinguished Mellon Professor at the American School of Classical Studies, and Professor Daly is the Past Andrew W. Mellon Professor at the American School of Classical Studies and serves as Co-Director with his wife, Stephanie Larson, of the exciting excavations underway at Ismenion Hill in Thebes, the mythical home of Oedipus and Hercules. Dr. Daly and his team have used state-of-art technology to map the geophysics of the site. Dr. Daly has excavated in Greece for 15+ years and leads Smithsonian Studies teams on tours throughout Greece and other countries.
DR. ELIZABETH FISHER
Dr. Elizabeth Fisher is the Shelton H. Short III Professor in the Liberal Arts and Professor of Classics and Archaeology at Randolph-Macon College. Dr. Fisher earned her B.A. in Classical Greek from the College of William and Mary in Virginia, her M.A. in Classics from Florida State University, and her Ph.D. in Classics from the University of Minnesota. She has excavated an numerous locations throughout the world including in Italy, Ethiopia and throughout Greece including at one of the most important modern finds in Pylos. Professor Fisher's specialty focuses on the nexus between peoples and cultures, and on global cultural resource protection. She taught and researched at the Aksum University's Department of Archaeology as a Fulbright Scholar focusing on the connections between Greece and Ethiopia from the Bronze Age to Byzantium.
DR. STEPHANIE LARSON
Dr. Stephanie Larson received her BA in Classical Studies from the University of Minnesota and her M.A. & Ph.D. from the University of Texas. She is a Classics Professor at Bucknell University and has also served as Chair of the Classics Department. Prof. Larson is also on the Management Committee of the American School of Classical Studies at Athens and has spent several years as Co-Director of the excavations at Thebes alongside her , husband, Kevin Daly. Dr. Larson is a prolific author and contributor of a host of scholarly papers and has particular interest as a cultural historian and philologist in
the construction and maintenance of regional, ethnic and gender identities in Archaic and Classical Greece.This weeks special edition features two Classics Couples: renown classical archaeologists that have worked extensively in Greece and happen to be married to one another as well! NHS is pleased to host four leading classical archaeologists, scholars, scientists and authors: Dr. John Camp joined by his wife, Dr. Elizabeth Fisher. John and Elizabeth are Classics Professors at Randolph Macon College. Also joining are Dr. Kevin Daly, and his wife, Dr. Stephanie Larson. Kevin and Stephanie are Classic Professors at Bucknell University. Moderated by Drake Behrakis & George Orfanakos.
NICK AMOROSO
Nick graduated from Arizona State University studying Finance and Computer Information Systems. He spent 4 years in management consulting at KPMG and recently worked in corporate strategy at an events management company. He is planning on pursuing his MBA in fall 2021. Nick has helped lead the Oral History Project partnership between the Heritage Greece Alumni Network and the National Hellenic Museum, helping capture the Greek American story to be preserved for generations to come.
VASILIKI ARGEROPLOS
Vasiliki is a Senior at Vanderbilt University studying Economics, Computer Science, and Business. She is the CEO/Founder of a nonprofit called Okay to Play, and is planning on pursuing consulting as well as attending Law School.
PAUL MARKAKIS
Paul is is an acting Assistant Program Manager at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory. Paul is responsible for leading a variety of technical national security projects leveraging experience in concept development and mission analysis to support homeland protection operations and to pursue opportunities to expand JHU/APL’s partnerships with government sponsors. He has a BS and MS from the Johns Hopkins University Whiting School of Engineering, and participated in the 2012 Heritage Greece program. Paul is also currently the National Co-Chair of the Heritage Greece Alumni Network.
TABITHA NICOLAS
Tabitha attended Heritage Greece in the summer of 2014 while attending The School of The Art Institute of Chicago, where she studied painting. Following obtaining her BFA, she worked in residential and cooperate art consulting before transitioning to a project manager for the largest privately held art conservation laboratory in the US, The Conservation Center in Chicago.
