Opening
Dr. Stella Apostolaki, Supervisor of the Field Course in Environmental Studies, Executive Director of the Center of Excellence in Sustainability

Video – The field course experience
Prepared by Elena Lego, Student of the Environmental Studies Program

Nestos River – transboundary and management issues
Aris-Guy (Aria) Verney-Provatas, Student of the Environmental Studies Program

Nestos River Biodiversity
Philippe de Stoutz, Student of the Biomedical Sciences Program

The protected forest of Frakto – Overview and Management
Christina Christodoulou, Student of the Environmental Studies Program

The protected forest of Frakto – Biodiversity
Memory Kondowe, Student of the Environmental Studies Program

Nestos River Delta & Vistonida Lake – Overview and Biodiversity
Elena Lego, Student of the Environmental Studies Program

Dadia Forest – Overview & Management – Recovering from Fire
Zoi Trigkaki, Student of the Environmental Studies Program

Dadia Forest – Biodiversity
Ariadni-Anna (Rae) Lymperaki-Lara, Student of the Environmental Studies Program

Evros River Delta – Overview, Transboundary and Societal Issues
Nikita Vainores, Student of the Environmental Studies Program

Evros River Delta – Biodiversity
Konstantina Nikolaou, Student of the Environmental Studies Program

Closing – Q & A

The students and supervisor of the course would like to thank the Helidoni Foundation, the School of Science and Technology, Deree – ACG, and the Center of Excellence in Sustainability, for the generous donations in support of this trip.

For clarifications please contact: Dr. Stella Apostolaki, [email protected], ext. 1764

Rent
Jonathan Larson’s cultural phenomenon onstage, at The American College of Greece

When: Wednesday, June 3, 2026 | 21:00
Where: Pierce Theatre, The American College of Greece, 6 Gravias Str., 153 42, Athens

Supported by:
ACG Events Office & The Frances Rich School of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences

About the event

Jonathan Larson’s legendary rock musical, RENT, continues to celebrate its 30th anniversary this summer. Here in Athens, ACG proudly presents a triumphant second production on Wednesday, June 3, after its full-house performance in March.

RENT reawakens the urgency to stand together, live fully, and love fiercely. This urgency has been present since the musical’s very first performance, not only through its powerful messages, but also through the tragic circumstances surrounding its premiere: its creator, Jonathan Larson, died suddenly the night after the final dress rehearsal for RENT and the day before its first off-Broadway preview performance.

Inspired by Puccini’s La Bohème, Larson composed RENT, blending rock and grunge within musical storytelling, bringing musical theatre to the MTV generation. His work redefined Broadway and reshaped the landscape of American musical theatre. RENT ran twelve consecutive years after its debut, and received widespread critical acclaim, earning the 1996 Pulitzer Prize for Drama, cementing the musical’s impact as a cultural phenomenon that continues to resonate across generations.

Set in the 1990s East Village of New York City during the height of the AIDS crisis, RENT captures a group of young bohemian artists confronting poverty, illness, addiction and eviction. As the characters seek to survive, create their art, and love in the face of uncertainty, they build an empowering and inclusive community that offers hope amid hardships. Following Larson’s vision, ACG remains committed to building communities through the performing arts in alignment with its educational and artistic mission. This production invites the international cultural hub of Athens to immerse into Larson’s work that is profoundly relevant to today’s world.

Driven by students seeking to revive and reinvent the presence of the American performing art of musical theatre at The American College of Greece, this production is a testament to the power of collaboration and common vision. With the support of dedicated faculty, students from diverse backgrounds and disciplines come together uniting knowledge, talent, heart and artistry. As echoes of hope and strength fill the human heart, we strive to amplify Larson’s powerful message,“No day but today.”

RENT
Book, Music, and Lyrics by Jonathan Larson
Musical Arrangements by Steve Skinner
Original Concept/Additional Lyrics by Billy Aronson
Music Supervision and Additional Arrangements by Tim Weil
Dramaturg: Lynn Thomson

RENT was originally produced in New York by New York Theatre Workshop

James C. Nicola, Artistic Director
Jeffrey Seller, Producing Director

Originally produced on Broadway by Jeffrey Seller, Kevin McCollum,
Allan S. Gordon and New York Theatre Workshop

RENT is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI).

All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI.

Credits:

Initiated by
Victoria Anastasia Weil, Theano Soldatou, Tina Aktoglou

Creative Team
Artistic Supervision: Cindi Trent
Co-Directors: Grayce Marie Martin, Theano Soldatou, Cindi Trent
Co-Choreographers: Sophia Karasso, Cindi Trent
Additional Choreography, “Santa Fe”: Sophia Karasso
Music Director: Nassos Sopilis
Vocal Coaches: Effi Minakoulis, Maira Milolidaki
Ensemble Vocal Coach: Effi Minakoulis
Movement Design of Mugging/Riot Scenes: Katerina Drakopoulou
Acting Coaches: Victoria Anastasia Weil, Theano Soldatou, Grayce Marie Martin
Staging Assistant: Victoria Anastasia Weil

Adaptation/Editing Team:
Theano Soldatou, Victoria Anastasia Weil, Tina Aktoglou, Grayce Marie Martin

Production Team
Stage Manager: Amalia Moraitou
Stage Design: Naya Barakat, Tessi Kakampoura in collaboration with the Creative Team
Installation: Christos Dielas
Makeup: Dafni Tenente, Konstantia Remou
Lighting Design: Tessi Kakampoura in collaboration with the Creative Team
Lighting Operator: Tessi Kakampoura
Follow Spot Operator: Ilia Can Celem
Sound Engineers: Christos Papadopoulos, George Alexopoulos, Eleftheria Sakellaridi
Communications Coordinator: Tina Aktoglou
PR Coordinator: Naya Barakat
Graphic Design & Promotional Material: Tina Aktoglou, Naya Barakat

In-Show Documentary & “One Song Glory” Music Video
Videographer: Anna Livieratou
Assistant Videographer: Victoria Anastasia Weil
Music Video Actors: Alex Lomvardias, Naya Barakat

Main Cast
Mark Cohen: Dylan Goulas
Roger Davis: Alex Lomvardias
Mimi Marquez: Demitra Sideris
Tom Collins: Enio Azariadis
Angel Dumott Schunard: Jacqueline Gwinn
Maureen Johnson: Victoria Anastasia Weil
Joanne Jefferson: Damo Serafeimidou
Benjamin “Benny” Coffin III: Bennett Marotti

Ensemble
Tina Aktoglou
Naya Barakat
James/Dimitris Gerandreou
Ariadni Iliopoulou
Ilida-Anna Linardou
Andrew Manolis
Grayce Marie Martin
Marifet Mitsiou
Christos Sellas
Theano Soldatou
Angeliki Splagkounia
Foivi Stankoglou
Zoe Tsouri

Christmas Bells Children
Artemis Sopilis Koksal
Jason Fragkopoulos
Irene Samouchou
Vassiliki Sinanoglou

Band
Piano: Alexandros Barlas
Acoustic Guitar: Tony Manes
Electric Guitar: Emilios Rompotis, Sofia Fazeli
Bass: Giota Dagdeleni
Drums: Alexia Bassole, Christos Papadopoulos

When: Wednesday, June 3, 2026 | 15:30 – 18:30

Where: 7th Level Auditorium, The American College of Greece, 6 Gravias Str., Aghia Paraskevi

Organized by:
Cinema Studies Society & the Deree Film Club, Deree – The American College of Greece

Deadline for film submission: Monday, May 25, 2025
Please send all queries to [email protected]

About the event
Lights, camera, action! The Annual Student Film Festival is an event honoring the cinematic talent of ACG students as budding directors, screenwriters and film editors! Join us for a celebration of our students’ filmmaking skills and submit your own film by the date indicated above.

Whether you’re behind the lens or in the audience, come be a part of the magic that happens when creativity meets the screen.

The event is free and open to the public.

Making a successful short documentary as a student

When:
Tuesday, June 2nd, 2026 | 18:00 – 20:00

Where:
7th Level Auditorium, ACG Main Campus, Gravias 6

Organized by:
Cinema Studies Society – The American College of Greece

Supported by:
Cinema Studies Programme, Arts & Creative Industries Department

About the event

The Cinema Studies Society invites documentary filmmaker Filippos Ferentinos to screen his work and discuss with ACG students challenges and creative processes in filmmaking.

Agenda/Program

Screening of the film “The Last Nomad”

Duration: 24min

Open Discussion with the director Filippos Ferentinos

The Last Nomad:
Greek Sarakatsani community members, a former group of nomadic animal breeders, share personal experiences and discuss the concept of identity in today’s world. A tribute to collective memory through an experiential journey that sets out from the past, progresses into the present, and contemplates the future.

Grounded in ethnographic observation and personal testimony, this research explores the endurance of intangible cultural memory in a post-nomadic life.

It delves into questions of belonging, continuity, and transformation within a community redefining its identity between past and present, offering a reflection on how heritage adapts and survives when its original context fades.

About the director

Filippos Ferentinos is an Athens-based director and photographer specializing in visual and ethnographic storytelling. His work explores the intersections of identity, memory, and underrepresented narratives. He holds an MSc in Culture and Documentary Production from the University of the Aegean.

His acclaimed graduate thesis documentary, The Last Nomad, has been featured in numerous Greek and international festivals, notably receiving a Jury Special Mention at the Los Angeles Greek Film Festival and the Best Student Documentary Award at the 19th DocFest Chalkida.

The event is free and open to the public.

Pillars of Democracy Town Hall:
Democracy in the Feed:
Politics in the Age of Social Media

When: Thursday, May 28, 2026 | 19:30
Where: ACG Plaka building, Ipitou Str. 17B, Plaka, Athens

Co-organized by:
The Demos Center of The American College of Greece, Prwtovoulia Newn

How are scrolling feeds and algorithms reshaping modern political discourse? Pillars of Democracy Townhall: Democracy in the Feed: Politics in the Age of Social Media brings together a dynamic panel of experts from academia, digital journalism, and communications strategy to dissect the shifting realities of civic engagement. This session explores the critical intersections of algorithmic news, political messaging, and digital citizenship. Join us to discover how the digital world is actively redefining the future of democracy.

Panelists:

Thomas Siomos
Assistant Professor of Political Communication, Department of Political Science and Public Administration, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA)

Rodis Savvakis
CEO of fyi.news, a cutting-edge, innovative, social-media first news medium that curates the news for the digital generations

George Varnelis
Senior Communications Strategist for EU and National public institutions at Netcompany. Member of Youth Initiative

Moderator:

Kostis Katsanevas
Managing Director of Career Gate
and Special advisor at Crestview Strategy

The program will be in Greek.

Art for All

Want to discover art differently?
Want to see what inclusive education actually looks like in practice?
Want to experience a collection — and a community — that leaves no one behind?
Then join us on Thursday May 28 ✨ at 17.00 at Aghia Paraskevi Campus: 6 Gravias Street

When:
Thursday, May 28, 2026 | 17:00

Where:
Deree Entrance, ACG Main Campus, Gravias 6 (not the main ACG entrance)

Organized by:
Life is for All and The ACG Art Collection of The Frances Rich School of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences

About the event

Art for All is an inclusive art tour of The ACG Art Collection @acg_artcollection of The Frances Rich School of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences— created by an extraordinary group of students from @deree_acg, in collaboration with @lifeis.forall. Over one full year, they researched, curated, and built a tour designed to be accessible for everyone — including neurodivergent visitors. The result? Something we’re incredibly proud of.

Art for All is a year-long inclusive education project born from a simple but radical idea: that art belongs to everyone. In collaboration between Life is for All and The ACG Art Collection, a group of Deree students — from Visual Arts, Art History, Graphic Design and Psychology — worked alongside curators, faculty, and inclusion advocates to build something extraordinary: a tailor-made art tour of The ACG Collection, designed from the ground up to be accessible for neurodivergent visitors and the general public alike.

Over the course of one academic year, students immersed themselves in every stage of creating a real art tour — selecting works, researching, writing, and learning to speak about art in ways that are open, thoughtful, and genuinely inclusive. They didn’t just study inclusion. They practiced it.

What does it mean to truly see a work of art — and to make sure everyone can? Art for All is a year-long inclusive education project, that brought together students, college professors, and neurodiversity advocates to answer exactly that question. The result is a tailor-made, publicly accessible tour of The ACG Art Collection — crafted by the students themselves, for everyone.

An inclusive art tour to raise awareness.

Art for All is a collaboration between Life is for All (AMKE) https://lifeisforall.gr/en/ and The ACG Art Collection, curated by Dr. Polina Kosmadaki https://www.acg.edu/about-acg/acg-art/

ACG contributors
ACG Care Centre: Dr Katingo Hadjipateras Giannoulis (Associate Director)
ACG Art Collection: Ioanna Papapavlou, Dr. Ana S. González Rueda. Katerina Milesi
ACG Art History Program Professor: Christos Asomatos
ACG Visual Arts Program Professors: Irini Miga, Jennifer Nelson
Research Assiastant: Jojo Mourika
Deree students: Ioanna Harmantzis, Aristi Kouri, Aikaterini Merkouri, Jojo Mourika, Evangelia Ntampanli, Theodosia Skoumpi, Lily Yas

This interactive art tour is a new experience of using curatorial methods to raise awareness about invisible disabilities, respect for difference and the need for making this world more accessible to all, starting with education and culture.

Students from Deree – The American College of Greece, drawn from the disciplines of Visual Arts, Art History, Graphic Design and Psychology — worked alongside faculty from the Fine and Performing Arts and Liberal Arts schools across one full academic year.

Participants engaged in every stage of building an art tour from the ground up: selecting works from the collection, completing condition reports, conducting research, analyzing and describing artworks, and developing presentation skills for public speaking. Crucially, the tour was designed with neurodivergent visitors at its center — making it genuinely accessible, not just in theory but in practice.

About Life is for All

Life is for All is a civic non-profit organization (AMKE) founded on the belief that inclusion is a fundamental human right. The organization works to promote the full participation in public life of people with learning differences, neurodevelopmental disorders, and physical disabilities — through awareness, education, and meaningful collaboration with institutions, educators, and the wider community.

