THE OWL - College Year in Athens
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THE OWL
T H E A L U M N I N E W S L E T T E R O F C O L L E G E Y E A R I N AT H E N S
Spring 2021
Spring '21 students enjoying the sunset
on top of Mount Lycabettus
Photo by Sophia Chaltas (Spring ’21)
5 PLATEIA STADIOU, ATHENS, GREECE
LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
K. Chris Todd
Chairman, Board of Trustees, College Year in Athens;
Partner, Kellogg Hansen Todd Figel & Frederick,
Elias Samaras
Founder, President and Managing Director, Digital
Security Technologies S.A.
Alan Shapiro (CYA '69)
W.H.Collins Vickers Professor of Archaeology, The
John Hopkins University; Whitehead Professor at
T he Bicentennial of the Greek War of
Independence was celebrated all over
the world this past March with a series of
seeing the prospect of Greek annihilation,
eventually changed their position in favor
of the Greeks and in 1827 destroyed the
PLLC the American School of Classical Studies at Athens,
Endy Zemenides (CYA '95)
Executive Director, Hellenic American Leadership
1992-93, 2012-13 cultural, educational, and festive events. It Ottoman and Egyptian fleets in the naval
Alexis G. Phylactopoulos
Vice Chairman of the Board of Trustees, College Year in Council (HALC) Voula Tsouna was a time for remembrance and reflection battle of Navarino, thereby sealing the
Athens; President, College Year in Athens
Cornelia Mayer Herzfeld (CYA ’66)
Professor of Philosophy/Chair, UC-Santa Barbara on the past and future of this new nation, independence of the young nation.
Peter Sutton Allen (CYA ’65) Recording Secretary, Board of Trustees and Special the first nation-state after the Napoleonic
Treasurer, Board of Trustees, College Year in Athens; Consultant to the President, College Year in Athens At CYA, the historic occasion of the
ADVISORS EMERITI wars.
Professor Emeritus of Anthropology, Rhode Island beginning of the Revolution was commem-
College Christos Doumas orated in March with remarkable virtual
TRUSTEES EMERITI Professor of Archaeology Emeritus, University of The role of the Greeks of the diaspora in
Daphne Hatsopoulos lectures given by two important historians
Secretary, Board of Trustees, College Year in Athens; John McK. Camp II
Athens; Director, Excavations at Akrotiri, Thera Moldavia and Wallachia, inspired by the
of modern Greece, Columbia University
Trustee Emerita, Boston Museum of Science Director of the Agora Excavations, American School of Peter Green values of American independence in 1776
Classical Studies at Athens James R. Dougherty Jr. Centennial Professor of professor Mark Mazower and Haverford
Evita Arapoglou and the French Revolution in 1789, by the
Director of the Leventis Art Gallery at Nicosia, Cyprus Classics Emeritus, University of Texas at Austin; College professor Alexander Kitroeff. Both
George A. David Adjunct Professor of Classics, University of Iowa ideas of the enlightenment, and the words
Director, Leventis Group events were co-hosted by the Consulate
Michail Bletsas of diaspora Greeks like Rigas and Koraes
Research Scientist and Director of Computing, Martha Sharp Joukowsky General of Greece in Boston and offered
Joan Caraganis Jakobson (CYA ‘65) Professor Emerita of Old World Archaeology and Art, synthesized the intellectual background of
MIT Media Lab Free-Lance Writer; Advisory Board, Wesleyan Writers under the auspices of the Embassy of
Conference; Trustee, New York Historical Society
Brown University; Director, Petra Southern Temple a revolution. The influence of classicism in-
Andrea Hannon Brown (CYA ’73) Excavations; Former President of the Archaeological Greece in Washington, drawing thousands
School Psychologist Institute of America
duced a philhellenic movement in Western
Edmund Keeley of viewers thanks to modern technology
Straut Professor of English Emeritus and Director of Europe fueled by the romantic poetry of
Anastassis G. David Gerald Lalonde and social media.Recordings of both are
Chairman of the Board, Coca Cola HBC AG
Hellenic Studies Emeritus, Princeton University Professor Emeritus of Classics, Grinnell College Byron, Shelley, and Keats inspiring people
available at Mark Mazower or Alexander
Mary R. Lefkowitz to become sympathetic to the Greek cause.
Dimitri Gondicas Lily Macrakis Kitroeff. Apart from offering to our alumni
Director, Seeger Center for Hellenic Studies,
Andrew W. Mellon Professor in the Humanities Special Counselor to the President of Hellenic In America, the poetry of Fitz Greene
Emerita, Wellesley College and friends a deeper understanding of the CYA was born only 130 years after the end
Princeton University College-Holy Cross Halleck and the fiery sermons of people
Raphael Moissis complexity of the Greek Revolution, both of the Greek Revolution. Although dedi-
Nicholas G. Hatsopoulos (CYA '83) Stephen G. Miller like Edward Everett and Thomas Winthrop
Professor of Neuroscience, University of Chicago
Chairman Emeritus of the Board of Trustees, College Professor of Classical Archaeology Emeritus, lectures underlined the enormous influ- cated to making our students intercultur-
Year in Athens; Chair Emeritus, Foundation for in Boston and Nicholas Biddle and George
University of California at Berkeley; Former Director, ence that philhellenism played in the 19th ally competent, there is no doubt that the
Julia Hotz (CYA ‘14) Economic & Industrial Research (IOBE) - Greece; Excavations at Nemea Beddel in Philadelphia mobilized political
Community Manager, Solutions Journalism Network Honorary Chairman, AB Vassilopoulos S.A. century, mobilizing public opinion in the deeper impetus for CYA’s creation was the
and economic support. Quite likely the
Stephen V. Tracy US and Europe, radically transforming the study and cultivation of the art, language,
Yannis Ioannides Alexander Nehamas Former Director, American School of Classical Studies abolitionist movement played a positive
Max & Herta Neubauer Chair and Professor of Edmund N. Carpenter II Class of 1943 Professor in the political scene and tipping the scale not just and history of ancient and modern Greece,
Economics, Tufts University Humanities, Professor of Philosophy and Comparative
at Athens; Professor Emeritus, Ohio State University role as well.
in favor of the embattled Greeks but also in in essence promoting classicism and Greek
Literature, Princeton University Charles Kaufman Williams II
George Komodikis Director Emeritus, Corinth Excavations, American What is also remarkable is that the uprising favor of the ideals of liberty, independence,
Member-Advisory Board, Ipswich Investment Anne Rothenberg (CYA '66) studies, the same elements that shaped
School of Classical Studies of the Greeks in 1821 happened at a time human rights, and constitutional gover-
Management Co., Inc. Trustee, The Huntington Library Art Collections and public opinion in the 19th century to give
Botanical Gardens when the Powers of the day, Austro-Hun- nance.