ELIZABETH TZAGOURNIS
Elizabeth studied journalism at The Ohio State University and won the Greek American Journalism Scholarship Award in 2016. After graduating she attended Heritage Greece in 2017. Currently, Elizabeth is a senior writer for StoryTerrace where she pens memoirs based on interviews. During the recent quarantine, Elizabeth and her sister created a blind virtual dating show for Greek-Americans called Dating Greek.
NICOLE VOURNAZOS
Nicole Vournazos attended the inaugural Heritage Greece's class in 2010. She studied information systems at Emory University; she is currently working on her graduate degree at the University of Oxford studying security systems. She works at Google as a Program Manager in Security Engineering in Technical Infrastructure.
OUR HOST: SHANNON SMITH
Shannon Smith is a Multi-Skilled Journalist and anchor for WBIR 10News, the NBC affiliate in Knoxville, Tennessee. She shoots, writes and edits her own stories every day, covering everything from politics to COVID-19, dancing live on TV at Greek Fest to profiling the largest sweet potato in Tennessee. Shannon previously worked as the Senior Reporter for KFDA (CBS) in Amarillo, Texas. She attended Heritage Greece in 2013 and has wanted to book a one-way ticket back to Athens ever since!
Join guest host moderator, journalist and anchor, Shannon Smith, with guests Nick Amoroso, Vasiliki Argeroplos, Paul Markakis, Tabitha Nicholas, Elizabeth Tzagournis, and Nicole Vournazos, all alumni of NHS' Heritage Greece Program, reflecting on the impact the Heritage Greece Program has had on their lives.
ELENI BOUSIS
Eleni Bousis is the founder of the Hippocratic Cancer Research Foundation for the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University. She currently serves the Governor of Illinois as Human Rights Commissioner for the State of Illinois, and is also a recipient of the Ellis Island Award and Hellenic American Academy Heritage Award for Hellenism, education and culture. Her efforts were vital in saving the Greek American Rehabilitation and Care Center in Chicago.
MARCIA IKONOMOPOULOS
Marcia Haddad Ikonomopoulos has served as the Museum Director of Kehila Kedosha Janina since 2004 and sits on the Board of Trustees of the Synagogue and Museum. She also serves on the Board of Directors of the Lower East Side Preservation Initiative and is President of the Association of Friends of Greek Jewry. She was born into a traditional Sephardic Jewish family from Salonika and has devoted her life to telling the story of Greek Jewry as an author, translator, editor and lecturer.
CELIA KACHMARSKI
Celia was elected Grand President of the Daughters of Penelope (DOP) by the delegates of the AHEPA Family Supreme Convention held on July 5, 2019. She is a Calgary native and became the first Canadian to lead the Daughters of Penelope. Celia is a 52-year member of the organization and has held numerous DOP positions at the Chapter, District, and National level. She has also served on the Foundation which promotes education and cultural activities.
ANITA KARTALOPOULOS
Anita is an experienced securities litigator and advisor to clientele including institutional investors, foundations and public funds. She has served a State of New Jersey regulator in senior capacities including as Deputy Commissioner of Insurance, Legal and Regulatory Affairs and as a Real Estate Commissioner. She served as legal advisor to the Philoptochos and is very active in the Greek Orthodox Church.
JANE P. KOURTIS
Jane P. Kourtis is Deputy General Counsel at Bright Horizons, a global leader in work-life and education solutions. Jane is a graduate of Boston College and Boston College Law School and serves on the BC Law Alumni Council, the BC Hellenic Alumni Network and on the Executive Board of the Hellenic Bar Association of New England. Jane serves as President of the Hellenic Women’s Club, a Boston-based women’s philanthropic organization founded in 1936 which supports several charities.