About the ACG Art Collection

The ACG Art Collection is one of the most significant academic art collections in Greece, housed at the American College of Greece campus. It serves as a living educational resource for students, faculty, and the broader public, bringing together works that span decades of Greek and international artistic practice.

For further information, please contact Niki Kladakis, (+30) 210 600 9800 ext. 1456, [email protected]

Guest Lecture: From Nutrient Restriction to Lifespan Extension: Is Autophagy the Missing Link?

When:
Monday, May 25 , 2026 | 17:00

Where:
AC Auditorium – Deree the American College of Greece – Gravias 6

Organized by:
Department of Natural Sciences, Deree – The American College of Greece

About the talk:

The quest of extending the life span is a multibillion dollar business that includes some solid science but also a lot of hype. One strategy that seems to be successful is related to nutrient restriction, either in the form of a general reduction in nutrients every day or by intermittent fasting, which most people know as the 5/2 diet. Although some of the benefits from such nutrient limitation are real, the mechanism by which they exert this beneficial effect is still under extensive investigation.

In this talk, data will be presented showing that nutrient restriction leads to lifespan extension in a variety of organisms, and it will be argued that part of the benefit is the activation of autophagy, a cellular pathway that generates nutrients during periods of starvation and “cleans” cells from harmful material that builds up over time.

About the speaker

Dr Nicholas Ktistakis is a Senior Group Leader at the Babraham Institute, partner organization of the University of Cambridge. In addition to his research work, he also teaches in the Biochemistry Programme of the University of Cambridge topics related to autophagy and membrane traffic. He is a Molecular Cell Biologist by training interested in autophagy and ageing.

Dr Ktistakis is the Chief Co-Editor (with Professor Dan Klionsky) of the Journal Autophagy and is a co-founder and member of the advisory board of AUTOMERA, a biotechnology company based in Singapore and funded by Singapore and the US to identify novel drugs that use autophagy to degrade harmful cellular material.

He maintains a strong connection with Greece: He has taken part in over 60 evaluation committees for Greek University undergraduate and post-graduate programmes, including the recent evaluation of private Universities in Greece. He is also a founding member of KOMVOS, an independent organization that aims to mobilize the dynamic Greek diaspora in order to highlight world Hellenism, and a member of the Board of Directors of ΠΡΩΠΑΙΔΕΙΑ, an independent organization that aims to improve the educational system in Greece and to connect it with the healthy economy.

Dr. Gabor Maté at The American College of Greece

When:
Sunday, May 24, 2026, 11:00-13:00

Where:
Pierce Theater – The American College of Greece

About the presentation

The internationally renowned physician, author, and speaker Gabor Maté is coming to Athens to present his book Scattered Minds, published by Key Books, at an open-to-the-public event.

In this rare public appearance, the author will share his radical approach to Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), highlighting the decisive role of environment, upbringing, and lived experiences in shaping the human mind. Drawing on his extensive clinical experience as well as his personal story—having been diagnosed with ADHD himself, as well as his three children—he proposes a more humane and hopeful way of understanding and addressing ADHD.

This talk will offer the audience a unique opportunity to engage with the ideas of one of the most influential contemporary thinkers on trauma, mental health, and parenting.

A knowledge-rich and inspiring experience for parents, educators, and anyone seeking a deeper understanding of themselves and others.

The event will be opened by psychologist and author Agni Mariakaki, a Deree – ACG alumna.

Following Dr. Maté’s 90-minute talk, in English, a 30-minute Q&A session with the audience will take place.

The event is free and open to the public. Registration is required, HERE.

ABYSS

When:
Saturday, May 23rd , 2026 | 20:30 – 21:30 (doors open at 20:00)

Where:
Black-Box Theatre – Deree the American College of Greece – Gravias 6

Organized by:
The Theatre Program, Department of Music, Theatre & Dance,
The American College of Greece

About the event:

ABYSS is a solo dance performance by Sabina Andrea Allen, performed by Xenia Argyri, that situates fear within a submerged environment. Staged around and inside an aquarium, the work examines how fear is embodied through the feminine, where softness becomes suspect and survival becomes a physical negotiation. Drawing on the greek etymology of ἄβυσσος (“bottomless”), the choreography blends contemporary movement with butoh-inflected stillness, informed by the dual imagery of the jellyfish and Medusa. A layered soundscape: water, techno pulses, opera, lament creates an immersive psychological terrain. After a one month self-funded residency in Berlin (June, 2025) Abyss Premiered at MOVING BODIES Festival in Potsdam, (August 2025), ABYSS offers a stark meditation on vulnerability, containment, and transformation.

About the performer

Sabina Andrea Allen
Artist, Choreographer, Performer, and Visual Designer

Sabina-Andrea Allen is a Greek-American multidisciplinary artist, choreographer, performer, and visual designer. She was selected as an artist-in-residence at the U(R)TOPIAS Academy of Choreography (AERITES), ELEUSIS 23/24, where she choreographed Above the Earth, Beneath the Clouds: Where Angels Float Freely. Her screendance works, including A Dance Goodbye: Nuclear Radio and Dialogus inter Feminas et Natura, have been featured in international festivals. In 2022, she co-founded the physical theatre company Corpus Franca and co-choreographed The Doubles with Eryfili Drakopoulou, a piece inspired by Jean Genet’s The Maids. Since then, she has been co-running the independent art space To Pano Spiti and has collaborated with artists such as Dimitris Vassilakis, Naxatras, Denis Lavant, and Ana Sánchez-Colberg, among others. In 2025, she was selected for Digital on Stage in Maribor, Slovenia (funded by Creative Europe). That same year, in August, her piece ABYSS premiered at Moving Bodies Festival for Dance at Tiefer See, Potsdam. Her earlier work includes the feminist dance-documentary theatre piece Re.Claim (2019). She began her studies in Theatre at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki before transferring to Deree, The American College of Greece on a scholarship, earning a BA (Hons) in Contemporary Dance Practice (2021). She is currently an MA student in Visual Communication at Vakalo School of Fine Art and Design in Athens.

The event is free and open to the public.

Please register by May 22nd, 2026

For further clarifications, please contact [email protected]

Don’t miss the 2026 Arts Festival, taking place at Deree – The American College of Greece, which is free and open to the public and will feature exciting cultural events
– from arts, music, dance, theater & film.

From May 23 – June 3, the Frances Rich School of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences at Deree, presents this year’s Arts Festival! Following the successful course of the first Arts Festival in 2012, the festival is expected to be rich in various cultural events that will take place on campus. Faculty and students from the departments of Music, Theatre Arts and Dance, Visual Arts, Graphic Design and Cinema Studies have collaborated with established artists to create an exciting program that combines lectures, master classes, performances, and workshops for a true celebration of the arts!

See the program here.

The seminar will be followed by a reception and is free and open to the public. It may also be attended via MS Teams, with the link provided on the day of the event and sent by email to those who opt for online participation.

For more information, please contact us at [email protected]

The Beauty of Tango and its History

When:
Friday, May 15, 2026 | 19:30

Where:
Pierce Theater – The American College of Greece

About the event

“The Beauty of Tango and its History” is a unique music and dance performance that invites audiences on an artistic journey through time and across cultures, revealing Tango as a living and ever-evolving art form. Under the artistic direction of composer and accordion soloist Zoe Tiganouria, the performance travels from Argentina and Uruguay to retro-era Greece, connecting the timeless spirit of Tango with contemporary artistic expression.

Iconic works by Astor Piazzolla, Carlos Gardel, Mariano Mores, Ángel Villoldo, and Gerardo Matos Rodríguez are brought to life alongside Greek tango influences. The production features distinguished singers, musicians, dancers, and choreographers, creating a rich and emotional stage experience.

Organized by “Δεσμοί Αλληλεγγύης,” a non-profit organization offering significant social support to vulnerable families across Attica, the event combines culture with social contribution and the proceeds will support individuals in need.

The event is held under the auspices of the Municipality of Agia Paraskevi.

For more, please visit here.

Piano City Athens @Deree – ACG: Evening Concerts

When:
Thursday, May 14, 2026, 18:00 – 20:30
Friday, May 15, 2026, 17:00 – 22:30

Where:
7th level Auditorium, Deree – The American College of Greece

Co-organized by:
FRS-Music Programs @ Deree – The American College of Greece and Piano City Athens

Under the auspices of
This is Athens Festival and the Ministry of Culture, Hellenic Republic

About the concerts

Join us for an evening of piano concerts, where talented pianists will be hosted at the state-of-the-art facilities of Deree.

The program is varied and diverse with the participation of distinguished alumni, internationally renowned faculty members of the Music programs and friends of ACG who invite us to an evening filled with pianistic inspiration and virtuosity. Works of the classical repertoire, improvisations, jazz, works for four hands and two pianos will be presented in solo recitals and group concerts, featuring a wide range of the pianistic art.

The concerts are organized as part of the 4th Piano City Athens festival.

MAY 9 – 18, 2026 ALL OVER ATHENS!

For the full program festival click HERE

For the program at Deree – ACG and the artists’ bios, check out HERE

The event is free and open to the public. Parking upon availability.

For further information, please contact [email protected]

Invitation to the First Roundtable of the BRIDGE Project
Bridges for Inclusion & Participation
A Dialogue on Migration, Refugee Experiences and Public Policy

We are pleased to invite you to the first thematic roundtable of the BRIDGE project (Building Responsible Institutional Dialogue for Governance and Empowerment), dedicated to the contemporary challenges surrounding migration and refugee experiences.

The roundtable seeks to foster dialogue and collaboration among civil society organizations, institutional actors, and the academic community on migration and refugee policy. As migration and refugee issues remain at the forefront of social and political debate in Greece and across Europe, the need for inclusive and integration-oriented policies that promote social cohesion, equality, democratic participation, and the protection of human rights is more important than ever.

The BRIDGE project aims to strengthen the meaningful participation of Civil Society Organizations in public policy-making processes. Through a dynamic digital platform of Open Educational Resources (OER), six thematic roundtables focusing on migration and refugee issues, gender-based violence, sexual identity and equality, child protection, homelessness, and public space and democracy, as well as a series of podcasts, the project creates spaces for exchange and engagement  among civil society, public institutions, and the academic community. The project’s outcomes will include concrete policy recommendations and a Best Practices Handbook aimed at strengthening collaboration and democratic participation.

Participants

• Professor Dimitris Kairidis, MP, former Minister of Migration and Asylum
• Dr. Heracles Moskoff, Secretary General for Vulnerable Persons and Institutional Protection, Ministry of Migration and Asylum
• Dr. Sissy Andritsopoulou, Scientific Director, Nostos NGO
• Marietta Lixourioti, Executive Manager, Faros Elpidas NGO
• Lefteris Papagiannakis, Director, Greek Council for Refugees (GCR)

Moderator

Dr. Chryssa Zachou, Chair of the Department of Social Sciences, American College of Greece

We warmly invite you to contribute actively to the discussion on the contemporary challenges, needs, and prospects related to migration and refugee issues by sharing your knowledge and experience in shaping meaningful and inclusive policies.

Your presence would be a great honor and a valuable contribution to the dialogue.

Piano City Athens @Deree – ACG: Evening Concerts

When:
Thursday, May 14, 2026, 18:00 – 20:30
Friday, May 15, 2026, 17:00 – 22:30

Where:
7th level Auditorium, Deree – The American College of Greece

Co-organized by:
FRS-Music Programs @ Deree – The American College of Greece and Piano City Athens

Under the auspices of
This is Athens Festival and the Ministry of Culture, Hellenic Republic

About the concerts

Join us for an evening of piano concerts, where talented pianists will be hosted at the state-of-the-art facilities of Deree.

The program is varied and diverse with the participation of distinguished alumni, internationally renowned faculty members of the Music programs and friends of ACG who invite us to an evening filled with pianistic inspiration and virtuosity. Works of the classical repertoire, improvisations, jazz, works for four hands and two pianos will be presented in solo recitals and group concerts, featuring a wide range of the pianistic art.

The concerts are organized as part of the 4th Piano City Athens festival.

MAY 9 – 18, 2026 ALL OVER ATHENS!

For the full program festival click HERE

For the program at Deree – ACG and the artists’ bios, check out HERE

The event is free and open to the public. Parking upon availability.

For further information, please contact [email protected]

Piano City Athens Festival, Deree – The American College of Greece

When: Thursday, May 14, 2026 | 10:00-17:00
Where: 7th level Auditorium, Deree – The American College of Greece

Co-organized by:
Francis Rich School of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences – Music Programs @ Deree – The American College of Greece and Piano City Athens

Under the Auspices of
This is Athens Festival and the Ministry of Culture, Hellenic Republic

About the event

For the fourth consecutive year, renowned pianist and professor of the Music programs at Deree — The American College of Greece, Dr. Christine Tokatlian, will give a piano masterclass within the framework of Piano City Athens 2026. Students of Greek conservatories as well as pianists at the beginning of their professional careers are invited to perform works of their choice. During the masterclass, they will receive individual suggestions and guidelines to improve their technical skills and their comprehension of the musical text. As a result, there will be a detailed reading of the score that will enable each student to perceive and share an individual interpretation of the work studied. The teaching session will be 30 minutes for the intermediate, 40 minutes for the advanced and 50-60 minutes for the young professionals.

The masterclass is free and open to the public.

Registration inquiries and applications should be sent via email to [email protected]

The masterclass is organized as part of the 4th Piano City Athens

MAY 9 – 18, 2026
ALL OVER ATHENS

About Christine Tokatlian

Concert Pianist
Assistant Professor of Music & Music Performance, FRSFPA @Deree-ACG

Christine Tokatlian, is a concert pianist praised for her academic distinctions and passionate performance. In 2008 she was awarded the honorary “Eleni Myconiou” prize for artistic excellence by the Athens Academy. At the age of six, Christine was already taking piano lessons at the National Conservatory of Greece which led to a Soloist’s diploma with a grade of Excellence by unanimous vote and First Prize, under the supervision of Manolis Kokalis. Studying under renowned pianists including Dimitri Toufexis, Yu Chun Yee and Bernard Roberts, between 1996 and 1999, Christine receives her Bachelor of Arts in Music from Deree – The American College of Greece, and post-graduate diplomas in Advanced Piano Performance from the Royal College of Music in London (PGDip, PGAdvDip). Performing around Greece, the United Kingdom, Italy, Lebanon, Germany and Armenia alongside distinguished artists including the Komitas Quartet, Christine’s recitals include works by classical, romantic and contemporary composers, as well as new-experimental music all performed with her distinct temperament, undeniably fueled by her Armenian descent. And with the same passionate spirit she premiered Khatchaturian’s Piano Concerto with the Thessaloniki State Orchestra in the Thessaloniki Concert Hall in 2010. Christine also communicates her talent through teaching as she is currently a professor of music at Deree — The American College of Greece and a piano professor at the Maiandrio Conservatory.

