Home Page > News > FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - The Foundation for Modern Greek Studies launches campaign to endow a second Modern Greek Chair at the University of Michigan
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - The Foundation for Modern Greek Studies launches campaign to endow a second Modern Greek Chair at the University of Michigan
Above: Dr. Dimitri Pallas, President of the Foundation for Modern Greek Studies speaking at the Foundation's 10-year anniversary event.
April 5, 2006
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Dr. Dimitri Pallas
Foundation for Modern Greek Studies
18894 Valencia
Northville Twp., MI 48168
Phone: 1-248-596-9668
dpallasmd@sbcglobal.net
Northville Twp., MI - The Foundation for Modern Greek Studies (FMGS), in celebration of its 10-year anniversary, officially kicked off its campaign to endow in perpetuity a new chair in Modern Greek History and Culture at the University of Michigan. FMGS enthusiastically presented its case to hundreds of its members and supporters from all over the world at a major event that took place on Saturday, April 1, 2006 in Dearborn, Michigan.
Distinguished guests at the celebration included His Eminence, Metropolitan Nicholas (Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Detroit); Mrs. Maria Kollia-Tsaroucha (New Democracy Deputy of the Greek Parliament, member of the Committee on Educational Affairs and President of the Committee on Equality and Human Rights); Mr. Chris Tomaras (World Council of Hellenes Abroad -- SAE); Ms. Nancy Biska (Hellenic American National Council); Dr. Kostas Paschalidis (Association for the Study of Greeks Abroad); Ms. Katerina Thanassoula (Voice of Greece, ERT); Mr. George Reganis (American Hellenic Congress); Professor Traianos Gagos (who spoke on behalf of the Dept. of Classical Studies, University of Michigan); and Dr. Dimitri Pallas (President of FMGS) and Mrs. Irmgard Pallas who hosted the event.
Six years ago in 1990, the University of Michigan received a major gift from FMGS that made possible the establishment of the endowed C.P. Cavafy Chair in Modern Greek Language and Literature. Since the establishment of the Cavafy Chair, the Modern Greek Program, along with offering a major and minor in Modern Greek studies, has grown to integrate student scholarships, annual lectures, conferences, panels, library and internet resources, special research projects, study abroad opportunities, and global collaboration into its offerings (made possible in part by additional annual gifts of $15,000 from FMGS). This significant growth, along with unyielding student and community interest, is what inspired FMGS to move forward in raising money to endow a second Chair, this time in Modern Greek History and Culture. The funds required for the creation of the second Chair will total over two million dollars and may be named after a major donor. “We have the right experience and a ten-year record of great success, so we are very optimistic,” says Dr. Dimitri Pallas, President of FMGS.
In addition to full classes and successful cultural events, another source of inspiration for FMGS is the global reach of the Modern Greek Program. The University of Michigan Library, together with Google, is in the process of digitizing Greek books in their entirety and making them available online for free. Another example of the Modern Greek Program’s global reach is the Program’s website (www.lsa.umich.edu/modgreek), which contains exclusive, never before released academic and cultural Greek material. “As the members of Foundation for Modern Greek Studies move forward in their campaign, they know that they are supporting a university which shares its resources with the whole world,” states Prof. Vassilis Lambropoulos, who holds the C.P. Cavafy Chair.
Michigan is one of the few universities in the country that cover the entire spectrum of Hellenism, both chronologically and geographically. From the prehistoric Aegean to classical Athens and from early Byzantium to 20th-century Alexandria and 21st-century Greeks in Detroit, the Modern Greek faculty introduce exciting Greek adventures to thousands of students and members of the community every year. “Adding a specialist in contemporary Greek history is the next step in the growth of our Program,” says Prof. Vassilis Lambropoulos. His distinguished colleagues at the Program are Professor Artemis Leontis and Lecturer Despina Margomenou.
It is FMGS vision to create a Center for Modern Greek Culture and Policy in cooperation with the existing Cavafy Chair at the University of Michigan. This will eventually include Chairs in Political Science and Anthropology.
From left to right: Dr. Dimitri Pallas; His Eminence, Metropolitan Nicholas (Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Detroit); Mrs. Maria Kollia-Tsaroucha; Dr. Kostas Paschalidis; Mrs. Kalliope Balatsoukas; Prof. Vassilis Lambropoulos; and Mr. Chris Tomaras