ELENA SAVIOLAKIS
Elena has been the Executive Director for the Daughters of Penelope since 2007. Elena oversees the overall management and operations of the Daughters of Penelope as an international women’s organization. Elena is a graduate of The American University of Greece in Athens, with a B.S. in International Business and European Affairs, and also holds an MBA with a focus in International Business from George Washington University in Washington, DC.
MARIA STAMOULAS
Maria Stamoulas practices law and is a distinguished tax, wills and estate professional with a broad base of clientele ranging from individuals to corporate and non-profit entities. She is regularly called upon to speak at estate and gift planning seminars as an expert. She serves as President of the Hellenic American Women's Council, a nonpartisan, nationwide network whose mission is to identify and leverage the talents of Hellenic American women. Maria is a graduate of Harvard Law where she graduated cum laude.
OUR HOST: SHANNON SMITH
Shannon Smith is a Multi-Skilled Journalist and anchor for WBIR 10News, the NBC affiliate in Knoxville, Tennessee. She shoots, writes and edits her own stories every day, covering everything from politics to COVID-19, dancing live on TV at Greek Fest to profiling the largest sweet potato in Tennessee. Shannon previously worked as the Senior Reporter for KFDA (CBS) in Amarillo, Texas. She attended Heritage Greece in 2013 and has wanted to book a one-way ticket back to Athens ever since!
Join guest host moderator, journalist and anchor, Shannon Smith, with guests: Eleni Bousis, Hippocratic Research Foundation, Marcia Haddad Ikonomopoulos, Kehila Kedosha Janina Museum Director, Celia Kachmarski, Grand President of the Daughters of Penelope, Jane Kourtis, President of the Hellenic Women's Club, Anita Kartalopoulos, Greek Orthodox Ladies Philoptochos Society, Elena Saviolakis, Executive Director of the Daughters of Penelope, and Maria Stamoulas, President of the Hellenic American Women's Council as they reflect on the history, mission and evolution of their respective organizations given the demographic shift in today's Greek America.
FROSENE PHILLIPS
Frosene Phillips, serves as Executive Director of the Elios Society in San Francisco. She also serves as Director of Operations at Gumas, an award-winning full service advertising agency. Frosene, is an accomplished journalist and since 1991, her column, Frosene on The Scene featuring entertainment and dining coverage has been a staple in the Bay Area News Group's East Bay Times and Mercury News. Frosene served as Emeritus Managing Editor of the Hellenic Journal, the west coast's leading Greek American newspaper since inception. She is an accomplished lead singer with her popular band, Mediterranean Soul and very active at the Greek Orthodox Cathedral of the Ascension in Oakland, CA. She received a Management Studies degree from Diablo Valley College.
NICK LARIGAKIS
Nick Larigakis, serves as the indefatigable President of the American Hellenic Institute. During his tenure at AHI, he has organized dozens of legislative conferences concerning issues of importance relating to Greece, Cyprus and the U.S., national Hellenism in America summits and organized several Congressional fact-finding delegations to Greece and Cyprus. Nick has served in several leadership roles in faith-based organizations, and is an Archon of the Ecumenical Patriarchate. He received his Political Science Degree from the College of New Jersey, and undertook post- graduate studies in International Affairs at the American University in Washington.
DR. JAMES DIMITRIOU
Dr. James Dimitriou, serves as Chairman of the the American Hellenic Council, a non-partisan advocacy organization, which champions Hellenic values and culture. Jim served as Past Supreme President of AHEPA and is an Adjunct Professor of Global Studies at the University of Southern California (USC). He received his PhD in International Studies and two Master's degrees at USC. Jim is the Co-Founder of the Greek Heritage Society, President of AHI's Los Angeles Chapter and founding Board Member of the Save Cyprus Council: today’s American Hellenic Council of California.
BASIL MOSSAIDIS
Basil Mossaidis, serves as Executive Director of the American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association. For nearly 100 years, AHEPA has promoted the ancient Hellenic ideals of education, philanthropy, civic engagement and excellence through community service and volunteerism. Basil has served as Executive Director for two decades, receiving the AHI's Hellenic Heritage Achievement & National Public Service Award for his contributions and commitment to the Greek American Community. He is a graduate of Eastern University.