She has recorded with various ensembles and artists and in a range of musical styles particularly interested in new music. Her PhD research at Chichester University, UK, focuses on contemporary Armenian piano music and its impact on the re(de)construction of Armenian musical identity. Her research has been presented in international conferences in Athens, London, Istanbul, Berlin and Latvia. Christine serves as a jury member in national competitions and gives piano masterclasses in Greece and abroad. Her students have been awarded several prizes and distinctions in international piano competitions. Armenian Piano Images, Christine’s first personal recording with works of contemporary Armenian composers, some of which are world premieres, serves as a window for her audience to see into her dream of magical musical performance.

EO Accelerator Summit 2026
Take Your Business from €250K to €1M in 36 Months

When:
Wednesday, May 13, 2026 | 17:00-21:00

Where:
ACG Events Hall, Aghia Paraskevi Campus

Organized by:
EO Accelerator

About the event

An evening for founders and leadership teams who want to break free from stagnation and build real, measurable growth using the 4 Pillars of the Scaling Up methodology.

Presentations + Live Panel Discussions + Audience Q&A + Networking Reception

For the agenda, the speakers, to register and more, please visit HERE

The event is free and open to the ACG Community.

Hellinikon Spring Workshop: Bringing ACG’s historic campus to life (1932–1965)

When:
Tuesday, 12 May, 2026 | 10:30 – 16:00

Where:
Events Hall (JSB Library, upper level), Aghia Paraskevi Campus, Gravias 6

Organized by:
the SYN-CREATE Research Team – The American College of Greece

In collaboration with:
Graphic Design Program (ACI); History Program; ACG Library Archives; Research Office / RTIN; Office of Advancement; Center of Excellence in Shipping, Logistics, and Energy

Supported by:
ACG150; Frances Rich School of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences

About the event:

The Hellinikon Spring Workshop is an interdisciplinary and intergenerational event initiated by the SYN-CREATE Research Team (RTIN) that brings together Pierce alumni from the Hellinikon years, Deree students, researchers, and faculty in a collaborative environment connecting student-led archival research, digital storytelling, and creative practice. Through presentations, documentary screenings, and hands-on creative work, participants explore and reinterpret the College’s history at the Hellinikon campus using animation, design methods, and research-through-practice to uncover shared memories, hidden voices, and lived experiences while shaping future phases of the project.

For further clarifications, please contact [email protected]

Agenda/Program

10:30 — Welcome & Introduction – Marina Emmanouil (SYN-CREATE)
10:40 — Screening of Mission: Sunny Days documentary (75’) & Discussion with the director

Coffee Break (10’)

12:30 — Framing the Historical Context (15’)
• Introduction to the Hellinikon Campus – Metaxia Papageorgiou (SYN-CREATE)
• “Tracing Theatre Practices at Hellinikon”
History student presentation based on archival research

12:45 — Design Interpretations of Campus Life (35’)
• Introduction to the GD4646 Digital Design II Project – Aliki Kakoulidou (Graphic Design Program)
• “Animating Athletics: Reimagining Movement at Hellinikon”
Graphic Design student presentations

Lunch Break (20’)

13:45 — Co-Creation Session: Reviving the Hellinikon Experience (90’)
A shared space for dialogue between PIERCE (Hellinikon) alumni and DEREE students.
Facilitator: Marina Emmanouil
• Round-table conversations using a co-creation approach and prompts
15:30 — Closing
• Beyond the event: Shared paths and future interactions

The Demos Center and the Institute for Hellenic Culture and Liberal Arts of The American College of Greece and the National Hellenic Research Foundation, cordially invite you to the lecture:

From Empire to Nation: Transitions beyond Asia Minor

When:
Monday, May 11, 2026 | 19:00
Where:
ACG Plaka building, Ipitou 17b str., Athens GR 10557

Georgios Giannakopoulos
Associate Professor in Modern History
City St.George’s, University of London

About the lecture

In this lecture, Dr. Georgios Giannakopoulos explores the comparative history of the Ottoman, Habsburg, and British empires, examining the surprising durability of imperial systems during their transition into nation-states. Focusing on the end of the Ottoman Empire and the Greek-Turkish War (1919-22), he analyzes how this pivotal era highlighted the persistence of imperial political cultures, administrative practices, and geopolitical imaginaries. By situating Asia Minor within broader international transformations across Southeastern Europe and the Eastern Mediterranean, the session offers a fresh perspective on the historical legacies that shaped the modern world.

Moderators

Ilay Romain Ors, Deree – The American College of Greece
Elias Kolovos, National Hellenic Research Foundation

About the lecturer

Dr. Georgios Giannakopoulos is an Associate Professor in Modern History and Associate Dean for Employability, Engagement, and Enterprise at City St. George’s, University of London. Based within the School of Policy & Global Affairs and the Department of International Politics, his research explores the intersections of empire and international order. He is the author of The Interpreters: British Internationalism and Empire in Southeastern Europe, 1870-1930 (Manchester University Press, 2025) and co-editor of The War for Anatolia and the Remaking of International Order: Greece, Turkey and the End of the First World War (Bloomsbury, 2026). In addition to his academic roles, he serves as the Associate Editor of the Journal of Modern Greek Studies.

APPLAUSE 2026: Athens Public Speaking Forum

When:
Friday, May 8, 2026
Saturday, May 9, 2026

Where:
Pierce Theater, The American College of Greece

About the Forum:

ACG hosts the APPLAUSE 2026, a two-day interactive educational event, live and via live streaming, dedicated to verbal and nonverbal communication.

Leading Greek and international speakers, communication experts, share their knowledge with us through workshops, speeches, and panels.

Keynote Speaker: Caroline Goyder, an internationally renowned communication expert and speaker best known for her TEDx talk “The Surprising Secret to Speaking with Confidence,” helping leaders and organizations develop confidence, clarity, and authentic presence in high-pressure situations.

For the event and the speakers’ lineup visit HERE.

The Forum is by registration only.
ACG staff, faculty, and students interested in attending are kindly requested to contact [email protected]

World Beautiful Business Forum

When:
May 7-10, 2026
Where:
selected venues throughout Athens, including the ACG Plaka building

Organized by:
House of Beautiful Business

About the Forum:

The House of Beautiful Business, a global platform and community to make humans more human and business more beautiful, turns 10!

They are marking this milestone by renewing their mission: to shape a humanist future in and through business, in partnership with AI, and for the benefit of all life on earth.

The World Beautiful Business Forum brings together those who dream bigger, aim higher, and long for more than efficiency and growth — and are ready to explore what a more-than-human future could feel like. An invitation for the boldest, most original, most whimsical minds across disciplines to think, feel, and do business beyond business.

You can see the program HERE, which includes Five Acts (mainstage session) loosely inspired by the ancient Greek drama, 11 program tracks, 120 concurrent sessions and a lineup of 150+ Greek and International speakers, dedicated to key issues of the life-centered economy.

The Demos Center of The American College of Greece proudly welcomes the World Beautiful Business Forum at the ACG Plaka building on all 3 days!

The Forum is by registration only.

This is an invitation-only event.

Anna Giakoumakatou
Giakoumakatou’s Anemoessa is a multi-projection installation that reconstructs memory as a spatial, immersive environment. Drawing from personal and archival material, the work transforms fragments of lived experience into a unified, inhabitable space. Past and present coexist in shifting, layered images, revealing memory not as a fixed record, but as a living condition. Giakoumakatou’s practice explores memory, identity, and notions of home. As visitors navigate the space, they enter a state of recollection where absence and presence converge—where memory is not only revisited, but physically and emotionally experienced.

Maria-Luisa Dollete
How do you truly feel right now? Dollete’s immersive audiovisual installation Lunaris offers viewers the opportunity to honestly reflect on this vital question. Using the Moon as a vehicle for reconnecting to the Self and the natural world, Dollete’s installation consists of a large-scale moon projection and its watery reflection, 28 self-reflective questions, and a personal monologue. The resulting liminal and introspective space, inspired by Dollete’s own meditation and journaling practices, provides a pause from our fast-paced, technologically-driven, contemporary lives.

Konstantina Chatzouli
In Fluctuations, the artist creates a self portrait through depictions of a glitched urban landscape. In an attempt to explore distorted perception and confusion, Chatzouli translates the visual results of accidental digital errors into paintings and woven pieces. The labor intensive practices and purposeful detailings clash with the idea and speed of accidental digital distortion in a process similar to the artist’s own struggle to locate their analog self within the moving technological landscape.

Phoebe Kainourgiou
Kainourgiou’s process-based installation, Uniquely Yours, is formed through a practice of committed looking at and within herself. Over the course of 8 months, Kainourgiou made daily self-portraits accompanied by short diary entries in an attempt to know her ever-changing self. The installation consists of a long hallway of selected portraits and a video in which drawings of her face pass across her actual face. Inspired by her childhood practice of drawing in school notebooks as a means of escapism, she now makes a more personal and mature visual diary, to promote self-awareness instead. With her attempt to capture her genuine expressions, Kainougiou also comments on harmful societal ideologies about appearance. She explores themes of honesty, filtering, self-image, femininity, mental health, and the only true stability of this world, change.

Natalia Zara
With the installation Αστεροσκοπείο [Observatory], Natalia Zara explores the human need to revisit childhood experiences as a source of comfort and security. Inspired by the intuitive practices of child-play, the work evokes an innocent curiosity. The audience is faced with the installation’s exterior created by cluttered blankets and bedsheets forming a tent-like construction, a kind of pillow fort. Only through play will they discover the interior of the intimate, soft space, which operates as a shelter. Ultimately, Αστεροσκοπείο considers refuge and escapism at a time when global sociopolitical upheaval inevitably leads us to seek safety.

For more information please contact Ms. Niki Kladakis 210 600 9800, ext. 1456 or at [email protected]
ACG Art Gallery – The American College of Greece
6 Gravias Street, 15342 Aghia Paraskevi

RESCHEDULED:
The new date & time for this lecture is Wednesday, April 22, 2026 | 10:30-11:30.

Unlocking Complex Drug Targets:  From Molecular Motion to Rational Drug Design in Oncology

When: Wednesday, April, 22, 2026 | 10:30-11:30
Where: 6th Level Auditorium, Deree – The American College of Greece

Organized by:
Leonardos Mageiros, Information Technology, Cybersecurity and Computer Science
Ph.D., Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Swansea University
Deree – The American College of Greece

About the lecture

Conventional structure-based drug design has long relied on static, “frozen” models of proteins. While these crystallographic and cryo-EM snapshots are foundational, they often fall short when addressing oncology’s most complex and notoriously difficult targets. To successfully inhibit these elusive cancer drivers, we must move beyond the static paradigm and uncover their dynamic functional mechanisms. This lecture explores an advanced computational ecosystem where AI structure prediction integrates with Coarse-Grained and Atomistic Molecular Dynamics (MD) simulations. Together, they create a predictive engine capable of decoding the “molecular motion” of proteins to lay the groundwork for truly rational drug discovery.

What to Expect:

• Beyond Trial-and-Error: Learn how to target cancer drivers in a smarter, data-driven manner.
• The “Undruggable” Challenge: Explore two distinct case studies of major oncology targets that have evaded the global scientific community for decades.
• Exposing Vulnerabilities: Discover how unraveling fundamental functional dynamics can expose hidden structural vulnerabilities, finally opening the door to targeted drug design.

About the lecturer

Dr. Nastazia Lesgidou is a Computational Structural Biologist whose research bridges the gap between fundamental biophysics and computer-aided drug design. She earned her PhD from the Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics at the Democritus University of Thrace, in collaboration with NCSR “Demokritos”.

Following her doctoral studies, Dr. Lesgidou conducted postdoctoral research at the Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens (BRFAA) within a high-impact collaboration with Novartis. Currently, she is a Postdoctoral Researcher at the Computational Drug Design and AI Group (University of West Attica). Her work utilizes high-performance computing to investigate the structural dynamics of disease-associated proteins, while she remains deeply committed to academic teaching and the mentorship of future scientists.

When: Monday, April 20, 2026 | 19:00–22:00
Where: ACG Events Hall

Co-organized by:
The Theodore Papalexopoulos Sustainability Dialogues, the Institute for Hellenic Growth and Prosperity, and The Demos Center

About the Event

Autocracies now outnumber democracies for the first time in a generation. At the same time, the world is falling behind on every major sustainable development goal—from climate change and biodiversity loss to pandemic preparedness. What if these are not separate crises, but one and the same problem? And what if part of the answer has been waiting, for 2,500 years, on a hillside in Athens?

On Monday, April 20, 2026, The American College of Greece welcomes Professor James Bacchus to the ACG Events Hall for a timely and thought-provoking lecture that brings global urgency into direct dialogue with the origins of democracy itself.

Drawing on his latest book, Democracy for a Sustainable World: The Path from the Pnyx (Cambridge University Press, 2025; Financial Times Best Book on Global Political and Economic Thought), Bacchus revisits the foundations of democratic governance to reimagine its future. Beginning from the Pnyx—the Athenian hillside where citizens once gathered to govern themselves—he connects ancient democratic practice with some of the most pressing challenges facing the world today.

At the heart of the lecture is a compelling argument: the global retreat of democracy and the failure to meet sustainability goals are deeply interconnected, and neither can be addressed without the other. Responding to these challenges requires more than incremental reform. It calls for a renewed vision of participation, accountability, and collective decision-making.

Central to this vision is the revival of sortition—the selection of citizens by lot—as a complement to representative democracy. Rooted in ancient Athenian practice yet strikingly relevant today, this approach offers a practical and innovative framework for strengthening democratic institutions and restoring public trust.