Christine Kondoleon Greece its freedom, elements which have
ACADEMIC ADVISORY ROUNDTABLE
gary, Russia, Prussia, England, and France,
George and Margo Behrakis Chair of Greek and Thanos Veremis Reflecting on the past, one can say that a provided her soft power ever since. Byron’s
Roman Art, Department of Art of Ancient Greece and Professor of Political History Emeritus, University of had all joined together in the Holy Alliance
Athens; Vice Chairman, ELIAMEP Michael Arnush lot was accomplished in these two hundred “Childe Harold’s Pilgrimage” and Shel-
Rome, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston at the Congress of Vienna to keep a world
Chair, Department of Classics, Skidmore College years and a lot remains to be done. The ley’s “Hellas” have influenced generations
Zoë Sophia Kontes (CYA ’95) Polyvios Vintiadis order that was totally intolerant to na-
Associate Professor and Chair of Classics, Kenyon Director, Morgens Waterfall Vintiadis & Co. Kendall Brostuen young nation enlarged itself with the toward the same ideals. Byron writes in the
Director of International Programs/Associate Dean of tionalistic uprisings. It is in this forbidding
College Balkan Wars, suffered the Catastrophe on “Isles of Greece”,
the College, Brown University context that the Friendly Society in Odessa
Ulysses Kyriacopoulos its centennial having to absorb 1.5 million The mountains look on Marathon –
Fmr Chairman, Hellenic Foundation of Greek
BOARD OF ADVISORS Jennifer Ewald was planning the Revolution. Its leader,
Director, Office of Study Abroad, Fairfield University fellow Greeks from Asia Minor, endured And Marathon looks on the sea;
Enterprises (SEV); fmr Chairman, Foundation for P. Nikiforos Diamandouros Alexander Ypsilantis, Greek officer in the
Economic & Industrial Research (IOBE); Member of the Nazi occupation and the civil war but And musing there an hour alone,
Professor of Comparative Politics, University of Hal Haskell Russian army and aid de camp to the Tzar,
the Board of Imerys Industrial Minerals Greece S.A., Athens; Former Greek Ombudsman Professor of Classics, Southwestern University always remained on the right side of histo- I dream’d that Greece might still be free;
ASK Chemicals, Lamda Development in his impetuous way preempted the revo-
ry. All this and the present circumstances
Jack Davis Pam Haskell lution and started military action in Walla-
Laetitia La Follette (CYA ’75) Carl W. Blegen Professor of Greek Archaeology, Professor of Classics, Southwestern University of the world pandemic, severely impacting Greece has indeed remained free. The
Professor of History of Art & Architecture, University of Cincinnati; Former Director of the
chia by collecting a small army of students
Alexander Kitroeff Greece after nine years of economic crisis, thousands of CYA’s alumni, who hold
University of Massachusetts Amherst American School of Classical Studies at Athens abroad and in so doing pushed the Greeks
Associate Professor, History Department, Haverford speak of the resilience of her people. The Greece in their hearts, demonstrating their
Nitzia Embiricos Logothetis (CYA ‘02) Thomas W. Gallant (CYA ’76) College of the Peloponnese to an uprising. Other
Founder and Executive Chairwoman, Seleni Institute 25th of March 2021 marked a turning point attachment to this country every day, are
Nicholas Family Endowed Chair, Professor of Modern areas of Greece joined the long and bloody
Greek History, University of California, San Diego Nicolas Prevelakis in many things: the brand of the country, the new philhellenes. Greece inspired
Theo Melas-Kyriazi Lecturer on Social Studies, at Harvard’s Committee revolt but after seven years of fighting and
Chief Financial Officer, Levitronix Technologies LLC diplomacy, and a general rather abstract some through CYA to discover their career
Michael Herzfeld on Degrees in Social Studies and Assistant Director despite countless acts of bravery and sacri-
Ernest E. Monrad Research Professor of the Social of Curricular Development at the Center for Hellenic sense that Greece is done with her past, pursuits, while to most she gave the dis-
Alexander Moissis
Sciences in the Department of Anthropology, Harvard Studies, Harvard University.
fice, the war against the Ottomans was not
Vice President, Corporate Development, recognizing her shortcomings and moving covery of themselves.
M&A Execution, SAP
University going well for the Greek side. It lasted long
Prema Samuel forward to the next century.
Artemis Leontis Associate Dean, Study Abroad and Exchange enough, however, so that the Big Powers, ALEXIS PHYLACTOPOULOS , President
Yiannis Monovoukas
Professor of Modern Greek; Chair, Department of Programs, Sarah Lawrence College
Founder and Manager, Helios Global Investments
Classical Studies, University of Michigan
LLC Alain Toumayan
Thomas J. Miller Professor of French, University of Notre Dame
Elaine Papoulias (CYA ’91)
Former U.S. Ambassador to Greece; President/CEO,
Executive Director, Minda de Gunzburg Center for Margaret Wiedenhoeft
International Executive Service Corps (IESC)
European Studies, Harvard University Executive Director, Center for International Programs,
Gregory Nagy Kalamazoo College
Constantine P. Petropoulos
Chairman Emeritus, Petros Petropoulos A.E.B.E.
Director, Center for Hellenic Studies; Francis Jones Deadline for submissions for the next OWL : August 15, 2021
Professor of Classical Greek Literature and Professor
of Comparative Literature, Harvard University
S P RI N G 2 0 2 1 |1
LECTURE SERIES LECTURE SERIES
VIRTUAL LECTURE SERIES – SEASON TWO
After a series of fascinating virtual lectures over the summer, CYA renewed its Virtual Lecture Series for the fall season.
September 16, 2020 November 19, 2020 inspires this fascination with space, one that has inspired count-
Energy and Climate Change: Rhetoric and Reality less monumental scientific discoveries. Most notably, humanity’s
Democracy: Old & New
understanding of space was significantly enriched by the boom of
discoveries that came in the middle of the twentieth century.
Catherine Vanderpool, former CYA professor, archaeologist, and
an emeritus member of the board of the Gennadius Library of the
American School of Classical Studies, Athens, served as discussant
for the virtual lecture.