MIKE MANATOS
Mike Manatos is President of the public affairs/consulting firm, Manatos & Manatos,a leading government relations and advocacy firm, and Executive Director of the Washington OXI Day Foundation.
Mike serves on the Board of the NHS, Leadership 100 and on the boards of several philanthropic and faith-based entities including as Chairman of the Make-A-Wish Mid-Atlantic Board. He is an Archon and member of the Archdiocesan Council. He received his International Affairs Degree from Princeton University and a minor in Princeton's prestigious Hellenic Studies Program.Join guest host moderator, and Executive Director of the Elios Society, Frosene Phillips with guests: Basil Mossaidis, Executive Director of the American Hellenic Education Progressive Association (AHEPA), Nick Larigakis, President of the American Hellenic Institute (AHI), Mike Manatos, Executive Director of the Washington OXI Day Foundation, and Dr. James Dimitriou, Chairman of the American Hellenic Council (AHC) of California. Featuring representatives of leading Greek American organizations reflecting on the history, mission and evolution of their respective organizations given the demographic shift in today's Greek America. The episode will be shared and permanently archived with the National Hellenic Museum as part of their permanent chronicle of the Greek American story.
DR. STELIOS PAPADOPOULOS
Dr. Stelios Papadopoulos is considered a pioneer and trailblazer in the biotech industry given his credentials as a scientists and financier which gave him the tools to advance the biotech industry in ways that have impacted our lives through the development of a host of new pharmaceuticals and regimens. He as Chairman of Biogen, is Co-Founder and Chairman of Exelixis, Chairman of Regulus Therapeutics, and Co-Founder of the incredible non-profit Fondation Santé which was established to assist Greece develop a new generation of biotech professionals and bring leaders of the biotech industry to Greece for their deliberative conferences. NHS Talks Stories is proud to share Stelios’ story as one that will inspire others to emulate his accomplishments through the hard work, dedication and passion to achieve and give back.
Dr. Stelios Papadopoulos is considered a pioneer and trailblazer in the biotech industry given his credentials as a scientists and financier which gave him the tools to advance the biotech industry in ways that have impacted our lives through the development of a host of new pharmaceuticals and regimens. He as Chairman of Biogen, is Co-Founder and Chairman of Exelixis, Chairman of Regulus Therapeutics, and Co-Founder of the incredible non-profit Fondation Santé which was established to assist Greece develop a new generation of biotech professionals and bring leaders of the biotech industry to Greece for their deliberative conferences. NHS Talks Stories is proud to share Stelios’ story as one that will inspire others to emulate his accomplishments through the hard work, dedication and passion to achieve and give back.
NHS Talks discussion on the economic impact and long-term outlook with featured panelists: Phil Angelides, California State Treasurer Emeritus, Chair Emeritus, Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission, Mike Bapis, Managing Director, VIOS Advisors at Rockefeller Capital Management, John Koudounis, Chief Executive Officer, Calamos Investments, Doretta Mistras, Managing Director,Citigroup Health Care Investment Banking, Nicholas Sakellariadis, Emeritus Managing Director, Mergers and Acquisitions at Citigroup, Co-Chair and Principal Owner, Dayton Dragons Baseball Team.
Nick joins us to discuss his celebrated book: Greek Fire: The Story of Maria Callas and Aristotle Onassis. Readers are treated to an insiders look of the crossroads of wealth, fame and one of Greece's most unforgettable divas, the great Maria Callas. The bestseller received outstanding reviews and testimonials leading publications including The Washington Post, Amazon, and The New York Times.
NICHOLAS GAGE
Nicholas Gage is a celebrated author and investigative journalist, best known for his autobiographical memoirs, the best-selling Eleni (1983) and A Place for Us (1989). Eleni describes the life of his family in Greece during the Second World War and Greek Civil War. Gage’s mother, Eleni, was executed for arranging the escape of her children from their Communist-occupied village. Eleni became an outstanding feature film starring John Malkovich as the protagonist playing Nick Gage.