This is more than a conventional academic lecture. It is a rare opportunity to engage with a leading global thinker whose ideas are grounded not only in scholarship but in experience at the highest levels of governance. As a former U.S. Congressman and a founding member and twice Chairman of the Appellate Body of the World Trade Organization, Bacchus has helped shape the global systems he now challenges us to rethink.

The setting makes this event especially meaningful. Just a few kilometers from the Pnyx, this conversation takes place in the very city where democracy was first imagined and practiced. Athens is not simply the location of the event—it is central to its significance.

The event is open to the public. Advance registration is required.

Program

The evening will begin at 7:00 PM with welcome remarks by Ed Wingenbach, PhD, President of The American College of Greece. The lecture and book presentation by Professor James Bacchus will be followed by a panel discussion featuring Ed Wingenbach, Professor Bacchus, and Associate Professor Effie Fokas, moderated by Professor Pavlos Vlachos and Professor Michalis Psalidopoulos. The event will conclude with an open Q&A session and a reception.

About the Speaker

Professor James Bacchus is Distinguished University Professor of Global Affairs and Director of the Center for Global Economic and Environmental Opportunity at the University of Central Florida. He is also a former U.S. Congressman and former Chairman of the Appellate Body of the World Trade Organization (WTO).

He is among the very few individuals who have both written extensively about global governance and played a central role in shaping it. As a founding member—and twice Chairman—of the WTO Appellate Body, the highest tribunal in world trade, he adjudicated more international trade disputes than any other individual in history. Earlier, as a member of the U.S. Congress (1991–1995), he helped draft the legislation that brought the United States into the WTO.

His previous books, The Willing World (2018) and Trade Links (2022), were both recognized by the Financial Times as Best Books of the Year. His latest work, Democracy for a Sustainable World: The Path from the Pnyx (2025), continues this trajectory, offering a bold and timely rethinking of democratic governance for a rapidly changing world.

Translating Advances in AI/CS to Genomic Discovery

When: Monday, 20 April, 2026 | 18:40-20:00
Where: STEM LAB 1, Gravias 6, The American College of Greece

Co-organized by:
Leonardos Mageiros, Information Technology, Cybersecurity and Computer Science
Ph.D., Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Swansea University
Deree – The American College of Greece

About the event

AI in genomics is advancing at an unprecedented pace. Current models are now being utilized to predict variant effects, gene regulation, and gene expression, as well as to generate candidate biological sequences. These sophisticated systems include discriminative models, DNA foundation models trained on massive genome corpora, and generative models designed for sequence engineering.

However, the field has reached a critical juncture where the power of these systems is often overstated. While AI can significantly assist in analyzing genomes and proposing candidate designs, it cannot yet reliably create entirely new genomes with predictable, organism-level behavior. Notable limitations remain in the predictability and “real-world” application of these generated sequences.

Safety, Security, and the Rise of “Bioagents”

Beyond technical limitations, the integration of AI and genomics raises significant safety and security concerns. Genomic AI systems may be vulnerable to poisoning through:

• Corrupted data and misleading annotations.
• Biased benchmarks or contaminated knowledge sources.
• Predictions that appear broadly capable but lead to erroneous biological conclusions.

Furthermore, the rise of “bioagents”—systems that connect literature search, sequence design, experiment planning, and interpretation—increases dual-use concerns. These integrated systems may lower the barriers to both beneficial breakthroughs and potentially harmful applications, necessitating a rigorous discussion on the future of genomic security.

About the lecturer

Dr. Georgakopoulos-Soares is an Assistant Professor in the College of Pharmacy at The University of Texas at Austin. His research integrates bioinformatics and AI-driven computational biology to investigate the evolutionary forces shaping genomes, non-canonical DNA structures, and human health and disease, with a particular emphasis on cancer.

A major focus of the lab is the development non-invasive approaches through liquid biopsies, that the group is leveraging to create new methods for early stage cancer detection and identification of neoantigens to develop new cancer therapies in close collaboration with clinical and industry partners. Additionally, mechanistic studies are underway to gain fundamental insights into cancer biology and shape how we approach cancer risk assessment and treatment selection.

Other current projects include the identification of species-specific DNA sequences across hundreds of thousands of genomes and their functional significance in evolution and species differentiation and the characterization of non-canonical DNA structures across large-scale genomic datasets and their effect on gene regulation and genome stability. The group also creates and maintains a variety of freely accessible software tools and databases that serve as resources for the scientific community to accelerate genomic discovery.

When: April 18, 2026 | 11 AM EST

Where: Starbucks Coffee Company, Chelsea NYC – 61 9th Ave, New York, NY 10011

Organized by: Office of North American Enrollment & U.S. Federal Aid

About the events

Got questions about enrollment at The American College of Greece, life in Athens, the campus or U.S. Federal Aid? Bring your parents or guardians along and let’s have a chat about your academic future at ACG over a cup of Starbucks coffee. Save the date!

The Body Ego in the Digital Era

When: Friday, April 3, 2026, 18:30-20:30
Where: ACG Plaka Building, Ipitou 17B, Athens

Organized by:
The Visual Arts Program, Deree – The American College of Greece

Supported by:
The Frances Rich School of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences

Moderated by:
Effie Halivopoulou, Professor of Visual Arts, Deree – ACG

About the lecture

This interdisciplinary lecture aims to bring together psychoanalysis and art to explore how we experience our bodies and desire in the age of virtual reality.

About the speakers

Katerina Mangana is psychoanalytic psychotherapist and author. She is regular member, instructor and trainer analyst at ΕΛ.ΕΚ.ΙΝ (Greek Training Institute of Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy). Author of the books: “Small Triumphs” (2026), “A falling leaf: a story about pain and the will to live” (2021), “When the soul disturbs the body” (2018). She contributes with her texts to the publications: “The Body” (2024) & “Theater, Trauma, Therapy” (2023). Prize winning author for best theatrical play “Efi. Apo to Eftihia” (2013).

Elli Paxinou is an art theorist and educator. She has been teaching Aesthetics, Art History and Visual Arts in cultural spaces and Museums in Athens, such as the B.& M. Theocharakis Foundation, the Open Education Foundation (ΑΙΕ), as well as in private colleges and schools, such as the Metropolitan College, AKTO, International School of Athens and Moraitis School. Elli is currently working as a museum educator at the B.& M. Theocharakis Foundation.

The event is free and open to the public.

For further clarifications, please contact [email protected]

Nostos for Greek Adoptees

When: Thursday, April 2, 2026 | 18:30
Where: ACG Events Hall, The American College of Greece
[6 Gravias str., Aghia Paraskevi, GR 15342]

Organized by:
The Demos Center of The American College of Greece

About the event:

Greece’s thousands of adoptees, the so called “Lost Children of Greece”, who were born from the 1940s to the early 1970s, have longed to restore their citizenship for years. These were the first adoptees in history that were systematically sent out of the country for adoption.

For many, getting their Greek Citizenship, it was the only certain connection to a family and a community in Greece. For years, many hurdles lay in the path of these adopted persons, most of whom grew up in the United States. But through an exceptional combination of advocacy, scholarly research, the government’s political will, and institutional support (The American College of Greece, The Demos Center of ACG and King’s College London), the path for Greek-born adoptees to restore their Greek citizenship has now been opened.

Since May 2025, one adopted person after another has achieved this lifelong goal, gaining with it a sense of recognition and symbolic repair. The law that passed helps heal the country from a painful and difficult period that separated families from their children. After all, being Greek runs deep in their sense of belonging and identity.

On 2 April 2026, we will discuss and celebrate this momentous breakthrough with the leading policymakers: Professor Gonda Van Steen, Dr. Athanasios Balermpas, long-time supporter and designer of a range of practical solutions, Dr. Mary Cardaras, Dr. Eirini Karamouzi, adoptee activists and scholars. Also present will be Greek-born adoptees and direct beneficiaries of the legal change.

Event Flow

Welcoming Remarks
Dr. Ed Wingenbach
President, The American College of Greece

Theodoros Livanios
Minister of the Interior, Hellenic Republic

Introductory Remarks
Professor Gonda Van Steen
Koraes Chair of Modern Greek and Byzantine History, Language and Literature
Director, Centre for Hellenic Studies, King’s College, U.K.
ACG 27th Annual Kimon Friar Lecturer

Conversation on “Adoption, Memory and Reform: How is Greece Shaping Policy for its Diaspora?”

Moderator
Victoria Hislop
Bestselling Author
ACG 28th Annual Kimon Friar Lecturer

Panelists

Professor Gonda Van Steen
Koraes Chair of Modern Greek and Byzantine History, Language and Literature
Director, Centre for Hellenic Studies, King’s College, U.K.
ACG 27th Annual Kimon Friar Lecturer

Dr. Athanasios Balermpas
General Secretary, Ministry of Interior, Hellenic Republic
Former Secretary General of Citizenship in Greece (2019–2023)

Dr. Eirini Karamouzi
Professor of Contemporary European History
Associate Dean, Research & Innovation
Deree – The American College of Greece
Editor, Byzantine and Modern Greek Studies Journal

Dr. Mary Cardaras
Founder & Director, The Demos Center of The American College of Greece
Co-Founder of The Kali Polis Project

Reception

The event is free and open to the public. Parking on campus, upon availability.

Registration is required.

The event will be presented in both Greek and English.

For more information, please contact us at [email protected]

Bio of the moderator

Victoria Hislop
Bestselling Author

Victoria Hislop studied English Literature at Oxford University and afterwards worked in book publishing, PR and journalism. During her time as a journalist, she wrote on education and travel for national newspapers and magazines and was sent on assignments around the world. Inspired by a visit to Spinalonga, the abandoned Greek leprosy colony, Victoria wrote The Island in 2005. She was named Newcomer of the Year at the British Book Awards and the novel became an international bestseller, translated into 40 languages, with over 6 million copies sold worldwide. It was turned into a 26-part Greek TV series which achieved record ratings for Greece.

Her affection for the Mediterranean then took her to Spain, and in The Return she wrote about the painful secrets of its civil war. In her third novel, The Thread, Victoria returned to Greece to tell the extraordinary and turbulent tale of Thessaloniki and its people across the 20th century. Published in 2011 to widespread acclaim, it confirmed her reputation as an inspirational storyteller and was shortlisted for a British Book Award. The Thread is currently in development with a British TV production company. The Sunrise, set in Cyprus and published in 2014, was followed by Cartes Postales from Greece, which is her first work of fully color-illustrated fiction and was also short-listed for the British Book Awards fiction title of the year. It was adapted into a twelve-part drama for ERT1 in 2021.

Those Who Are Loved, published in 2019, tells the story of Greece’s traumatic period of Occupation and Civil War during the 20th century. In 2020, came the sequel to The Island, One August Night, and Victoria was executive producer on the adaptation for Greek state television. Victoria’s first book for children, Maria’s Island (listed by Waterstones as one of the best children’s books of the year) was also published in 2020 – and is an adaptation of The Island for a younger audience. All of Victoria’s novels have hit the number one position in the UK charts, but have also been bestsellers in Greece, China, France, Israel and Norway. She has won several literary awards in France.

As well as studying the Greek language (it is her ultimate ambition to read everything and anything without the presence of a dictionary by her side), she spends her spare time reading, swimming, boxing, playing tennis and, these days, dancing (having been a contestant in Greece’s version of “Strictly” in 2021). She is an ambassador for Lepra, a UK charity that raises money to treat the estimated three million leprosy sufferers worldwide, and is also an ambassador for the National Literacy Trust which promotes reading in the UK. Victoria is Patron of Knossos 2025 which is raising funds to renew the British School of Athens research center in Crete. In 2019, Victoria was awarded an Honorary Doctorate by the University of Sheffield, and in 2020 she was given Honorary Citizenship by the Greek President for her promotion of Greece.

Her last novel, The Figurine, was published in the UK in September 2023. A central theme is the looting of archaeological treasures and the meaning of “home”. Hislop’s next novel, The Wine Dark Sea, is expected to be published in September 2026 and will take us to Chios among other places in Greece. A large part of the story is about a mother whose young son was stolen for adoption during the Greek Civil War.

Bio of the panelists

Professor Gonda Van Steen
Koraes Chair of Modern Greek and Byzantine History, Language and Literature Director, Centre for Hellenic Studies, King’s College, U.K. 27th Kimon Friar Lecturer at The American College of Greece

Gonda Van Steen earned a PhD in Classics and Hellenic Studies from Princeton University and holds the position of Koraes Chair of Modern Greek and Byzantine History, Language and Literature at King’s College London. She also serves as the Director of the Centre for Hellenic Studies at King’s.

Her early scholarship focused on the intersection of ancient drama and modern Greek politics. Her first book, Venom in Verse: Aristophanes in Modern Greece (2000), was awarded the John D. Criticos Prize. She followed this with Liberating Hellenism from the Ottoman Empire (2010), Theatre of the Condemned: Classical Tragedy on Greek Prison Islands (2011), and Stage of Emergency: Theater and Public Performance under the Greek Military Dictatorship of 1967-1974 (2015), which analyzed performance and censorship under the Greek junta.

In recent years, Professor Van Steen has pioneered research into the “lost children” of Greece. Her 2019 book, Adoption, Memory and Cold War Greece: Kid pro quo? (published in Greek in 2021), explored the uncharted terrain of postwar Greek adoption stories. She followed this with the 2024 publication of The Battle for Bodies, Hearts and Minds in Postwar Greece, an annotated memoir of an American social worker in Thessaloniki.

Her most recent contributions include co-editing The War for Anatolia and the Remaking of International Order (2026) and the 2025 play Adoptions Reckonings: For Three Refrigerators and a Washing Machine, which centers the narratives of Greek-born adoptees. Professor Van Steen can be reached at [email protected].

Dr. Athanasios Balermpas
General Secretary, Ministry of Interior, Hellenic Republic
Former Secretary General of Citizenship in Greece (2019–2023)

Athanasios Balermpas was born in Athens in 1966. He holds a Bachelor’s degree (B.Sc.) in Greek Philology from Aristotle’s University of Thessaloniki and a Master’s Degree (M.Sc.) in Sustainable Local Development. He earned his Ph.D. in Architecture from the Department of Urban Planning – Spatial Planning at the National Technical University of Athens. He is fluent in both English and German.