Link to Article
Raphael Moissis Ulysses Kyriacopoulos
Watch this lecture on YouTube
John McK. Camp II John Karavas
CYA Trustee Emeritus, Professor John McK. Camp II, Director CYA alumnus John Pezaris (CYA ‘83), an Assistant in Neurosur- Dr. Raphael Moissis, Chairman Emeritus of the CYA Board of
Trustees and Chairman Emeritus of the Foundation for Economic January 27, 2021
of the Athenian Agora Excavations at the American School of gery at the Massachusetts General Hospital and Assistant Professor
and Industrial Studies (IOBE), participated in CYA’s Virtual Lecture Ancient Quarrel Between Poetry and Philosophy
Classical Studies at Athens, gave a lecture titled Democracy: Old at Harvard Medical School, provided fascinating insights and asked
& New. CYA professor of archaeology John Karavas facilitated the probing questions as the lecture’s discussant. Dr. Pezaris currently Series. In his presentation, Energy & Climate Change: Rhetoric
discussion. runs the Visual Prosthesis Laboratory at Mass General where his and Reality, Dr. Moissis examined the often-stark differences
team uncovers secrets of the visual system in order to restore sight between the rhetoric of Europe’s stated policy regarding energy
Professor Camp discussed the history of Athenian democracy, and and climate change and the scientific and economic reality of one of
to the blind.
what it can teach us about contemporary governments, through today’s most pressing issues.
his archaeological dig at the Athenian Agora. Through studying de- Link to Article
mocracy’s original form, Professor Camp argued, we can implement Watch this lecture on YouTube Ulysses Kyriacopoulos, CYA Trustee and a significant figure in
wisdom from ancient Athens to current political and governmental the Greek business world served as discussant for the lecture, pro-
issues and find solutions to pressing problems. viding interesting insight about climate change and energy from an
Michael K. Kellogg K. Chris Todd
entrepreneur’s perspective.
Link to Article October 29, 2020
Watch this lecture on YouTube When Future Meets the Past: Link to Article Michael K. Kellogg, founding and managing partner in the law
New Archaeological Methodologies in Action Watch this lecture on YouTube firm of Kellogg Hansen Todd Figel & Frederick, P.P.L.C., and
author of books on philosophy and the history of western thought,
September 30, 2020 discussed the much-debated critical battle of philosophy and
Connecting the Brain to Machines: December 16, 2020 poetry. What Plato called “the ancient quarrel between poetry and
Discovering the Universe philosophy” was a quarrel over primacy. Which is most important
From the Presocratics to Elon Musk
to the city state: poetry or philosophy? Which has the strongest
claim to wisdom?
Facilitating the discussion was CYA’s Chairman of the Board of
Hüseyin Öztürk Sam Holzman
Trustees, K. Chris Todd, a name partner in the Washington D.C.
law firm of Kellogg Hansen Todd Figel & Frederick, P.P.L.C., and a
good friend of Michael Kellogg.
CYA Professor and field archaeologist, Hüseyin Çınar Öztürk,
outlined developments in the field of archaeology from the middle Link to Article
of the twentieth century to today. Sam Holzman (CYA ‘10), former Dionysis P. Catherine Watch this lecture on YouTube
Nicholas John Pezaris
CYA Trustee, served as discussant for the virtual lecture. Holzman Simopoulos Vanderpool
Hatsopoulos
serves as the Digital Archaeology Associate at the American School
View all episodes of the CYA Virtual Lecture Series here
of Classical Studies at Athens. In the last installment of CYA’s Virtual Lecture Series for the year
CYA Trustee and alumnus, Nicholas Hatsopoulos (CYA ‘83),
Professor of Neuroscience at the University of Chicago explored the Professor Öztürk currently works with the Small Cycladic Islands 2020, Dionysis P. Simopoulos, astrophysicist, Director Emeritus
of the Eugenides Planetarium in Athens, and vocal advocate for sci-
Ancient Greek origins of neuroscience and tied the history of the Project to survey the tiny islands in the Cyclades that were once
ence education in Greece, examined the secrets of our universe. In THANK YOU
field to the development of cutting-edge technologies to be used in home to important ancient sites. By using photogrammetry and
his lecture Discovering the Universe, Simopoulos guided attend-
neuroscience. Professor Hatsopoulos, along with a team of scien- drones, archaeologists can map out and model entire islands in CYA Trustee, Yiannis Monovoukas made a
tists and researchers, studies machine-brain interfaces. order to best study the archaeological remains there. ees through the history of astronomy, the timeline of fundamental
discoveries and theories about space and the universe, and the significant financial contribution to CYA this
In the discussion, titled Connecting the Brain to Machines: From Link to Article future of space exploration and further developments in the field. year; he provided funding that will cover a por-
the Pre-Socratics to Elon Musk, Professor Hatsopoulos explored tion of air travel costs to students who will be
NO VIDEO – Speaker’s request Simopoulos began by highlighting humankind’s persistent wonder,
the Ancient Greek origins of neuroscience and tied the history of
the field to the development of cutting-edge technologies to be curiosity, and connection with the cosmos throughout history. It enrolling in Fall ’21 or a CYA GAP program.
used in neuroscience. seems that man and the universe have an unbreakable link that
2| SPR IN G 2 0 2 1 • THE O WL S P RI N G 2 0 2 1 | 3
LECTURE SERIES FACULTY NEWS
FOUNDERS DAY LECTURE Maria Vidali, who teaches Contemporary Angelos Papadopoulos, who teaches Bronze Age Aegean Prehis-
Urbanism, participated (online) in the Experi- tory and Ancient Materials and Technologies in the Greek World at
The discussion was facilitated by Dr. Hal Haskell, Professor Emer- CYA published in late 2020:
ential Design — Rethinking relations between
itus of Classics at Southwestern University. A widely published
people, objects and environments conference, Papadopoulos, A. (2020) Deconstructing the Image of the Warrior. Adap-
scholar in North American and European journals and an expert
in January 2020, organized by Florida State tation, Alteration and Rejection in Late Bronze Age Eastern Mediterranean
in Greek and Latin language and literature and Aegean Bronze
University, AMPS and PARADE, thanks to from an Aegean perspective, in J. Driessen & A. Vanzetti (eds.) Commu-
Age archaeology, Hal Haskell serves on CYA's Academic Advisory nication Uneven. Acceptance of and Resistance to Foreign Influences
a CYA grant. Her presentation and paper
Roundtable. in the connected Ancient Mediterranean. Louvain, 169-187.
titled Architecture beyond the built form.
