Northville Twp., MI - The Foundation for Modern Greek Studies (FMGS), at the event celebrating 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 to complement the existing also endowed C.P. Cavafy Chair in Modern Greek Language and Literature. 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.
In 2000, the University of Michigan received a major gift from FMGS that made possible the establishment of the endowed C.P. Cavafy Chair. Since then, 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 an additional annual gift agreement of $15,000 from FMGS). This significant growth, (up to 300 students per academic year), along with unyielding student and community interest, is what inspired FMGS to move forward to endow a second Chair, this time in Modern Greek History and Culture.  The funds required for the establishment of the second Chair will total over two million dollars and may be named after a major donor who is willing to make a significant contribution to leave a permanent legacy for his family.  οΏ½We have the right experience and a ten-year record of great success, so we are very optimistic,οΏ½ says Dr. Dimitri Pallas, President of FMGS. οΏ½We congratulate Dr. Pallas and all connected to this project and commit οΏ½οΏ½Ε’s support for its success,οΏ½ said Mr. Chris Tomaras, Vice President of οΏ½οΏ½οΏ½.

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 free of charge.  Another example of the Modern Greek ProgramοΏ½s global reach is the ProgramοΏ½s website (www.lsa.umich.edu/modgreek), which contains exclusive, never before released academic and cultural Greek material.  οΏ½As the members of the 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,οΏ½ 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 introduces exciting Greek adventures to thousands of students and members of the community every year.  οΏ½Adding a specialist in contemporary Greek history is the next step in the growth of our Program,οΏ½ says Prof. Vassilis Lambropoulos. His distinguished colleagues at the Program are Professor Artemis Leontis and Lecturer Despina Margomenou.

It is FMGSοΏ½ vision to enhance the Center for Modern Greek Culture and Policy at a premier institution such as the University of Michigan with the addition of a Chair in Modern Greek History and eventually Chairs in Political Science and Anthropology.

Distinguished guests that attended the event 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); Professor Traianos Gagos (who spoke on behalf of the Dept. of Classical Studies, University of Michigan); Mr. Chris Tomaras (World Council of Hellenes Abroad -- οΏ½AE); 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); Mrs. Joan De Ronne (Administrator, Assumption Greek Orthodox Church of Detroit); Mr. William Vlahoulis (UBS Vice President of Investments and Financial Advisor to AHEPA Educational Foundation and Foundation for Modern Greek Studies); Mr. and Mrs. John Kaounas (Treasurer, FMGS and Industrialist); Dr. Dimitri and Mrs. Irmgard Pallas who hosted the event.