As an active scholar, Dr. Balermpas has participated as a guest speaker in numerous forums and conferences focused on urban environment and cultural issues. He has published several studies in scientific journals and is the author of multiple books on rhetoric, ancient Greece, and history through Livanis and Hellenic Literature Publications. His forthcoming book, The Physiognomy of the Greek Urban Environment Through Literature, is set to be published by EURASIA Publications, and his articles frequently appear in the daily and periodical press.

In his professional career, he has served as President and CEO for various Public Limited Companies within the wider public sector and local government. He currently works as a certified education executive in an International Baccalaureate (IB) authorized educational program. Most recently, from 2019 until 2023, he served as the Secretary General of Citizenship at the Ministry of Interior.

Dr. Eirini Karamouzi
Professor of Contemporary European History
Associate Dean, Research & Innovation
Deree – The American College of Greece
Editor, Byzantine and Modern Greek Studies Journal

Eirini Karamouzi is a Professor of Contemporary European History at The American College of Greece and an associate professor of Contemporary History at the University of Sheffield. She has held fellowships at the London School of Economics, Yale University, University of Oxford, University of Tampere, and the European University Institute.

She is the author of Greece, the EEC and the Cold War: The Second Enlargement (2014), co-editor of The Balkans in the Cold War (2017), and co-editor of Beyond the Euromissiles: The Global Histories of Anti-nuclear Activism (Berghahn, 2025). She has published extensively in the Journal of Contemporary History, Cold War History, and International History Review on issues related to the history of European integration, democracy, and protest in Southern Europe, as well as Greek foreign policy.

Currently, she co-directs an AHRC network grant on global anti-nuclear activism and a Laskaridis-funded project on US–Greek relations in the Metapolitefsi, 1974-2024. Her current research project, supported by the Onassis Foundation and Research England, deals with the historical role of tourism in Greece’s nation branding.

Dr. Mary Cardaras
Founder & Director, The Demos Center of The American College of Greece
Co-Founder of The Kali Polis Project

Mary Cardaras is the Founder and Director of The Demos Center at The American College of Greece. An Emmy Award-winning journalist, writer, and documentary filmmaker, she holds a PhD in Public and International Affairs from Northeastern University in Boston. She has been teaching at the university level since 1991, with a career-long focus on developing students into active, curious, and globally-minded citizens.

The Demos Center represents the culmination of Dr. Cardaras’s dedication to public policy, journalism, and the arts. Her work is rooted in the belief that a healthy, free society requires government that serves its people, journalism that “shines a light in dark corners,” and a vibrant, flourishing arts community.

A Greek-born adoptee herself, Dr. Cardaras has been a leading advocate for the restoration of Greek citizenship for the “lost children of Greece”—the approximately 4,000 children adopted abroad between 1948 and 1975. She launched the Nostos for Greek Born Adoptees campaign, which garnered over 75,000 signatures from around the world. Her advocacy was instrumental in the historic passage of the 2025 law that finally restored citizenship rights to this community.

Online Info Session for International Students

Experience U.S. Education at The American College of Greece!

When: Wednesday, April 2, 2026 | 15:00-16:00 EET
Where: Online (Zoom link provided upon registration)

Join us for an inspiring live session and discover why Greece is becoming one of the top destinations for international students.
Learn how you can start your academic journey this January at The American College of Greece (ACG), where excellence meets culture, community, and opportunity!

Who should attend 

International students interested in pursuing undergraduate or postgraduate studies in Europe.

Why Attend?

• Discover why Greece is an inspiring place to live and study
• Explore the globally recognized academic programs available
• Learn about authentic experiences from college representatives 
• Find out how you can start your studies as early as this January

Event Agenda

1. Welcome & Introduction (5’)
   Meet our team and get an overview of what to expect in this session.
2. Study in Greece (10’)
   Living and Studying in Greece 101: Learn what it’s like to live and study in one of Europe’s safest, most vibrant, and affordable countries. Discover Greece’s international student community, lifestyle, and culture.
3. Academic Programs Overview (15’)
   Explore ACG’s wide range of English-taught programs, global accreditations, and study abroad options that open doors worldwide.
4. Student Life & Experience (10’)
   Discover student life beyond the classroom. Join a welcoming international campus community by getting involved in the clubs, societies, and athletics that shape ACG’s signature college life.
5. Admissions & Scholarships (10’)
   Understand the step-by-step application process, admission requirements, key deadlines, and scholarship opportunities available to international students.
6. Live Q&A + Closing Remarks (10-15’)
   Ask your questions directly to our admissions team and hear how to take your next step — whether applying or booking a personal consultation.

Register below to reserve your spot! 

Network me up Powered by Allwyn Hellas

When: Thursday, April 2, 2026 | 11:00-16:00

Where: Deree Faculty Lounge

Organized by: ACG Career Services

About the event

OPAP is now Allwyn, entering a new era of transformation powered by digitalization, innovation and unique experiences. Our people continue to evolve with a clear purpose: to make play better for all by focusing on innovation, technology, player safety and returning more to good causes.

But what does that actually mean for you?

🏢 Discover Allwyn’s new era. See how the company is transforming, experience the culture and understand what it’s really like to work here.

🎯 See how Responsible Gaming, powered by AI, Technology, Data and Communications, drives real business decisions and shapes everything we do.

🎤 Hear from people who started exactly where you are. Meet graduates and Allwyn interns who built their careers with us – and ask them anything.

🚀 Discover internship and early-career opportunities, network with our People experts, and learn what skills actually matter from day one.

Agenda:

11:00 – 11:30 | Registration & Warm-Up

11:30 – 12:30 | A Winning Career Awaits: Inside Allwyn & Networking – Athina Antoniadou, Employer Branding Expert

12:30 – 13:30 | A Purpose‑Driven Rebranding Journey: OPAP is now Allwyn – Konstantinos Digalakis, Communications Expert-Brand

14:00 – 14:15 | Break

14.15 – 15.15 | Leveraging AI for Digital Transformation and Responsible Gaming – Alexia Mantou, AI Manager & Savvas Iliopoulos, Responsible Gaming Expert

15:15 – 16:00 | From Campus to Career: Real Stories, Real Paths & Networking – Deree Alumni Panel

Bring your vibe. Bring your questions.

Come curious. Leave inspired.

On-the-spot registration at the event will also be available.

BLOOD DRIVE in support of Aretaieio & NIMTS Hospitals and Aimodosia 365 & Hellenic Red Cross

When:
Wednesday, April 1, 2026 | 09:00-15:00
Thursday, April 2, 2026 | 10:00-16:00
Friday, April 3, 2026 | 10:00-16:00

Where: Deree Student Lounge, ACG campus

Co-organized by
ACG Health & Wellness
Office of Sustainability – Public Affairs
Office of Student Affairs

Supported by
ACG Sustainability Leaders
SNF Scholars’ Organization
Deree Student Association (DSA)

Chemoinformatics in the age of AI

When: Thursday, April, 2 2026 | 8:30
Where: via Microsoft Teams, click on button below

Organized by:
Department of Natural Sciences, Deree – The American College of Greece

In collaboration with:
Department of Computing and Mathematics, Deree – The American College of Greece

About the lecture

Dr. Georgia Kythreoti, Chair of the Department of Natural Sciences at Deree – The American College of Greece, cordially invites you to attend a guest lecture by Professor Shoba Ranganathan, Honorary Professor of Bioinformatics in Applied Biosciences at Macquarie University in Sydney. This session will explore the transformative integration of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) into the field of chemoinformatics.

The lecture provides a comprehensive overview of chemoinformatics, focusing on the essential role of computational methodologies in the storage, classification, and analysis of small-molecule data. As the backbone of modern drug and bioactive ligand discovery, these informatics techniques enable a “quantum leap” in research efficiency.

Core Methodologies & The AI Revolution

Professor Ranganathan will discuss fundamental in silico tools such as virtual screening, molecular docking, and QSAR modeling. While these remain essential for predicting molecular properties, the arrival of AI-driven approaches—specifically deep learning—has significantly enhanced predictive accuracy. These technologies facilitate automated large-scale data analysis and the identification of novel compounds within massive chemical datasets, expanding the scope of what is possible in the lab.

Practical Research Applications

The presentation will conclude with two specific case studies from Professor Ranganathan’s research group, illustrating the real-world impact of these technologies:

• Anti-Parasitic Compounds: An in silico approach to screening for novel treatments.
• Olfactory Receptors: The discovery of agonists targeting ectopic human olfactory receptors implicated in disease.

About the lecturer

Professor Shoba Ranganathan

Shoba Ranganathan is currently an Honorary Professor of Bioinformatics in Applied Biosciences at Macquarie University in Sydney, Australia, following 18 years of service as Chair of Bioinformatics, during which she made substantial contributions to the advancement of research, education, and international collaboration in the field. Her research interests include genome annotation, transcriptome analysis, structural bioinformatics, immunoinformatics, genome-phenome analysis, biological networks, biodiversity informatics and cheminformatics.

Professor Ranganathan serves as a Fellow of the International Society of Computational Biology and of the Australian Bioinformatics and Computational Biology Society, as an Editor-in-Chief of Elsevier’s Encyclopedia of Bioinformatics and Computational Biology and as a Scientific Advisor Institute of Bioinformatics and Applied Biotechnology in Bengaluru, India. She has also served as the president of the Asia-Pacific Bioinformatics Network.

In recognition of her contributions, she received multiple awards, including the 2023 Outstanding Contributions to the International Society for Computational Biology, the 2018 Australian Bioinformatics and Computational Biology Society Honorary Senior Fellowship and as the first UNESCO Chair of Biodiversity Informatics in 2006.

For more information, please contact [email protected]

When: Wednesday, April 1, 2026 | 13:30-14:30
Where: AC Auditorium, Deree – The American College of Greece

Organized by:
School of Science and Technology – The American College of Greece, Psychology Department

About the lecture

The historical divide between psychodynamic psychotherapy and neurobiology is increasingly replaced by integrative models recognizing the interdependence of subjective experience and brain function. This presentation explores the convergence between contemporary psychodynamic theory and advances in affective and cognitive neuroscience, focusing on trauma, memory, dissociation, transference, and the self.

Psychodynamic psychotherapy is supported by meta-analytic evidence as an effective treatment for depression, anxiety, and personality disorders, with enduring effects suggesting structural psychological change (Leichsenring et al., 2023). Neurobiological research indicates that psychotherapy is associated with functional modifications in limbic and prefrontal systems, as well as large-scale networks involved in emotion regulation and self-referential processing (Abbass et al., 2014; Menon, 2023).

Trauma represents a central point of convergence, as psychodynamic concepts of unmentalized affect parallel neurobiological models of dysregulated fear circuitry (Lanius et al., 2020). Memory reconsolidation provides a bridge between psychodynamic working-through and experimentally supported mechanisms of emotional memory updating (Lane et al., 2015; Schiller et al., 2010). Furthermore, transference may be conceptualized within predictive processing frameworks (Friston, 2010).

This integrative perspective supports a multi-level model in which meaning, affect, and relationship are understood as biologically embedded processes, positioning psychotherapy as a form of experience-dependent neuroplasticity (Kandel, 1998).

The event is free and open to the public.

About the speaker

Dr. Ilias Vlachos

 Associate Professor of Psychology, The American College of Greece (Deree)
Psychiatrist – Psychodynamic Psychotherapist, Private Practice, Athens, Greece
Secretary, Section of Psychopathology, Hellenic Psychiatric Association

BLOOD DRIVE in support of Aretaieio & NIMTS Hospitals and Aimodosia 365 & Hellenic Red Cross

When:
Wednesday, April 1, 2026 | 09:00-15:00
Thursday, April 2, 2026 | 10:00-16:00
Friday, April 3, 2026 | 10:00-16:00

Where: Deree Student Lounge, ACG campus

Co-organized by
ACG Health & Wellness
Office of Sustainability – Public Affairs
Office of Student Affairs

Supported by
ACG Sustainability Leaders
SNF Scholars’ Organization
Deree Student Association (DSA)

Spring 2027 | Libra Internship Program Virtual Information Sessions

When:

Monday, March 16, 2026 | 16:00, Athens

Register in advance for this meeting using your acg email. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

Tuesday, March 31, 2026 | 17:00, Athens

Register in advance for this meeting using your acg email. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

Please note that slots are available on a first come, first served basis. If a session is full, please email the Libra Internship Program team to be added to the waitlist.

Where: Online

Organized by: ACG Career Services, in collaboration with the Libra Group

About the Libra Internship Program

Are you creative? Passionate? Goal-oriented? Self-motivated?

Libra is looking for candidates like you. Apply for the Libra Internship Program and explore your potential in one of the world’s most prestigious workplaces!

The Libra Internship Program offers a paid opportunity for students to intern with Libra Group, its global businesses and Lira’s Philanthropies’ philanthropic initiatives. Internship roles in business, finance, engineering, people and culture, marketing and communications, hotel operations, LP initiatives, and more are available. Click here for more detailed information on the application process.

The Spring 2027 application deadline is May 8th, at 17:00 EST

Libra Group will be recruiting on a rolling basis. This means applications will be reviewed as they are received, and positions may be filled before the final deadline. . To maximize your chances of being considered, we encourage you to apply as early as possible. It is anticipated that applications will be closed by Friday, May 8, 2026, at 5:00 PM EST, but if positions remain available, Libra Group may extend this date. Please note that applications are carefully checked for AI usage. Make sure you show your authenticity throughout the application. This is essential for the candidate performance during the recruitment process.

For more information, reach ACG Career Services.

• Deree Undergraduate and Graduate students at [email protected] or at 210 600 9800 ext. 1311
• Alba Graduate Business School students at [email protected] or at 210 896 4531 ext. 2262

The Crisis in the Middle East
A Discussion with ACG Professors Andrew Scott Cooper and Nikos Lampas

When: Monday, March 30, 2026| 14:30-15:30
Where: Deree Student Lounge, The American College of Greece

Organized by:
The History and IREA Student Societies, Deree – The American College of Greece

About the event:

This event features a discussion between expert ACG faculty and students on the ongoing crisis and conflict in the Middle East. Drawing on perspectives on the fall of Imperial Iran, global oil shifts, and the United States’ response to “rogue states,” the conversation addresses key forces shaping current developments.

Emphasizing dialogue, the event creates space for exchange between speakers and students, encouraging questions, diverse viewpoints, and critical engagement with the issues.