ANNUAL FOUNDER'S REMEMBRANCE DAY Understanding and Imagination was later
Link to Article Papadopoulos, A. (2020). Review of Kristian Kristiansen, Thomas
Watch this lecture on YouTube published in Graham Cairns, Eric An (eds.), Lindkvist and Janken Myrdal, eds. Trade and Civilization: Economic
AMPS Proceedings Series 18.1., pp. 54-60 Networks and Cultural Ties, from Prehistory to the Early Modern Era
Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2018, European Journal of
February 10, 2021 Congratulations to CYA professor Archaeology, 23.4: 627-631.
The Metamorphoses of Education Abroad Eleni Fassa, on her new book, The Birth of a
Cult: Sarapis and the Ptolemies in Alexandria Despite the COVID-19 restrictions, he presented four papers at
during the 3rd century BCE (transl.). Why is a three international conferences:
APPRECIATION FROM AN ALUMNA cult founded? How is it created and organized? 1) "Seeking the Cypriot merchant in the LBA Mediterranean:
In response to the Founder’s Day lecture, we received What myths and rituals are applied in order Personal possessions as indicators of identity?"
this nice note from alumna Beatrice (Meyer ’67) Ring, to promote a new god? “The birth of a cult”
is a book on the relation between religion and 2) Connections with the west? Mycenaean and Cypriot pottery
addressed to Alexis Phylactopoulos:
politics during one of the most fascinating eras from Tell el-Hesi, 50 Years at Hesi: New Discoveries from an
The transformative nature of study abroad cannot be Old Dig at the Annual Meeting of the American Schools of Oriental
of Hellenism.
understated. For me, my time in Greece helped me to: Research (ASOR), Boston, 18-21 November.
Brian Whalen Hal Haskell
Despina Iosif published her latest book on 3) The Cypriot and Aegean pottery from Tell el-Hesi: Merchants
• Gain a deeper understanding of a culture different from
Commemorating its founder, Ismene Phylactopoulou, CYA my own Libanius and the Roman Prisons (University from Cyprus in the southern Levantine trade networks? at the
hosted a special lecture on Education Abroad. Guest speaker Brian of Crete Press, 2020). Libanius was teacher conference Beyond Cyprus: Investigating Cypriot connectivity in the
Whalen, Executive Director of the American International Recruit- • Gain the ability to communicate in a language not my of rhetoric in Antioch late in the 4th centu- Mediterranean from the Late Bronze Age to the end of the Classical
own
ment Council (AIRC), gave a brief history of education abroad and ry AD and the orations he composed are a period, National Hellenic Research Foundation, Athens, 8–11 Decem-
discussed where things are, and where things are going in the field. • Embrace the skills to negotiate everyday elements in valuable source on how Roman officials run ber.
new and interesting ways (ordering groceries, making the provinces, how trials were conducted and
Education abroad has a long past but a relatively short history. telephone calls, using transportation etc. dining in 4) Mycenaean pottery and ‘objects of no value’. Finds manage-
restaurants, celebrating holidays etc) how criminals were treated in the late antique ment and issues of division during the British Museum excavations in
Transformative educational journeys to foreign lands resonate
Mediterranean world. Despina Iosif has another Cyprus in the late 19th c. AD" at the conference Empire & Excava-
deeply in many cultural and intellectual traditions. But only in the • Gain new friendships which have served me through book forthcoming by University of Crete Press tion. Critical perspectives on archaeology in British-period Cyprus,
past 50 years has education abroad developed as an organized field the years
on Ancient Greek and Roman Paradoxography. 1878–1960, CAARI and British Museum, 29-30 January 2021.
of higher education. Mr. Whalen discussed: • Learn about oneself and one’s weaknesses and strengths
‘What is important to know about the history of education abroad For me it was an astounding growth experience to be
as an academic enterprise’, ‘How will the Covid-19 pandemic ‘plunked’ down by your mother and Raphael and Jean
change this field’, and ‘what will education abroad look like in the Demos in an Athens apartment where I couldn’t read a
near and long-term future’? single word, didn’t know the Greek alphabet or language,
and to know that at the end of the day I could feed my- A VIRTUAL VASILOPITA CUTTING!
Dr. Brian Whalen is among the most well-known and influential
international education leaders; he was the President and CEO of self, get a job and make new friends... that taught me the January 13th, CYA had the traditional cutting of the Vasilopita,
The Forum on Education Abroad for a dozen years. He served as skill of self-reliance and gave me the confidence I would in the virtual presence of the CYA staff. Vasilopita is a New Year’s
resident director in Italy for the University of Dallas and Boston use the rest of my career. Day cake that traditionally contains a hidden coin or trinket which
University and was the Senior International Officer at both Marist CYA continues to be the most important single expe- gives good luck to the receiver. The story of the Greek Orthodox
College and Dickinson College. He has taught graduate and un- rience of my youth for which I continue to be eternally custom of the Vasilopita with the lucky coin inside began in Asia
dergraduate courses at Boston University, Brookhaven Community grateful. And much of that gratitude must be directed Minor.
College, Dickinson College, Lesley University, University of Dallas, to your mother who, even before the school year began, Before cutting the Vasilopita, CYA President, Alexis Phylactopou-
and the University at Albany. A widely published scholar, Brian was taught me the tools to make my year abroad astounding. los, warmly addressed the staff and offered encouraging thoughts
for 25 years the founding editor of Frontiers: The Interdisciplinary
So while you honor your mother today as founder of regarding the school in these difficult times.
Journal of Study Abroad, the first peer-reviewed international educa-
tion journal. Brian has contributed to many higher education initia- CYA, I will use it this evening to raise a glass to her The President proceeded to cut the Vasilopita, reserving a piece for
tives globally and has participated in national policy level meetings amazing skills as a teacher of life. each member of staff. Instead of the lucky coin, a lot was drawn and
at the U.S. Department of State, U.S. Department of Education, and three winners won a special box of goods.
the White House.
Congratulations to the lucky winners: Erica Huffman '93 (Director
of Alumni Relations), Angeliki Dasiou (cleaning staff) and Maria
Malliou (Financial Officer).
