The American College of Greece continued the successful visits to the United States, this time traveling to Chicago from May 5 – 7, enhancing the institution’s international presence through meaningful connections with alumni, supporters, and prominent members of the Greek-American diaspora.
Two Public Events Bring the ACG Community Together
Two flagship public events marked this visit. The first, “ACG in Chicago’’ was graciously hosted by John P. Calamos, Sr. at the beautiful National Hellenic Museum in Chicago on May 5th. The evening brought together ACG alumni, Trustees, and friends of the institution in a warm gathering, giving them the opportunity to reconnect with their alma mater and among them. ACG president, Dr. Ed Wingenbach, highlighted ACG’s vision and mission, while also sharing some of the exciting projects and initiatives ACG is currently working on. The event also featured a heartfelt welcome by John P. Calamos, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Calamos Investments.
The second event, co-organized with HALC (Hellenic American Leadership Council), took place on May 6th under the title ‘’Conversations on geopolitical realignments, soft power, and the role Greece is playing in the greater Eastern Mediterranean.” President Wingenbach joined Tom Ellis, Editor in Chief of Kathimerini English Edition, for a fireside chat on the role of ACG as a Regional Hub of Education. The discussion highlighted the role of ACG as a regional hub of tertiary education attracting more than 2,000 international students annually, as well as ACG’s overall social impact and contribution to enhancing the people-to-people ties between the US and Greece.
The conversation then expanded into a broader panel discussion on “Conflict and Realignment in the Middle East” moderated by Tom Ellis. The panel featured distinguished speakers: Constantinos Filis, Director of the ACG Institute of Global Affairs and an Associate Professor at The American College of Greece. Rachel Bronson, Lester Crown Senior Nonresident Fellow, Energy and Geopolitics, Chicago Council on Global Affairs and Endy D. Zemenides, Executive Director of the Hellenic American Leadership Council.
The discussion focused on the latest developments in the Middle East and the manner in which they are precipitating a reconfiguration of regional alliances, while simultaneously contributing to the emergence of new global power dynamics. Particular emphasis was placed on the role and positioning of Greece, which has assisted Gulf states in their efforts to defend themselves against Iranian attacks, especially with respect to the protection of critical infrastructure, including energy installations.
Engaging the Greek American Community
Beyond the ACG events, the ACG leadership team – President Wingenbach, VP of Advancement Aliki Giannakopoulou, and VP of Public Affairs Claudia Carydis – engaged in a series of private meetings with many members of the Greek American community. These included visits to the offices of John Kampas, Founder and CEO of EMPIST and Nick Stavropoulos, CFO, offering an insightful look into successful Greek American businesses in the US.
The team also met with representatives of the Hellenic Foundation in Chicago, including William Vranas and Peter Valessares, as well as the Board of Trustees of the N. Demos Foundation – one of the longest-standing donors of study-abroad scholarships at the school.
A Network Built on Lasting Relationships
Throughout the visit, President Wingenbach and the ACG administration had the privilege of connecting with numerous alumni, Trustees, and valued friends and supporters of the College. These conversations reaffirmed the strength and vitality of the ACG network and the enduring importance of nurturing close ties with its global community.
ACG continues to play a pivotal role in further advancing US-Greece relations through academic partnerships and by bringing the largest number of American students to study in Greece each year. This visit represented a meaningful step forward in advancing ACG’s strategic priorities – fostering collaboration and reinforcing its role as the leading, private, US-affiliated, non-profit academic institution, one with a truly global outlook.
For additional photos from the event at the National Hellenic Museum in Chicago, we invite you to view the following Album.