About the speakers:

Dr. Andrew Scott Cooper is Assistant Professor of History and International Relations and European Affairs at Deree – The American College of Greece. He is the author of two books on the subject: The Oil Kings: How the US, Iran and Saudi Arabia Changed the Balance of Power in the Middle East and The Fall of Heaven: The Pahlavis and the Finals Days of Imperial Iran.

Nikolaos Lampas is Associate Professor of International Relations and European Affairs at the American College of Greece. His research examines how the United States constructs and responds to “rogue states,” particularly Iraq, Iran, and North Korea. He has published on the topic in the Oxford Research Encyclopedia of International Studies, Georgetown Journal of International Affairs, and Infinity Journal.

When: Sunday, March 29, 2026 | 10:30

Where: Port of Rafina

Co-ordinated by:
Office of Sustainability-Public Affairs, The American College of Greece

About the program

The Ocean Stewards Program is a multi-year partnership between The American College of Greece, the Chatzigakis Foundation and MEPP Environmental, aiming to create tangible environmental and social impact through students, families, citizens, and academics for the Greek seas.

Let us join forces in protecting our marine environment in an initiative that goes beyond collecting trash from the shore, but includes underwater cleaning by a team of certified scuba divers, recycling and scientific data collection, with the support of the Hellenic Center for Marine Research (ELKETHE).

Wear comfortable clothes, bring your hat, a water bottle, and your best attitude! We’ll provide all the necessary equipment (gloves, bags, etc.).

*Bus transfer available from and to ACG.

When: Saturday, March 28, 2026 | 1 PM EST / 10 AM PST / 8 PM EET

Where: Online via Zoom (link will be provided after registration)

Organized by: Office of Admissions, The American College of Greece

About the event

Are you a prospective college student who is applying to, exploring, or has been accepted to college?

Join us for a Virtual Information Session to get an inside look at everything The American College of Greece (ACG) has to offer. This session is the perfect opportunity to learn more about our academic programs, financial aid and scholarships, student life on campus and in Greece, visa information for international students, and guidance on the application process and next steps.

Participants will also have the opportunity to hear directly from our admissions team during a live Q&A session and gain valuable insights to help you feel confident about your college decision.

We hope to see you there and look forward to meeting you virtually!

Rent
Jonathan Larson’s cultural phenomenon onstage, at The American College of Greece

When: Friday, March 27, 2026 | 20:00
Where: Pierce Theatre, The American College of Greece, 6 Gravias Str., 153 42, Athens

Supported by:
ACG Events Office & The Frances Rich School of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences

About the event

Celebrating the thirtieth anniversary of its groundbreaking debut, Jonathan Larson’s RENT arrives onstage, at The American College of Greece to reawaken the urgency to stand together, live fully, and love fiercely. This urgency has been present since the musical’s very first performance, not only through its powerful messages, but also through the tragic circumstances surrounding its premiere: its creator, Jonathan Larson, died suddenly the night after the final dress rehearsal for RENT and the day before its first off-Broadway preview performance.

Inspired by Puccini’s La Bohème, Larson composed RENT, blending rock and grunge within musical storytelling, bringing musical theatre to the MTV generation. His work redefined Broadway and reshaped the landscape of American musical theatre. RENT ran twelve consecutive years after its debut, and received widespread critical acclaim, earning the 1996 Pulitzer Prize for Drama, cementing the musical’s impact as a cultural phenomenon that continues to resonate across generations.

Set in the 1990s East Village of New York City during the height of the AIDS crisis, RENT captures a group of young bohemian artists confronting poverty, illness, addiction and eviction. As the characters seek to survive, create their art, and love in the face of uncertainty, they build an empowering and inclusive community that offers hope amid hardships. Following Larson’s vision, ACG remains committed to building communities through the performing arts in alignment with its educational and artistic mission. This production invites the international cultural hub of Athens to immerse into Larson’s work that is profoundly relevant to today’s world.

Driven by students seeking to revive and reinvent the presence of the American performing art of musical theatre at The American College of Greece, this production is a testament to the power of collaboration and common vision. With the support of dedicated faculty, students from diverse backgrounds and disciplines come together uniting knowledge, talent, heart and artistry. As echoes of hope and strength fill the human heart, we strive to amplify Larson’s powerful message,“No day but today.”

RENT
Book, Music, and Lyrics by Jonathan Larson
Musical Arrangements by Steve Skinner
Original Concept/Additional Lyrics by Billy Aronson
Music Supervision and Additional Arrangements by Tim Weil
Dramaturg: Lynn Thomson

RENT was originally produced in New York by New York Theatre Workshop James C. Nicola, Artistic Director Jeffrey Seller, Producing Director

Originally produced on Broadway by Jeffrey Seller, Kevin McCollum, Allan S. Gordon and New York Theatre Workshop

RENT is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI. www.mtishows.com

“ANY VIDEO AND/OR AUDIO RECORDING OF THIS PRODUCTION IS STRICTLY PROHIBITED.”

Credits:

Initiated by
Victoria Anastasia Weil, Theano Soldatou, Tina Aktoglou

Creative Team
Artistic Supervision: Cindi Trent
Co-Directors: Grayce Marie Martin, Theano Soldatou, Cindi Trent
Co-Choreographers: Sophia Karasso, Cindi Trent
Additional Choreography, “Santa Fe”: Sophia Karasso
Music Director: Nassos Sopilis
Vocal Coaches: Effi Minakoulis, Maira Milolidaki
Ensemble Vocal Coach: Effi Minakoulis
Movement Design of Mugging/Riot Scenes: Katerina Drakopoulou
Acting Coaches: Victoria Anastasia Weil, Theano Soldatou, Grayce Marie Martin
Staging Assistant: Victoria Anastasia Weil

Adaptation/Editing Team:
Theano Soldatou, Victoria Anastasia Weil, Tina Aktoglou, Grayce Marie Martin

Production Team

Stage Manager: Amalia Moraitou
Stage Design: Naya Barakat, Tessi Kakampoura in collaboration with the Creative Team
Installation: Christos Dielas
Makeup: Dafni Tenente, Konstantia Remou
Lighting Design: Melanie Furtado in collaboration with the Creative Team
Lighting Operator: Melanie Furtado
Sound Engineers: Christos Papadopoulos, George Alexopoulos, Eleftheria Sakellaridi
Communications Coordinator: Tina Aktoglou
PR Coordinator: Naya Barakat
Graphic Design & Promotional Material: Tina Aktoglou, Naya Barakat

In-Show Documentary & “One Song Glory” Music Video
Videographer: Anna Livieratou
Assistant Videographer: Victoria Anastasia Weil
Music Video Actors: Alex Lomvardias, Naya Barakat

Main Cast
Mark Cohen: Dylan Goulas
Roger Davis: Alex Lomvardias
Mimi Marquez: Demitra Sideris
Tom Collins: Enio Azariadis
Angel Dumott Schunard: Jacqueline Gwinn
Maureen Johnson: Victoria Anastasia Weil
Joanne Jefferson: Damo Serafeimidou
Benjamin “Benny” Coffin III: Bennett Marotti

Ensemble
Tina Aktoglou
Artemis Theoni Dopoulos
Ariadni Iliopoulou
Andrew Manolis
Alexandros Margaritis
Grayce Marie Martin
Helena McClenaghan
Marifet Mitsiou
Vana Mitsou
Christos Sellas
Theano Soldatou
Angeliki Splagkounia
Zoe Tsouri

Band
Piano: Alexandros Barlas
Acoustic Guitar: Tony Manes
Electric Guitar: Emilios Rompotis, Sofia Fazeli
Bass: Giota Dagdeleni
Drums: Alexia Bassole, Gus Curtiss-Mitchell

Join us at The American College of Greece to celebrate this 30th-anniversary production and remember that in art, life, and love, there is truly no day but today.

Psychosis through the Lens of Society and Culture

When: Friday, March 27, 2026 | 12:30-13:30
Where: AC Auditorium, The American College of Greece, 6 Gravias Str., 153 42, Athens

Organized by:
School of Science and Technology, Psychology Department – The American College of Greece

About the speaker

Georgios Mavreas, BA Psychology, MSc (Hons) Health Psychology
George Mavreas holds a multidisciplinary academic background, beginning his studies in Molecular Biology and Biochemistry before completing a Bachelor’s in Psychology at Deree College. He went on to earn his Master’s in Health Psychology from the University of the West of England (Bristol).

During his time in the UK, George worked extensively within Bristol’s mental health services, delivering CBT psychotherapy and conducting psychoeducational lectures for both clinical services and academic populations. Now based in Athens, he is a clinician at PNOES Ath, one of Greece’s first Early Intervention Units for the First Episode of Psychosis.

George is currently furthering his clinical expertise through CBT psychotherapeutic training with the Company for the Cognitive-Behavioral Studies (ΕΓΣΣ). While his core clinical focus is on Psychosis and Schizophrenia, he is also pioneering the use of Virtual Reality as a tool for de-stigmatization and for deepening the understanding of the lived experience of a psychotic episode.

Founders Circle Athens #3 – Deal Room

When: Thursday, March 26, 2026 | 18:30 – 21:00
Where: Alba Ground Floor Amphitheater,
Alba Graduate Business School – The American College of Greece [Xenias 6-8, Athens, GR 11528]

Organized by: Athens Tech Circle

Powered by: Metavallon VC

Supported by: Panathēnea

About the event:

You are invited to join the 3rd edition of Founders Circle Athens

The theme of this edition is Deal Room where we are bringing together angels, venture capital investors, corporate investors, family offices, founders, regulators, and ecosystem leaders to talk openly about fundraising, how investment decisions really happen, and what investors are looking for in startups.

The session features an investment committee-style panel representing different investor groups. Founders can ask direct questions about what investors look for, why some deals move forward while others do not, and how decisions are made around risk, traction, timing, and team dynamics.

Agenda

6:30 – 7:00 PM | Registration and Networking
Curated music + Welcome drinks

6:50 – 7:00 PM | Welcome Remarks

7:00 – 7:20 PM | Startup Showcase
Vasilis Delikouras: Founder at Curify App
Marina Cangelaris: Founder at Gotukio
Amin Rakhshani: Founder at Oikona

Panel Session

7:20 – 8:20 PM | Deal Room – investment committee-style panel
•  Maria Koletsou, Founder at Blossom Ventures – Angel Investor
•  Yorgos Mousmoulas, Partner at Metavallon VC – Venture Capital
• Alex Vamvakas, Partner at Evercurious VC – Venture Capital
• Georgios Koukellis, Corporate Finance & M&A at Olympia Group – Corporate Investor
•  Family Office – TBC

8:20 – 8:30 PM | Giveaways supported by Panathēnea

8:30 – 9:00 PM | Networking, Music, Photos & Closing

For more info and to reserve your place, visit here.

We would be delighted to have you join us!

When: Monday, March 23, 2026 | 19:00
Where: ACG Plaka Building, 2nd Floor, Ipitou 17, Plaka, Athens

About the event:

The opening event of B.R.I.D.G.E. – Building Responsible Institutional Dialogue for Governance and Empowerment will take place on Monday, 23 March 2026, at 19:00, at the ACG Plaka Building.

The B.R.I.D.G.E. project is implemented by the Department of Sociology and IREA at the Frances Rich School of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences of Deree – The American College of Greece, and aims to strengthen the meaningful participation of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in public policymaking.

The project is funded under the aegis of PLATO (“Protecting democracy, human rights and the rule of law through an open civic space”), a framework coordinated by the Bodossaki Foundation with the NGO Support Centre and co-funded by the European Union’s Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values (CERV) programme.

Through a dynamic digital Open Educational Resource (OER) platform, six thematic roundtables, and a dedicated podcast series, the project fosters dialogue between civil society, institutional stakeholders, and academia.

The thematic roundtables will focus on:

• migration
• gender-based violence
• sexual identity and equality
• child protection
• homelessness
• public space and civic participation

The initiative will also produce policy recommendations and a Good Practices Toolkit, aiming to strengthen collaboration between civil society and institutional stakeholders while promoting democratic engagement.

During the opening event, participants will have the opportunity to learn more about the project’s goals, meet the partners, and engage in a discussion on the importance of responsible institutional dialogue and active civic participation.

The event will be held in Greek and is free and open to the public.

RSVP: Please register by Friday, March 20

For more information, contact [email protected]

Speakers

• Kostas Axarloglou, Professor and Dean, Alba Association
• Helen Maragou, Professor and Dean, The Frances Rich School of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, Deree – The American College of Greece
• Beatrice Giannoglou, Senior Programme Officer, Bodossakis Foundation
• Aristotelis Alexopoulos, Director, Applied Research and Innovation, Alba Graduate Business School, The American College of Greece
• Dr. Lilika Trikalinou, Principal Investigator, Deree – The American College of Greece
• Dr. Margarita Markoviti, Instructor in Political Science, Deree – The American College of Greece

Inclusive Education: Challenges & Effective Practices

When: Monday, March, 23 2026 | 13:30 – 15:30
Where: AC Auditorium, The American College of Greece, 6 Gravias Str., 153 42, Athens

Organized by:
School of Science and Technology, Psychology Department – The American College of Greece

About the event

Inclusive education is the practice of ensuring that all learners—regardless of their abilities, backgrounds, or specific needs—have equal access to meaningful opportunities within mainstream educational settings. This presentation explores the practical frameworks that sustain inclusion, including differentiated instruction, collaborative learning, and the strategic use of assistive technologies. By focusing on adaptive teaching strategies and the cultivation of diverse, supportive classroom environments, we can foster the deep sense of belonging essential for every student’s success.

Beyond these effective practices, the session highlights the systemic challenges inherent in implementing inclusive models, such as resource limitations, insufficient training, and social barriers like stigma or lack of awareness. Addressing these hurdles requires a coordinated, multi-level effort encompassing policy support, continuous professional development, and active community engagement. Ultimately, inclusive education is more than a pedagogical technique; it is a fundamental commitment to equity, respect, and social justice throughout the educational landscape.

About the speaker

Dr. Sofia Haskou | Education Consultant & Researcher
Dr. Sofia Haskou was born in Athens and holds a PhD from the Department of Primary Education of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens. She is a primary education teacher with twenty years of experience in the classroom and currently serves as an Education Consultant for Teachers at the 3rd Directorate of Primary Education of Athens.