4| SPR IN G 2 0 2 1 • THE O WL S P RI N G 2 0 2 1 |5
ALUMNI SUBMISSIONS
OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOM: CYA’S WINTER SESSION 1967 COUNTER COUP
CYA offers two Winter Session options: participating in an exca- Submitted by Lynn (Dominick '68) Novack
vation taking place in Voula, a suburb of Athens or a fast-paced The years before 1967 were years of During our year there, we were forbidden to speak about politics
course within and about the city of Athens. political instability, with frequent leftist with anyone, lest we get ourselves and them into trouble. We were
Anthropology of the City: Exploring Modern Athens with CYA protests and riots. On April 21, 1967, a forbidden to listen to music by Theodorakis and other leading
professor Aimee Placas, is a course that studies the different reali- group of Colonels overthrew a caretak- composers who were leftist. It was a scary time, politically, as it was
ties of this city, by exploring, observing, and speaking to people. er government, one month before the also the year of a Greek-Turkish standoff over Cyprus (resolved
national elections that were predicted peacefully with negotiations led by Cyrus Vance), and in the U.S.,
Class guest Dr. Tyler Boersen, International Press and Media to elect the Greek American socialist the assassination of Martin Luther King, followed by the assassina-
Officer at Develop Athens took students on a walk around the city Andreas Papandreou. tion of Bobby Kennedy.
center and offered insight into ongoing projects (photo). Dr. Boers-
en spoke about Athens as a unique and complex city and highlight- Colonel Papadopoulos was named
ed recent interventions that encourage Athenians to imagine and Prime Minister. The Greek Parliament
interact with city spaces in new ways. was dissolved, and Syntagma Square
stayed mostly empty and the Parlia- ADDENDUM: We recently had a Zoom call with seven classmates
ment Building remained cold and dark. participating, and we compared stories. One classmate said she and
her roommates had gone out driving with friends from Athens Col-
The Junta stayed in place until 1974, when it was toppled after the
lege to see what was happening, and the police had stopped them.
Greek military lost more than half of Cyprus to the Turks, where
They were scared to death, but my classmate claimed they spoke
they remain to this day.
no Greek and were just American tourists who had gotten lost —
December 14, 1967: and the police let them go. We all had memories of the shutters
ALUMNI BOOK CLUB
The Day After the Counter Coup... being raised and lowered in the darkness. The rest of our year was
DONATE TO CYA
On October 14th CYA announced their new virtual alumni book “Yesterday, I was sitting here on a calm day in our apartment when relatively uneventful, as long as we followed the rules. And it was
B y giving to CYA, alumni and friends help secure the present club. Ariana Gunderson (Spring ’13), with the help of CYA’s I heard the sound of jets buzzing over Athens. About an hour later, a spectacular year for all of us, remembered with intensity and
and future of an institution which has been dedicated Director of Alumni Relations, Erica Huffman (Spring ’93), spear- we found out that King Constantine was leading a counter-coup passion for Greece.
to the highest quality study abroad education since 1962. headed the project. So far the group has met virtually five times and against the Junta in Northern Greece, that there were tanks in
Donations make so many things possible from the continu- have read the following books. If you are interested in participating, Syntagma Square, and fighting up north. The rest of the day was
ous improvement of our facilities, to the development of new please email Erica at alumni@cyathens.org. devoted to following all the scraps of news we could get, which Lynne Dominick Novack, Senior Fellow, John G Tower Center on Polit-
courses, the funding of professor sabbaticals and research, to were very contradictory. Mrs Phyl stayed in Mrs H’s apartment (first ical Studies at Southern Methodist University (SMU), spent her career
Outline by Rachel Cusk
inviting renowned visiting professors and granting student night spent in Athens in 30 years! — shows how nervous she was. organizing programs in foreign policy and national security at various
awards for those less fortunate to name a few. Please give to Eurydice Street by Sofka Zinovieff She, like all of us, was hoping the king would be victorious). We universities and non-profit organizations. She and her husband John
CYA and together we will make the next 60 years even more talked with her at length. We also listened to a news broadcast in divide their time between Dallas, TX and Patagonian Chile.
Scorpionfish by Natalie Bakopoulos
special. English over the national station, throwing out the most outrageous
The Two Faces of January by Patricia Highsmith propaganda. But it eventually became apparent to us that the king
Make a gift by check had lost and was fleeing the country.
Mail a check or money order to: Three Summers by Margarita Liberaki
We went to bed at midnight but were woken at 2:00 AM by the
College Year in Athens
loudest explosion we’d ever heard: a large bomb going off very
PO Box 390890,
close by! We were absolutely terrified. Silence for half an hour,
Cambridge, MA 02139
then a deafening rumble outside our apartment: this time, a tank.
Make a gift of stock It stopped right below us on Denocratous, soldiers jumped out and
By transferring appreciated stock to College Year in Athens, picked up some men loitering there, piled back in with their pris-
you may be eligible for a tax deduction equal to the full fair oners, and the tank rumbled off. No lights or cars anywhere, and
market value of the stock, avoid the capital gains tax on the the only other noise was the sound of the heavy apartment wooden
stock's increased value. In order for the gift to be acknowl- shutters going up and down in the darkened square. It was really,
edged, it is important to notify CYA of the type and amount of really eerie.
stock you will be giving. You may do this either personally or
Eventually we got to sleep for a few hours. This morning, we found
through your agent or broker.
out that the military Junta is in complete control, with the King and
Please contact our Bursar for details: bursar@cyathens.org
his family exiled in Rome. The counter-coup was a complete fiasco,
Donations are tax-deductible to the extent allowable by law.
but the Junta claimed no bloodshed. Right... people were being
tortured all the time in that warehouse across from where Margot
Giving Levels based on annual contributions Camp lived. They would turn on revving motorcycles at night to
Benefactor $25,000+ dampen the sounds of the screams.
Patron $10,000-$24,999 It is all so sad. When will Greece ever be free again? But we are all
Sponsor $5,000-$9,999 safe, and we sure have seen and experienced some history.”
Supporter $1,000-$4,999
And for the rest of our academic year, there was a big bomb crater
Contributor All other gifts in the middle of Denocratous between all the student apartments
and the apartment for the dining room and library. It must have Lynne Dominick, Katharine Weld, and Elizabeth Brittain at Sounion
had a 25 feet radius, and been about 12-15 feet deep. It was a con-
stant reminder that the Colonels were still in charge.
6| SPR IN G 2 0 2 1 • THE O WL S P RI N G 2 0 2 1 | 7
BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE CYA LIBRARIAN VIRTUAL INTERNSHIPS
during this portion of the internship so I can ask questions as well
as report my findings to the public. At the end of the internship,
I will write a paper in which I compile my research findings and
ELIAMEP will use this information to better understand the ways
in which people on either side of the “Big Pond” view one another.
GAP YEAR
Emma Pierce (L) and Aimee Placas (R) during an online meeting.
As previously announced, CYA is offering Virtual Internships. In
CYA’s virtual internship program, a CYA faculty member supervis-
A ll of us have enjoyed cooking during lockdown. Some people
cooked good old recipes and others preferred to explore new
cuisines and tastes. This time, the Librarian recommends cook-
Cretan Cuisine for everyone
by Myrsini Lambraki. Heraklion: Myrsini edition, 2005.
es a curriculum that supplements the student’s internship project,
running activities that increase cultural immersion, facilitate inter-
cultural communication, and give the intern the tools needed to
books that will bring back to your memory tastes and smells from A book that includes information on the culture of the Cretan
make the most of an international internship experience virtually.