Nick's experience in Hollywood included his role as Executive Producer of The Godfather Part III. He is a frequent contributor to leading publications such as The New York Times and Vanity Fair.
Nick joins us to discuss his celebrated book: Greek Fire: The Story of Maria Callas and Aristotle Onassis. Readers are treated to an insiders look of the crossroads of wealth, fame and one of Greece's most unforgettable divas, the great Maria Callas. The bestseller received outstanding reviews and testimonials leading publications including The Washington Post, Amazon, and The New York Times.
The Washington Post- "Greek Fire illuminates not just his subjects but the craft of biography as well.”
Admiral James Stavridis USN- "It is truly a brilliant book in every regard. A work of art ... a work of history ... a work of maritime policy ... a work of the human heart."
MARY NORRIS
Mary Norris, a long-time devout philHellene began working at The New Yorker in 1978. She is the New York Times best-selling author of Between You & Me. Mary Norris' Greek To Me is a narrative of exploits in the Greek culture, including her search for the fabled Baths of Aphrodite, her explanation of how the alphabet originated in Greece, the case for Athena as a feminist icon and the surprising ways Greek helped form English. The book has received outstanding reviews from major leading media sources: Amazon, NPR, The New York Times, and others.
NPR- "Greek To Me is part personal history, part plunge into word-nerd-dom. It is also a travelogue written by an unabashed philhellene determined to follow the trail of her Greek muses, whether ancient (Homer, Sophocles, Euripides), mythical (Demeter, Aphrodite), or contemporary (British writer Patrick Leigh Fermor)."
New York Times - "Mary Norris’s Greek to Me is one of the most satisfying accounts of a great passion that I have ever read. It traces a decades-long obsession with Greece: its language (both modern and ancient), literature, mythologies, people, places, food and monuments — all with an absorption that never falters and never squanders the reader’s attention."
OUR MODERATOR: BILL ANTHOLIS
Bill is a Greek-American political scientist. He is director and CEO of the Miller Center of Public Affairs, a nonpartisan affiliate of the University of Virginia that specializes in presidential scholarship, public policy, and political history and strives to apply the lessons of history to the nation’s most pressing contemporary governance challenges. Prior to that, Antholis served as managing director of the Brookings Institution, a Washington think tank.
He currently serves as a non-resident senior fellow at Brookings. His research interests include subnational governance and federalism, energy policy, bottom-up efforts and international negotiations around climate change, the role of democracy, and community development.
The National Hellenic Society (NHS) in collaboration with The Hellenic University Club of Wilmington is proud to launch: The HUC Literary Club. With the impact of social distancing considerations and large group restrictions, the Club will host a monthly video conference book review session as a way to connect and engage in ways consistent with the Club’s mission. The launch of the Virtual Literary Club featured a special guest, the renowned Copy Editor of the New Yorker, Mary Norris!
The first installment of NHSTalks Stories, a series collaboration with the National Hellenic Museum that will feature interviews of guests providing a retrospective look at themes and individual lives that will be chronicled and forever archived and maintained at the nation's repository of the Greek American story, the National Hellenic Museum in Chicago. Featured guests include
His Eminence, Metropolitan Gerasimos of San Francisco; The Honorable Antonis Diamataras, Publisher, The National Herald; & Professor Alexander Kitroeff, Professor of History, Haverford College. Hosted by John Metaxas
HIS EMINENCE, METROPOLITAN GERASIMOS OF SAN FRANCISCO
His Eminence Metropolitan Gerasimos has been overseeing the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of San Francisco since his enthronement in April 2005. This region includes 67 parishes in Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada, Oregon and Washington. He has served as a clergyman in the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America for over 40 years.