Her academic background includes postgraduate degrees in “Special Education” from the Department of Primary Education and in “Educational Technology and Human Resource Management” from the Interdepartmental Postgraduate Program of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens and the University of West Attica. Her specialized training further encompasses School Psychology, School Mediation, and Intercultural Education.

Throughout her career, Dr. Haskou has delivered presentations at international and national scientific conferences and workshops. Her extensive body of written work is published in reputable scientific journals and conference proceedings, reflecting a deep commitment to the intersection of theory and practice.

Decode the Chaos: an educational ethical hacking experience

When: Monday, March 23, 2026 | 11:00 – 15:00
Where: ACG Events Hall, The American College of Greece
6 Gravias str., Aghia Paraskevi, GR 15342

About the event:

Cybersecurity is often taught in textbooks, but it’s lived in the “chaos” of a real-time breach.

We are excited to invite you to Decode the Chaos, a unique collaboration between Deree – ACG and GTP Works. We’re moving beyond the classroom and into an educational ethical hacking experience designed to show you how cybersecurity truly exists today.

What to expect:

See the Attack
Watch a real cyber incident unfold.

Understand the Decisions
Learn the “why” behind every move a hacker or defender makes.

Learn the Defense
Turn theoretical knowledge into applied expertise.

Ethical hacking · Scenarios · Decisions

Whether you are already an IT major or just curious about how the digital world is protected, this is your chance to see the industry from the inside. Let’s turn the chaos into art!

The event will be held in English and is free and open to the public.

For more information and to register, please click here.

From VUCA to Vision: Business in a Volatile Environment

When: 17 -20 March 2026
Where: ACG Events Hall (Gravias Str. 6, Aghia Paraskevi)
Organized by: Academic Societies of the School of Business and Economics, The American College of Greece

About the Event

Deree Business Week is an annual forum organized by the Student Academic Societies of the School of Business & Economics of Deree – The American College of Greece.

It aims to bring together ACG students, faculty, and alumni with distinguished professionals, while fostering the sharing of ideas and best practices between them.

Business Week 2026 explores the theme “From VUCA to Vision: Business in a Volatile Environment”, focusing on how leaders and organizations can turn volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity into clear strategies for resilience and sustainable growth.

All speakers will be introduced by representatives of the respective host student academic societies.

The event is free and open to the public.

Find the program here.

Follow Business Week 2026 on Social Media

From VUCA to Vision: Business in a Volatile Environment

When: 17 -20 March 2026
Where: ACG Events Hall (Gravias Str. 6, Aghia Paraskevi)
Organized by: Academic Societies of the School of Business and Economics, The American College of Greece

About the Event

Deree Business Week is an annual forum organized by the Student Academic Societies of the School of Business & Economics of Deree – The American College of Greece.

It aims to bring together ACG students, faculty, and alumni with distinguished professionals, while fostering the sharing of ideas and best practices between them.

Business Week 2026 explores the theme “From VUCA to Vision: Business in a Volatile Environment”, focusing on how leaders and organizations can turn volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity into clear strategies for resilience and sustainable growth.

All speakers will be introduced by representatives of the respective host student academic societies.

The event is free and open to the public.

Find the program here.

Follow Business Week 2026 on Social Media

When: Wednesday, March 18 @ 19:00
Where: Alba Auditorium – Downtown Campus or Online via livestreaming

Organized by
ACG Greek Alumni Chapter & ACG Office of Advancement-Alumni

About the event:

The ACG Office of Advancement – Alumni and the ACG Greek Alumni Chapter invite you to
“Wellbeing: Mind, Body & Beyond” An evening dedicated to wellbeing, connection, and personal growth.

Join us for a wellbeing-focused event designed to explore holistic health through practical insights and meaningful discussion. Bringing together experts and members of the ACG community, the event will address the interconnected dimensions of physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing, offering tools that participants can apply in everyday life.

Through four thematic sessions — Nutrition, Exercise, Psychology, and Mindfulness/Meditation — attendees will gain a deeper understanding of how small, sustainable changes can support energy, resilience, balance, and overall wellbeing.

“Wellbeing: Mind, Body & Beyond” creates a space for learning, reflection, and engagement, encouraging alumni to reconnect with themselves and with the wider ACG community while fostering healthy and balanced lifestyles.

The event will be delivered in a hybrid format, allowing participants to attend either in person or remotely via live streaming.

The discussion will be in Greek, and at the in-person event, a networking reception will follow.

  ACG Alumni:

   Students, Staff & Faculty can watch the event via livestreaming:

Moderator

Violeta, Deree ’03, is a business & marketing expert and sustainability enthusiast who’s all about connecting with people and making a positive impact. After 20 years in various marketing positions in multinational companies such as Microsoft and Xerox, she co-founded Brave Owl, a consulting company that combines her marketing expertise with her partner’s HR experience.  When she’s not busy strategizing, you can find her spending time with her family, shooting hoops on the basketball court, exploring the depths while scuba diving, or playing fetch with her furry friends.

Speakers

Nutrition:

Fiona Dede is a Clinical Dietitian – Nutritionist (BSc, RD) specializing in Reproductive and Regenerative Medicine (MSc). Her scientific interests focus on clinical nutrition and precision nutrition, with particular emphasis on fertility, hormonal disorders, menopause, pregnancy, breastfeeding, and nutritional support during the early stages of life.

Her academic journey began at Harokopio University of Athens, while her clinical training took place in hospital institutions across Greece, where she witnessed firsthand the pivotal role of nutrition in disease prevention and progression. She subsequently pursued postgraduate programs in Melbourne, collaborating with specialized centers in reproductive nutrition and deepening her expertise in the connection between nutrition, epigenetics, and early-life development.

She completed her Master’s degree at the Medical School of Athens in the field of Reproductive and Regenerative Medicine, further strengthening her interdisciplinary approach.

Today, she collaborates with Obstetrics and Gynecology clinics and runs a private practice, providing personalized nutritional care grounded in the latest scientific evidence.

She believes that nutrition is not merely a means of improving everyday well being, but a fundamental determinant of human health from the very earliest stages of life.

Exercise:

Kelly Papakostopoulou, Alba ’08, is a Senior HR Manager with 15 years of experience in the field of Human Resources Management and BoD member of the Greek People Management Association (GPMA). She is occupied as HR executive at NBG, with expertise in Performance Management and wide experience of past role as HR Business Partner for the Group’s Subsidiaries in Serbia, Skopje and Albania.

She is an ALBA alumna holding MSc in Strategic HRM (honors) and Associate Member of Chartered Institute of Personnel & Development (CIPD). Additionally, she is a graduate of Harokopio University (Department of Nutritional Science/Dietetics), as well as Certified Health, Wellness & Corporate Wellbeing Coach. In 2024, she was recognized as one of the 50 more influential HR professionals in workplace wellbeing (HR Wellbeing 50 Powerlist). She also participates in panel discussions, articles and special reports related to wellbeing.

Finally, she is founder of the holistic wellbeing program “Wellness for all!”, which she designs & implements -since 2018- under the auspices of the non-profit association “Enosi Filathlon NBG”. The program has received remarkable distinctions at Fitness Awards, Health & Safety Awards and Voluntary Action Awards.

Stress Management:

Sophie Themelis, Deree ’83, Executive Coordinator, Wellness, Pilates Instructor, ACG Health and Wellness Center.

Born and raised in Amman, Jordan. With a BA in Dance and a strong background in exercise, meditation and wellness, she has been working since 1990 at Deree as a group fitness instructor, faculty member, Recreational Sports Coordinator and finally Executive Coordinator, Wellness.

Her expertise in group fitness and personal training enabled her to work in spas and sports clubs in Greece and Jordan and had a daily fitness program on Jordanian National Television.

She has participated in congresses and seminars in Greece and abroad with the latest being: The Pilates Coach-Germany, The Physical mind Institute/The Method Pilates -U.S.A, Grounding, Reiki, Biosynthesis, Pranic Healing Light- Greece.

She has been a member of IDEA (The Health and Fitness Source) since 1998. Sophie speaks Arabic, English, French and Greek.

Mindfulness:

Ainola Terzopoulou, Deree ’90, was born and lives in Athens. She is a graduate of Deree College with a degree in Marketing and began her journalistic career at Terzopoulos Publications.

She comes from a family with a long history in publishing. Her grandfather, Evangelos Terzopoulos, published Gynaika in 1952, the first women’s magazine in Greece. She served as editor-in-chief of the children’s Walt Disney magazines in Greece, contributed to the organization of the Children’s Conference in Greece, and participated in the founding of Cosmos Books.

She has many years of experience as a journalist and beauty editor for the magazines Gynaika, Praktiki, and Vita, writing on fashion, art, music, wellness, and beauty. She has collaborated with both print and digital media, as well as in the fields of communication and public relations.

She is the creator of Beyond50.gr and livelifewell.gr, platforms focused on contemporary wellbeing and a holistic approach to living well. She is also the author of the book I Zoi Mas Kala (Lebee Publications).

In parallel, she is a certified teacher in the Pilates method, Yoga, and Breathwork, an NLP Master & New Code Practitioner (NLP Greece), and works as a wellbeing coach.

During the period 2019–2023, she served as an elected councilor in the 1st Municipal District of the Municipality of Athens.

Supporters

From VUCA to Vision: Business in a Volatile Environment

When: 17 -20 March 2026
Where: ACG Events Hall (Gravias Str. 6, Aghia Paraskevi)
Organized by: Academic Societies of the School of Business and Economics, The American College of Greece

About the Event

Deree Business Week is an annual forum organized by the Student Academic Societies of the School of Business & Economics of Deree – The American College of Greece.

It aims to bring together ACG students, faculty, and alumni with distinguished professionals, while fostering the sharing of ideas and best practices between them.

Business Week 2026 explores the theme “From VUCA to Vision: Business in a Volatile Environment”, focusing on how leaders and organizations can turn volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity into clear strategies for resilience and sustainable growth.

All speakers will be introduced by representatives of the respective host student academic societies.

The event is free and open to the public.

Find the program here.

Follow Business Week 2026 on Social Media

Admission is free and open to all, with a reception to follow. You can join in person or virtually via Microsoft Teams. The meeting link will be shared on the day of the event and sent directly to those who register for online attendance.

For more information, please contact us at [email protected]

From VUCA to Vision: Business in a Volatile Environment

When: 17 -20 March 2026
Where: ACG Events Hall (Gravias Str. 6, Aghia Paraskevi)
Organized by: Academic Societies of the School of Business and Economics, The American College of Greece

About the Event

Deree Business Week is an annual forum organized by the Student Academic Societies of the School of Business & Economics of Deree – The American College of Greece.

It aims to bring together ACG students, faculty, and alumni with distinguished professionals, while fostering the sharing of ideas and best practices between them.

Business Week 2026 explores the theme “From VUCA to Vision: Business in a Volatile Environment”, focusing on how leaders and organizations can turn volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity into clear strategies for resilience and sustainable growth.

All speakers will be introduced by representatives of the respective host student academic societies.

The event is free and open to the public.

Find the program here.

Follow Business Week 2026 on Social Media

Spring 2027 | Libra Internship Program Virtual Information Sessions

When:

Monday, March 16, 2026 | 16:00, Athens

Register in advance for this meeting using your acg email. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

Tuesday, March 31, 2026 | 17:00, Athens

Register in advance for this meeting using your acg email. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

Please note that slots are available on a first come, first served basis. If a session is full, please email the Libra Internship Program team to be added to the waitlist.

Where: Online

Organized by: ACG Career Services, in collaboration with the Libra Group

About the Libra Internship Program

Are you creative? Passionate? Goal-oriented? Self-motivated?

Libra is looking for candidates like you. Apply for the Libra Internship Program and explore your potential in one of the world’s most prestigious workplaces!

The Libra Internship Program offers a paid opportunity for students to intern with Libra Group, its global businesses and Lira’s Philanthropies’ philanthropic initiatives. Internship roles in business, finance, engineering, people and culture, marketing and communications, hotel operations, LP initiatives, and more are available. Click here for more detailed information on the application process.

The Spring 2027 application deadline is May 8th, at 17:00 EST

Libra Group will be recruiting on a rolling basis. This means applications will be reviewed as they are received, and positions may be filled before the final deadline. . To maximize your chances of being considered, we encourage you to apply as early as possible. It is anticipated that applications will be closed by Friday, May 8, 2026, at 5:00 PM EST, but if positions remain available, Libra Group may extend this date. Please note that applications are carefully checked for AI usage. Make sure you show your authenticity throughout the application. This is essential for the candidate performance during the recruitment process.

For more information, reach ACG Career Services.

• Deree Undergraduate and Graduate students at [email protected] or at 210 600 9800 ext. 1311
• Alba Graduate Business School students at [email protected] or at 210 896 4531 ext. 2262

When: Monday, March 16, 2026 | 12:00-13:30
Where: ACG Events Hall

Organized by
ACG Office of Public Affairs, as a pre-event to the official launch of Deree Business Week 2026

In collaboration with
Kathimerini

Supported by
the Public Affairs Student Task Force

About the event:

The 1st ACG Distinguished Speakers Series 2026 “AI at Work: Performance, Practice, and the Future” meets the 2026 Deree Business Week as a pre-event, one day before BW’s official opening.

How do we know if AI is actually doing a good job? Join us for an eye-opening session that unpacks the topic of AI performance—the technical evaluations used to ensure these tools are accurate and reliable for specific tasks. We will explore how people currently use AI in their daily work and hear how it is changing day-to-day routines and professional habits. Looking ahead, we will also discuss how AI is restructuring teams and changing the skills that employers value most. As the workforce evolves, understanding how to work alongside AI will be just as important as the work itself.

To guide us through this discussion on the future of work and the specific skills you will need to thrive in a shifting talent landscape, the 1st ACG Distinguished Speakers Series 2026 proudly welcomes Rohit Patel, Director, Meta Superintelligence Labs in a discussion with Dr. Nick Antonopoulos, Vice President of Academic Affairs, Research and Innovation, The American College of Greece. Welcome remarks will be offered by Claudia Carydis, Vice President of Public Affairs, The American College of Greece.

