The University of Ioannina, in collaboration with the Holy Archdiocese of America, inaugurated its International Office in New York on Monday, November 3, 2025. The establishment of the Office, which will operate in a space provided by the Archdiocese at its headquarters, marks an important step in international outreach and strengthening the University’s ties with the Greek community worldwide. The Office’s operation resulted from the signing of a Memorandum of Cooperation on May 28, 2025, at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, by Archbishop Elpidophoros of America and the Rector of the University of Ioannina, Professor Anna Batistatou.
The inauguration ceremony, conducted by the Archbishop of America and the Rector of the University of Ioannina, was attended by Consul Petros Dorizas, representing the Consulate General of New York, Professor Nikoletta Tsitsanoudi-Mallidi, Dean of the School of Educational Sciences at the University of Ioannina, and Father Gregory Telemachus Stamkopoulos, Associate Professor at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and Head of the Greek Education Department of the Archdiocese of America. During the event, the new free training program for volunteers of the Greek diaspora was presented, which will be implemented by the Center for Training and Lifelong Learning (KEDIVIM) of the University of Ioannina, under the scientific supervision of Ms. Tsitsanoudi-Mallidi. The program will run from January to April 2026, aimed at volunteers who wish to teach the Greek language and culture to communities in the Diaspora and will include presentations by distinguished academics from Greece and abroad.
The opening ceremony of the International Office of the University of Ioannina was attended by the president of Study in Greece, Mr. Christos Michalakelis, Professor at Harokopio University, Ms. Anastasia Giannakidou, Professor at the University of Chicago and Director of the Center for Hellenic Studies, Ms. Eftychia Pylarinou-Piper, Senior Vice President of Red Apple Group NY, President of the Executive Board of the Hellenic American Chamber of Commerce and member of the Study in Greece Advisory Board, Ms. Stella Kokolis, President of the Federation of Greek Educators in America, Mr. Stelios Taketzis, Executive Director of COSMOS HELLENIC MEDIA, senior executives of the Archdiocese, etc.
As part of the launch of the International Office, a symposium titled “Greek Education as a Global, Timeless, and Timely Legacy” was held with great success on Saturday, November 1, 2025, at the Hellenic Cultural Center of the Archdiocese of America. entitled “Greek Education as a Global, Timeless, and Timely Legacy” was held at the Hellenic Cultural Center of the Archdiocese of America in Astoria. The symposium, which was co-organized by the University of Ioannina, the Department of Greek Education of the Archdiocese, the Hellenic Cultural Center, and the Maliotis Cultural Center of Hellenic Holy Cross, highlighted the timeless role of Greek education and language in the contemporary global reality.
Addressing the audience were the Rector of the University of Ioannina, Professor Anna Batistatou, Associate Professor of Aristotle University of Thessaloniki Father Gregory Telemachus Stamkopoulos, and Professor Christos Michalakelis, President of Study in Greece. The program of speeches included presentations by prominent figures from the Greek and international academic community, namely Professors Anastasia Giannakidou (University of Chicago), Nicolas Prevelakis (Harvard University), Nikos Alexiou (Queens College, CUNY), George Anagnostou (The Ohio State University), Nicoletta Tsitsanoudi-Mallidi (University of Ioannina), Ioanna Glava and Fevronia K. Soumakis (Queens College, CUNY), Konstantinos G. Hatzidimitriou (St. John’s University), as well as Ms. Chrysoula Kourkounti (Maliotis Cultural Center) and Dr. Emil Theodoropoulos (University of Ioannina). The proceedings were coordinated by Mr. Stelios Taketzis, Executive Director of COSMOS HELLENIC MEDIA and producer of New York’s public service radio station, COSMOS FM.
This partnership is an important step towards connecting the University of Ioannina and Greek higher education with the international Greek community and promoting Greece’s education, language, and culture beyond its borders.