Greece. Dishes that will keep you company until the next time cuisine and the home cooking traditions. Easy and fast recipes with
that you visit Greece and eat under the shadow of an old tree at a step by step photos. CYA Faculty member Aimee Placas is running internships this
taverna, a few meters from the beach. winter with Emma Pierce, a student from the College of Charles-
Kitchen in Corfu: Rustic Ionian Cooking. CYA has added Gap Year Programs to its outstanding academic
ton. This is what Emma shared:
by James Chatto and W.L. Martin. London: Clearview books, offerings!
The Country Cooking of Greece 2012. My name is Emma Pierce and I am a junior studying at the College
by Diane Kochilas. San Francisco: Chronicle books, 2012. More and more students are participating in Gap Year program-
of Charleston. This semester I am doing an online internship with
“A Kitchen in Corfu takes as its subject the gathering of food and ming worldwide and CYA is happy to announce its new Gap Year
“Two hundred recipes range from whole grains and a diversity ELIAMEP, a Greek foreign-policy research institute, through CYA.
cooking in Loutses, a small village in northern Corfu where the Program which gives students the opportunity to enrich their life
of nutritious Greek greens to hand-shaped pastries and the briny I am extremely grateful for the opportunity and will be engaging in
old traditions of lining and eating still flourish. The book’s shape experience before college.
bounty of the Mediterranean and Aegean seas. This book is the a 12-week research project entitled “Familiar Strangers”. I will be
follows the landscape: the hills and sea, the olive groves and vine-
guide to the next wave of Greek artisanal products we will come to collaborating with one other intern who is located in Europe and For those students taking a Gap Year, CYA offers an amazing
yards, orchards and vegetable gardens where the villagers hunt and
use and appreciate, such as grape must and mastic. we will work together to explore the perceptions that the people opportunity. Students will experience Greece and Greek culture in
grow their food.”
living on either side of the Atlantic have about each other. I am depth while living in the center of Athens but also traveling around
More than just a cookbook, this is a cultural guide. Learn to navi- Cookbook of the Jews of Greece responsible for researching how American citizens and the govern- the country. Trips around the country and on-site and experiential
gate the tavern scene, the extensive Greek holiday meals, and the by Nicholas Stavroulakis. Athens: Lycabettus Press, 1990. ment view Europeans and the EU. My work will be focused from learning get students outside of the classroom and into the world,
drinking rituals that accompany the meze spread, heavy with re- the beginning of the Obama administration to the beginning of the expanding their worldview and preparing them for their future
gional specialties such as you might find in any traditional taverna.” “The Cookbook of the Jews of Greece is more than a cookbook, Biden administration. The first half of my internship will be ded- studies.
for, in addition to the 287 recipes, some unique and others unusual icated to academic research. I will discover what academia has to
The Greek Vegetarian: More than 100 recipes inspired by variations on familiar Persian, Arab, Turkish, and Greek dishes, it is CYA will offer this opportunity every semester, and each offering
offer in regard to America’s perception of Europe. The second half
the traditional dishes and flavors of Greece lavishly illustrated by the author with over sixty drawings of Jewish will be centered around fascinating themes from Ancient to Mod-
of my internship will be creatively based. I will conduct interviews
by Diane Kochilas. New York: St. Martin’s Griffin, 1996. life throughout Greece and documented with descriptions of local ern Greece.
with friends, professors, researchers of my choice as well as create
customs and traditions that were the settings for a rich and varied my own questions and surveys in order to further my understand- For more information visit the Gap Year Programs page on our
“In this authoritative, exuberant cookbook, renowned culinary
cuisine.” ing. ELIAMEP’s social media platforms will also be at my disposal website.
expert Diane Kochilas shares recipes for cold and warm mezes,
salads, pastas and grains, stews and one-pot dishes, baked vegeta-
ble and bean specialties, stuffed vegetables, soups, savory pies and
basic breads, and dishes that feature eggs. Brimming with classic
dishes, regional favorites, and inspired innovations, The Greek
Vegetarian pays tribute to one of the world’s most venerable and PICTURE YOURSELF IN GREECE THIS SUMMER
healthful cuisines.” SUMMER SESSION II (June 30 - July 28, 2021)
Learn more and apply here
ECON 343/ POLSCI 343 Plague, Politics, & Populism |
Prospero’s Kitchen: Island Cooking of Greece
Classical Athens as Parable for Modern Greece and Europe
by Diana Farr Louis, and June Marinos. SUMMER SESSION I (June 2 - June 30, 2021) (Athens, Delphi, Delos, Mykonos)
London: I.B. Tauris, 2012.
ARCH 346 / HIST 346 The Strangeness of Ancient Greece: ANTH 325 The Anthropology of Food in Greece: the Mediter-
“Corfu, Cephalonia, Zakynthos and other Ionian islands are home Diversity, Difference and Regionality among the Greek States ranean Diet and More (Athens, Naxos, Ikaria)
to one of the finest cuisines of the Mediterranean. The stamp- (Athens, Peloponnese)
ing-ground of Captain Corelli and Lawrence Durrell, the Ionians ARCH 347 When Egypt meets the Aegean: Interconnections
have always held a particular, almost mystical, fascination for ARCX 321 Excavating in the Aegean: The Despotiko Field in the Bronze Age Eastern Mediterranean (Thera [Santorini],
visitors, while for many of the thousands who travel to the region School (Paros, Antiparos) Crete, Athens)
each year it is the special nature of Ionian cooking that forms an ARTH 356 / CHTE 356 The Present Past: Re-imagining Greece REL 351 The Geography of Faith: Paul and the Emergence of
essential and unforgettable part of their experience. Through Heritage (Athens, Crete, Rhodes) Christianity in Greece (Athens, Corinth, Philippi, Thessaloni
Featuring over 150 easy-to-follow recipes as well as a wealth of LIT 348 Becoming a Traveler: Writing in Greece (Athens, Poros, URBS 334 Greek Island Architecture, Culture, and Identity.
information on Ionian culture and customs, beautiful photographs Nauplion) (Naxos, Amorgos, Santorini, Tinos)
and original illustrations, Prospero’s Kitchen is an essential guide to
Greek cuisine with a lyrical Ionian accent.” CYA Librarian Georgia Katsarou
8| SPR IN G 2 0 2 1 • THE O WL S P RI N G 2 0 2 1 |9
FROM THE BLOGS FROM THE BLOGS
VIRTUAL MARATHON, ACTUAL RUNNING! FIVE THINGS I’M GRATEFUL FOR Grecian Skylines Amazing Support Incredible Friends
THIS SEMESTER
T wo Fall 2020 CYAers ran the Athens
Authentic Marathon during lockdown. by Jacki Healy (Fall '20)
Every year in Athens, thousands of runners This year has been nothing like I expected,
have the opportunity to participate in the in both the best and worst ways.