Launched in January 2024, the ACG Distinguished Speakers Series (DSS) features top business experts, policy makers, academics, diplomats, and community leaders coming from the US. Speakers present and discuss topical issues and engage in an interactive discussion on the areas of their expertise, while sharing points & tips from their personal professional trajectory.

The event is free and open to the public.
Please register by March 11.

For further clarifications, please contact [email protected]

About the speakers

Rohit Patel is a Director in Meta Superintelligence Labs, where he works on building the company’s next generation of AI models. His primary research areas are Reinforcement Learning and AI Evaluations, in which he actively publishes. He is also a digital advisory board member at private equity firm Baypine, and founder of the AI research lab, QuickAI. Known for making complex AI concepts clear and actionable, Rohit speaks on generative AI, the future of LLMs and AI’s business impact. He holds a PhD in Game Theory from Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Management, and is a statistician by training.

Professor Nick Antonopoulos is currently the Vice President Research & Innovation as well as the founding Dean of the School of Science & Technology at The American College of Greece. Nick is responsible for all research & commercialization activities of the College as well as its graduate studies provision. He is also leading the School of Science & Technology operations and forming its strategy for the future. Nick is a research Professor in the field of distributed systems and applied AI with over 200 peer reviewed papers published and a current h-index of 30.

From January 2019 to May 2025, Nick was Deputy Vice Chancellor, Research & Innovation and Merchiston Campus Principal at Edinburgh Napier University. His key responsibilities included the line management of three Deans of School as well as leadership & responsibility for all the University’s research, innovation and commercial engagement activities including Continuing Professional Development (CPD).

Prior to this role, Nick was Pro Vice-Chancellor Research & Innovation at the University of Derby since March 2017. Between April 2014 – March 2017, Nick was the founding Dean of the College of Engineering & Technology and since December 2015 the University of Derby Technical Coordinator of the framework collaboration with CERN.

Until April 2014, Nick was Head of School of Computing & Mathematics and Assistant Dean (Research) of the Faculty of Business, Computing & Law in the same University. Prior to joining the University of Derby in March 2009, Nick was a Senior Lecturer (Associate Professor) and Director of the MSc Degrees at the Department of Computing, University of Surrey, UK. Nick holds a BSc in Physics (1st class) from the University of Athens in 1993, an MSc in Information Technology from Aston University in 1994 and a PhD in Computer Science from the University of Surrey in 2000.

Prior to joining the academia he worked as a networks consultant for ICL and Fujitsu Services and was the co-founder and director of a company developing Web-based management information systems. He has successfully acted as expert witness in high profile legal cases involving email synchronisation systems. Nick has altogether 30 years of academic experience across multiple academic and senior leadership roles in British Universities.

Nick is a Fellow of the Higher education Academy (FHEA), the British Computer Society (FBCS) and the International Academy, Research and Industry Association (FIARIA).

Understanding Language Teacher Psychology: Why It Matters and the Implications for Practice

When: Monday, March 16, 2026 | 11:30-13:00
Where: Faculty Lounge – The American College of Greece & Hybrid via Zoom (Meeting ID: 990 0508 0819 / Passcode: 409451)

Speaker: 
Sarah Mercer, Professor of Foreign Language Teaching and Head of ELT Methodology, University of Graz

Organized by
MA TESOL Program, English department, Deree – The American College of Greece

About the event

In this upcoming TESOL Masterclass, the speaker will unpack the core concepts of language teacher psychology, advocating for its central importance in the classroom. The speaker will argue that supporting the psychological well-being of educators is a prerequisite not only for teacher retention but for the ultimate success of their learners.

The speaker will begin by evaluating the current landscape of the field, identifying what is known and—crucially—what remains unexplored regarding specific populations of language teachers and teacher educators. Participants will be invited to reflect critically on the historical disparity between the vast research dedicated to learner psychologies and the relatively sparse attention given to the educators themselves.

During this masterclass, the speaker will:

• Report on Empirical Research: Share findings from a range of studies examining diverse aspects of teacher psychology.
• Translate Theory into Practice: Lead a discussion on the practical implications of these findings for everyday teaching and institutional support.
• Set a Future Agenda: Conclude by proposing a strategic roadmap for research and practice that aims to place language educators at the center of the pedagogical stage.

About the speaker

Sarah Mercer is Professor of Foreign Language Teaching at the University of Graz, Austria, where she is Head of ELT methodology. Her research interests include all aspects of the psychology surrounding the foreign language learning experience. She is the author, co-author and co-editor of several books in this area. She has served as Principal Investigator on several funded research projects, has worked on the editorial board of various journals, is co-editor of Multilingual Matters’ Psychology of Language Learning and Teaching book series, is currently president of IAPLL, and is an ambassador for IATEFL.

Join us to explore the vital role of teacher psychology and discover how placing educators at center stage can transform the future of language teaching and learning.

For further clarifications, please contact [email protected]

When: March 14, 2026 | 11 AM CST

Where: Starbucks Reserve Roastery, 646 Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60611

Organized by: Office of North American Enrollment & U.S. Federal Aid

About the events

Got questions about enrollment at The American College of Greece, life in Athens, the campus or U.S. Federal Aid? Bring your parents or guardians along and let’s have a chat about your academic future at ACG over a cup of Starbucks coffee. Save the date!

Navigating Dyslexia in English Language Learners

When: Thursday, March 12, 2026 | 9:55-11:10
Where: Room AC001, Deree – The American College of Greece & Hybrid via Zoom

Speaker: 
Ioanna D. Leventi, EFL/ESL educator (18+ years), MA in Language Disorders, specializing in Specific Learning Differences and dyslexia support in language classrooms.

Organized by
MA TESOL Program, English department, Deree – The American College of Greece

About the event

Teaching reading to English language learners with dyslexia requires specialized, explicit instruction. In this talk, we will outline effective reading interventions derived from evidence- based approaches for both ENL and ESL/EFL readers. We will examine Structured Literacy frameworks that utilize multi-sensory methods – engaging visual, auditory, and kinesthetic pathways – to improve decoding and word recognition. Furthermore, the session will review adaptations of Orton Gillingham based approaches designed to build foundational literacy skills and boost confidence in struggling readers.

About the speaker

Ioanna D. Leventi is an EFL/ESL Teacher with an MA in Language Disorders and over 18 years of experience. Her specialized expertise is in designing and supervising programs for students with Specific Learning Differences (Dyslexia, SLI). She designed, implemented, and supervised “The Learning Support Program” in the language schools she worked at for students with learning difficulties and still provides specialized tutoring for children and adults with Specific Learning Differences (SLDs). In her role as Director of Studies, she has directed academic operations for levels B1 through C2, managed academic progression, and conducted teacher training to enhance instructional quality.

Join us to gain powerful instructional techniques, deepen your understanding of dyslexia, and leave inspired to make your classroom more accessible for every learner.

For further clarifications, please contact [email protected]

About the speakers & moderator 

Marilena Antoniadou

Dr. Marilena Antoniadou is an accomplished academic leader, consultant, and business coach with extensive experience in higher education, particularly in managing education strategies and fostering employability. Currently serving as the Associate Dean of Education and Employability at the School of Business and Economics of the American College of Greece, she oversees academic programs, curriculum development, faculty development, and employability initiatives. Her leadership emphasizes bridging the gap between academia and industry, equipping students with practical skills for successful careers.

Previously, Marilena held significant roles at Manchester Metropolitan University, including Director of Education for the Faculty of Business and Law, where she spearheaded initiatives to enhance student satisfaction, retain triple accreditation, and elevate global rankings. Her teaching and research interests lie in organizational behavior, workplace emotions, and education for sustainable development, with numerous publications in academic journals.

Marilena’s professional journey reflects her passion for driving positive change in education. A Principal Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and an active member of professional bodies, she has led innovative projects, secured research funding, and contributed to curriculum development internationally. Holding a PhD in Organizational Behavior and several postgraduate degrees, she is dedicated to developing inclusive, collaborative environments that inspire growth and learning.

Vanessa Archontidou

Vanessa Archontidou is a Greek alpinist, sustainability advocate, and communications strategist who brings together high-altitude achievement with leadership, business insight, and social impact.

In the spring of 2019, she became a member of the first Greek women’s mountaineering team to summit Mt. Everest — a defining milestone within her successful completion of the 7 Summits, having climbed the highest peak on each continent of the world.

Parallel to her mountaineering path, Vanessa has built a 20+ year career in Marketing and Strategic Communications, holding senior executive roles in multinational organizations. Today, she works as a Communications and Sustainability Consultant, advising organizations on purpose-driven branding, stakeholder engagement, ESG positioning, and impact storytelling.

Her leadership philosophy is deeply influenced by the mountains — environments where risk management, adaptability, and trust are essential. Since 2004, she has been an active member of the Athenian Mountaineering Association (AOS), completing professional training in climbing and winter mountaineering. As a certified Mountain Leader and Managing Director of Up&Out Elite Adventures, she designs and leads expeditions, outdoor leadership experiences, and corporate nature-based programs across Greece and internationally.

In 2020, she founded AWomanCanBe.org, a non-profit organization dedicated to advancing women’s leadership and inclusion through initiatives aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, with particular emphasis on Climate Action and sustainable development.

Since 2021, Vanessa has served as an EU Climate Pact Ambassador, leveraging her dual expertise in communication and exploration to develop awareness campaigns, partnerships, and community engagement initiatives that support Europe’s climate transition.

Rania Assariotaki

Rania Assariotaki is Director of the Office of Sustainability at The American College of Greece, where she leads institutional strategies on environmental responsibility, social impact, and education for sustainable development. With over 15 years of experience in sustainability leadership in higher education, she promotes sustainability culture, human rights, and inclusive institutional change. She serves as Vice President of the Board of Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE), supporting the global advancement of sustainability in higher education, and is an EU Climate Pact Ambassador for Greece. She is also a member of the Advisory Board of Lean In Network Greece, contributing to women’s leadership and empowerment initiatives. She actively participates in national and international sustainability and corporate responsibility networks, including CSR Hellas, United Nations Global Compact, and American-Hellenic Chamber of Commerce. Through her work, she fosters collaboration between education, business, and society to advance sustainable development, social justice, and gender equality.

Haris Daskalothanasis

Harillaos (Haris) Daskalothanasis is Executive Director of Outreach and Retention at Deree – The American College of Greece. Previously he served as head of International Student Services and as director of Media Relations. He joined ACG in 2003 following a 14-year career as a reporter and editor in New York City. He grew up in Athens and studied at Queens College of the City University of New York, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in History and Economics. His main interests are history, literature and writing.

Maria Giannaki

Dr. Maria Giannaki–Arapaki is a board-certified Dermatologist–Venereologist and holds a PhD from the Medical School of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens. She completed her specialization at the renowned “Andreas Syggros” Hospital for Skin and Venereal Diseases in Athens, gaining extensive clinical expertise across the full spectrum of medical and aesthetic dermatology. She has actively participated in numerous national and international dermatology conferences, continuously advancing her knowledge and staying at the forefront of scientific and technological developments in her field. She specializes in advanced acne therapies and scar management, offering evidence-based, personalized treatment plans tailored to both adolescents and adults. Driven by a commitment to clinical excellence and personalized patient care, Dr. Giannaki–Arapaki founded Dermamedic clinic, a leading dermatology center located at 1 Chalandriou Street & Mesogeion Avenue, Agia Paraskevi. Her practice combines advanced technology with a refined, patient-centered approach, delivering innovative treatments designed to achieve long-term, natural-looking results. With a passion for healthy, radiant skin and comprehensive dermatologic wellness, she delivers care that balances medical precision with aesthetic artistry.

Vasiliki Kapari

Vasiliki Kapari is a senior HR professional with studies in International Relations and HR Management. She has acquired 21 years of professional experience in HR across various industries, including Technology, Wellness, and FMCG, and speaks five languages. Vasiliki has held both local and global roles in multinational and Greek enterprises, showcasing her versatility, expertise, and transformational leadership skills. For the last 15 years, she has been passionate about Corporate Responsibility and Organizational Citizenship Behavior, actively contributing to these areas within companies and through participation in organizations and forums. Her extensive experience and dedication to fostering a positive organizational culture make her a valuable asset to Wella Company and a respected leader in the HR community.

Helena Maragou

Helena Maragou has served as Dean of the School of Liberal Arts and Sciences at the American College of Greece since 2016. She previously served as Director of the International Honors Program from 2012 to 2017.

She holds a PhD in American Studies from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, an M.A. in English from Kent State University, and a B.A. in English from Aristotle University of Thessaloniki.

Her teaching has focused on American literature and culture, nineteenth-century English literature, literary theory, and drama. Her scholarly work includes refereed journal articles and presentations at international conferences on U.S. minority literatures, women’s literature, nineteenth-century American literature, and pedagogy in American Studies.

Sofia Papadopoulou

Sofia Papadopoulou OLY is an Olympic Bronze Medalist in Sailing (Beijing 2008) and a high-performance coach. She holds degrees in Sports Science and Olympic Education and is currently pursuing a PhD in Sport Management, with research focused on gender equality, leadership, sport governance and gender equality. She also remains an active athlete, competing nationally and internationally alongside a para-sailing athlete.

She serves in international governance roles with World Sailing as Vice Chair of the Regional Games Committee and a member of the Youth Events Committee, and sits on the Marketing Committee of the Hellenic Olympic Committee. Sofia leads the Hellenic Sailing Federation’s “Ιστιοπλοΐα Γένους Θηλυκού – Women in Sailing” program—finalist at the World Sailing Impact Awards 2025—and founded SailFem, an empowerment initiative for women sailing coaches, internationally recognized through the Anita White Fund (2023) and implemented with the support of The American College of Greece (Deree). She was also the first international female sailor selected for the WISH (Women in Sport High Performance Pathway) program, supported by IOC Olympic Solidarity, World Sailing, Hellenic Olympic Committee & Hellenic Sailing Federation, and she is a Magenta Project Mentor and a frequent speaker in Greece and internationally.

Through SailSofia her website platform, she translates elite sport and research into real-world impact—developing and delivering education and mentoring programs, and EU-aligned initiatives that support athletes, coaches, and sport organizations to build stronger, more inclusive pathways in sailing and other sports, anchored in Olympic values.