Born in Kalamata, Greece, Metropolitan Gerasimos came to the United States to further his education which includes a Bachelor’s degree from Hellenic College, a Master of Divinity degree from Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology, and a PhD in Counseling and School Psychology from Boston College. He was ordained to the Diaconate in 1979 and served as Archdeacon to Archbishop Iakovos for 17 years. During this time, he also held several administrative positions at HCHC including Dean of Students and Director of Admissions and Records, while also teaching courses in Psychology and Teleturgics. He was ordained Bishop of Krateia in 2001 and served as Chief Secretary of the Holy Eparchial Synod for the Archdiocese.
His work on the west coast has been marked by his proactive leadership, initiating programs such as Family Wellness, Clergy Continuing Education, Orthodox Parish Leadership, Missions and Evangelism, Greek Language and Culture, Stewardship, Church Music, and Christian Education, among others, developed through a comprehensive Strategic Plan launched in 2012.
HONORABLE ANTONIS DIAMATARIS
The Honorable Antonis Diamataris was born in Lemnos, Greece and immigrated to the United States to continue his studies in the late 1960’s. In 1979, Antonis became the Editor/Publisher of the nation’s oldest Greek language newspaper, the National Herald which he purchased from the late Eugene Rossides. Under Antonis' stewardship, the National Herald introduced weekly English and online editions which enjoy an expanded readership given the evolving demographic of the Herald's subscribers.
The Republic of Greece's Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, appointed Antonis as the Deputy Minister for Expatriate Greeks. Under his tenure there, Antonis undertook several campaigns to pave the way for fostering strong ties to the Diaspora Greek community in America and abroad. Antonis left the post to continue to serve as the day-to-day Publisher of the National Herald as he has for the past 40+ years.
PROFESSOR ALEXANDER KITROEFF
Professor Kitroeff is considered one of the world's leading authorities on nationalism and ethnicity in modern Greece and its diaspora across a very broad spectrum of interests ranging from politics to sports.
He is a prolific author and Professor of History at Haverford College and has also taught extensively at the American College of Greece, NYU, Temple, Princeton and Queens College CUNY. His fellowships included work at the American College of Greece, Queens College, Vryonis Center for the Study of Hellenism in Sacramento, CA and at Oxford University, where he received his PhD in Modern History.
Professor Kitroeff is a leading journalist and contributor to academic journals and featured in film, television and documentaries. He has authored several books including his most recent work, The Greek Orthodox Church in America: A Modern History. Professor Kitroeff's book is a sweeping historical look at how the Church becomes more than just a place to worship serving in a host of roles that shaped the lives of Greek Americans. This important work focuses on the path that led to the Church becoming the centerpiece of Greek America as it shaped identify of Greeks in America.
OUR HOST: JOHN METAXAS
John is an award-winning news reporter and anchor at WCBS News radio and Bloomberg business reports with an audience of millions. He was anchor of CNN's Your Money, NASDAQ and Moneyline with Lou Dobbs correspondent. John has interviewed legendary business figures including Bill Gates, Andy Grove, Michael Bloomberg and world figures such as Presidents Obama, Clinton, Carter, and Mikhail Gorbachev.
John has practiced law and served as Chief Communications Officer for E*TRADE. He has also served as an Adjunct Professor in journalism.
NHS Talks Stories is a series which will feature interviews of guests providing a retrospective look at themes and individual lives that will be chronicled and forever archived and maintained at the nation's repository of the Greek American story, the National Hellenic Museum in Chicago.
Together with the Museum, we embark on this journey to compile, record and archive the stories that shaped our lives in America. We hope future generations will learn from these stories, be proud of this inherited legacy as we are appreciative of those that have gone before us.
The launch of NHS Talks Stories will be a mini-series of panel presentations entitled: Church & Community--Historic Perspectives. The series shall focus on the history of the Greek Orthodox Church and the Greek American Community as seen through the eyes of individuals with unique perspectives and insights.