Athens Authentic Marathon, covering the From COVID-19 and lockdowns to social
same ground as Pheidippides, the hero of justice movements and presidential elec-
a legend that inspired modern Marathons. tions, 2020 has been a challenge and a con-
(Phidippides was a messenger, who is tradiction to everything we’d anticipated.
said to have run from Marathon to Athens But 2020 has also brought so much good:
to bring news of the Greek victory over new ways of communicating, creating, and
the Persians at the Battle of Marathon, in connecting. New friendships, new chal-
490 BC.) Photo taken at Meteora on September 27, Fall ’20 CYAers Jennifer Frank, Benji Hess,
lenges, new successes, new experiences. 2020 Theo Karplus, Gwyn Stith, and Jacki Healy!
Like most things this past year, the 2020 In 2020, and this semester particularly, I Right now, faint colors are starting to paint
Athens Marathon was different. Due to the have so much to be grateful for. Here are 5 the Athenian horizon, a view I’ll never With only nine of us total studying at CYA
restrictions for the prevention of Covid-19, of them, in no particular order: get tired of. But it’s not only this spot at CYA’s Yiota Vouzna helping student Theo this term, it was inevitable that we’d spend
the Marathon was held virtually! This
this moment that is beautiful; every single Karplus keep her balance while taking a photo a lot of time together and hopefully get
meant that participants could run on a
What route did you decide to take? place I’ve been in Greece has an incredible at Lissos Gorge in Crete. along. However, I can’t believe what good
chosen path around their neighborhood, This Current Moment view. Be it sunrise, sunset, midday, or even friends we all have become! I feel so lucky
and track their distance digitally, in order Jennifer: In order to find a good route, I
cloudy and raining, every skyline in Greece As I’ve already mentioned, this year and to be here in Greece with this incredible
to cover the official 26 miles. looked up the 5K route from past years. It
is a stunning view. Each time, it makes me this semester have been rife with trying group of people. We’ve been through
took me by the National Garden, the Tem-
Fall 2020 students Benji Hess and Jen- pause – and not just to take a picture. They circumstances. If it weren’t for the incred- adventures, challenges, quarantines,
ple of Zeus, and the University of Athens. I
nifer Frank, decided to participate, Benji are all unique and breathtaking, and the ible support of my family, my therapist, and more together, and we’ve definitely
listened to music and enjoyed sightseeing
running the full Marathon and Jennifer the views bring me a feeling of awe and peace. my professors, and the CYA administra- bonded and had a lot of fun. This semester
as I ran.
5k race. They are the prettiest reminders of how tion and staff, this experience wouldn’t be has been full of memories and stories for a
Benji: I decided to head south. My halfway blessed I am to be studying abroad and ex- anything close to how wonderful it is. My lifetime, and even if we don’t stay in touch,
We spoke to them about their experience point was Vouliagmeni, and I managed ploring a new place during this crazy time! I will definitely hold these people and this
family keeps me grounded and connect-
and found that they were both excited to to hit Ilioupoli, Argiroupoli, and Glyfada time in my heart.
ed to things at home, while cheering me
have participated! along the way. I left Athens at around five on and encouraging me to experience
The sun has now dipped below the tree
Jennifer: I am very glad that Greece in the morning, and I caught the sunrise Delicious Food all Greece has to offer. My therapist has
line, the Acropolis is lit up in all its glory,
decided to hold the Virtual Marathon this right as I was approaching the coast—it helped me work through the emotional
and the sky’s faint colors have deepened
year. It was very fun to participate in, and was an incredible experience to be running and mental effects of changing plans and
and darkened into a richly colored sunset.
it felt great to be part of such an important while the city was waking up! varying lockdown restrictions. My profes-
I’m sitting cross-legged on the third floor A slight chill is now blanketing Athens, but
annual tradition. balcony of CYA. In the sun, it’s just warm sors have been great about adapting to ev-
During your semester with CYA, what did I’m still warmed by all the joy, gratitude,
enough to go without a jacket, probably er-shifting schedules, instruction formats,
Benji: the experience was absolutely you like doing for exercise? and love I have for these things and more.
one of the last times I’ll be able to do so and availability of on-site learning. And,
incredible. Although I didn’t keep up with Jennifer: Throughout the semester, I most especially, I’m thankful for the CYA All this to say, I am very very thankful for
my training before the event, I somehow this term. I’m looking out over some kids
enjoyed running through the National Gar- staff and administration, who have done this place, these people, and this incredible
managed to make the distance (with a cou- laughing and riding bikes near the Pana-
dens and in the Panathenaic Stadium by so much to make our time here the best it experience.
ple gas-station breaks along the way, hah). thenaic Stadium, and a bit to the right is
CYA! These spots were so easily accessible can possibly be. From rescheduling field
the Parthenon in the distance. I’m listening Jacki Healy (Fall ’20) is currently a sophomore
from our neighborhood, which I’m very study trips, to keeping us informed about
to my favorite playlist of happy songs, and at Lawrence University in Appleton, Wis-
grateful for. new regulations, to encouraging our Greek
the sun is huge in the sky as it starts to consin. She is interested in history, classics,
Benji: I would take walks almost every descend. It seems surreal. At the beginning language practice, to providing us with art
theatre, psychology, and museum studies.
night, normally to one of the Western hills of this year, I never would have guessed supplies and other fun things to do during
past the Acropolis. that I’d be here, basking in the glow of the lockdown, they have made this such a fun
Mediterranean sun setting, feeling nothing and exciting experience!
We would like to end this article by sharing
but gratitude for everything in my life. I am
Benji’s beautiful memory of the end of his
so thankful.
Virtual Marathon Run:
This one is quite self-explanatory, but
The end of my race was particularly special;
Greek food!!! I have been here for two
Jennifer and Theo Karplus (Fall ’20)) met
months and have not had a single bad
me at the Panathenaic Stadium right as
meal. I’ve tried so many new things, tasted
I was finishing up with a banner made
different dishes, and absolutely fallen in
of trash bags, hah! Running through it,
love with Greek cuisine. The only part that
they took me home and surprised me
I’m not thankful for is how much I’m going
with a brunch. All of my classmates were
to miss it when I go home!
there waiting, and we had a lovely Sun-
day-morning meal. I’ll never forget that
moment or the folks I got to share it with.
10 | SPR I N G 2 0 2 1 • THE O WL S P RI N G 2 0 2 1 | 11
STAFF SPOTLIGHT STAFF SPOTLIGHT
THE ACCOUNTING DEPARTMENT
The Accounting Department, based in Athens, is vital to CYA’s operations and we are fortunate to have a fantastic Apart from being an Accountant at CYA/ If you were not an Accountant, what job For us who work in a study abroad pro-
duo who keep CYA running. DIKEMES I am also a mother. I have would you choose to have? gram it is particularly important because it
eleven-year-old twin boys and an eight- If I were not an accountant, I would like gives us strength, joy and keeps us young.
year-old girl. When I am not at work, I to become a special education teacher. It’s We wish all our students to leave Greece
Maria Malliou have a busy day with my family at home. something completely different from what having achieved what they came for and
What do you like most about your job? Why do you think study abroad is important? live happy and exciting lives. Only then do
What do you like most about your job? I’m doing right now. There are many chil-
It is really exciting to work as an Accoun- Studying abroad is really important, it is dren who due to some neurological issues we consider that we did our job properly.
tant in an academic institution where one the perfect way to truly learn a different What I like most about accounting is that
cannot attend school. As a special educa-
is able to meet young people full of energy culture by being part of it. While I was in you organize and manage the books for
tion teacher, I would help these children
and different points of view, making one college, I had the opportunity to be an people and companies; I like the attention
and their families learn basic principles of
feel that this job is not only about numbers Erasmus student and live abroad, but I did to detail that’s needed, and that you can
education that they would use so that in
but also a place full of young knowledge- not take that chance and I regret it. For that help people achieve their financial goals.
the future these children would be able to
able faces. reason, I am strongly encouraging my sons Also, it is a demanding job because new
move on and live on their own.
to take the opportunity and study abroad things are constantly emerging, and I need
How do you spend your free time/weekends? to stay informed by attending seminars and Why do you think study abroad is important?
as I believe it will definitely make an impact
I did not have a lot of free time the past on their lives. studying, so this keeps me on my toes. I Study abroad is necessary because students
few years because I was completing my never get bored of it. There is always some- can see and get to know new places, differ-
master’s degree. Most of my time during Vana Bika thing to do and something new to learn. ent from those where they live. They meet
the weekends was spent studying, running different cultures and mentalities of people,
to libraries, and writing my thesis. Now What have you studied and where?
and of course create new friendships. They
that I have completed my studies, I have I studied Accounting in Messolonghi and
learn the language of the country or at least
Maria Malliou joined the CYA/DIKEMES more time to spend with my family. Going got my B.A. in Accounting from the Tech-
how to communicate with its citizens, visit
family in 1995 as an Accountant and is on long walks, reading, watching my sons nological Education institute in 1997. While
its archeological monuments, and they
currently CYA’s main financial officer. She play soccer — and going to the cinema are working and practicing at an accounting
leave with their suitcases full of experiences
was born in Stuttgart, Germany, where she just some of the hobbies I enjoy the most! office I took examinations for the Universi-
that will be unforgettable in their lives.
lived with her family before repatriating ty of Piraeus. I received my B.A. in Business
back to Greece. Mrs. Malliou holds a B.A. If you could meet anyone, living or dead, who Administration in 2007, while already
in Accounting from the Piraeus Technical would it be? working at CYA/DIKEMES.
Institute and an M.A. in Banking from I would like to have a class reunion with
the Hellenic Open University. She lives in CYA’s class of 1995-1996 which was
Athens with her husband Spyros and their the first year I started working at CYA. I
two sons Fotis and Sotiris. Fotis is currently have very fond memories of some of the
attending his second year at the Technical students from that year and they hold a
I was born in Athens, but my family moved
University of Crete studying Electrical and special place in my heart. Also, I would
to Nafpaktos when I was twelve years old On February 16, Athenians woke up to an unusual scenery: Cyclone Medea had covered everything in snow,
Computer Engineering, while Sotiris is in definitely like to meet Lazaros Christo-
and I finished school there. even the Parthenon! Below, residents enjoying the unexpected treat on the Stadium plaza in front of CYA.
his second year of Lyceum which is the foridis our financial advisor (who passed
equivalent of being in the Junior year of away 3 years ago), whose advice in this I came to CYA/DIKEMES in February 2001,
high school. critical period would have been really when the financial services were looking
precious. for an Accounting Assistant. Maria Malliou
Tell us what you do for CYA; what is was then pregnant with her first child and
your role? If you were not an Accountant, what job
the late Lazaros Christoforidis needed help
As the Financial Officer of DIKEMES I would you choose to have?
in the Accounting Office. Fortunately, I
mainly deal with all the issues concerning I would like to do something related to was lucky to join the CYA/DIKEMES team,
Greek taxes, labor legislation and payroll. tourism that will give me the opportunity and the three of us had a particularly good
Additional responsibilities include reconcil- to travel more, meet new people and get to collaboration. I want to express my grat-
iation of accounts, preparing an unadjusted know more places. itude for having the opportunity to work
trial balance of DIKEMES. Assisting me with Mr. Christoforidis, who stood by me
How has your career grown while you have
here in Athens is my co-worker Vana Bika. all these years and from whom I learned so
been at CYA?
I am also responsible for financial state- much about life and work.
ments between DIKEMES and our North When I came to CYA all accounting pro-
American office where I collaborate closely cessed were conducted manually. So I was Tell us what you do for CYA; what is
with my fellow colleagues Maria Marakas responsible for converting all processes to your role?
and Cornelia Herzfeld. The four of us work electronic format. This was a great under- My job is to be informed about and deal
closely together adjusting entries at the taking as I worked for months to be able to with labor and tax issues. It is a high
end of the fiscal year and of course making computerize everything prior to 1995. Ac- responsibility job that has to do with
certain that our sheets are balanced in our counting has changed a lot in Greece in the laws and numbers, and you need to be as
end of the year budget. past years. All our government filings and informed as possible. Sometimes, you must
payments have been converted to digital move fast because deadlines are the next
format. These new government regulations morning and you must prepare accounting
are quite challenging, but they keep me papers from scratch and submit them on
motivated to learn new things. time.
12 | SPR I N G 2 0 2 1 • THE O WL S P RI N G 2 0 2 1 | 13
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