On Monday, January 29, 2018, the City of Tarpon Springs, under the leadership of its first Greek-born Mayor, Chris Alahouzos, welcomed the Greek Ambassador Haris Lalacos, by hosting an Open Forum Panel Discussion at the City Hall.

In addition to Ambassador Lalacos, panelists were US Congressman Gus Bilirakis, Tampa Bay Greek Consul General Dimitrios Sparos, and Mayor Alahouzos. Saint Petersburg College (SPC) was represented by President Tonjua Williams, Tarpon Springs campus Provost Rod Davis, the Center for International Programs Director Ramona Kirsch, and the Leepa-Ratner Museum Director, Ann Larsen.

The panel discussion focused on furthering relationships with Greece in the areas of education, business, culture and the arts.  After the panel discussion, Senator Leonidas Raptakis (Rhode Island), Dr. Tina Bucuvalas Curator of Arts for Tarpon Springs, and SPC President Tonjua Williams made remarks.

President Williams spoke of the strong ties that St. Petersburg College has with Greece.  SPC runs a study abroad program to Greece every other year.  This program will run in May 2018 and be led by SPC Balis Professor of Greek Culture, Kimberly Felos.  During the 11-day journey to Greece students will not only visit the historical sites in and around Athens, but they will also spend time on Kalymnos, one of the islands of the Dodecanese in the southeastern Aegean Sea.  SPC has had an international partnership with Kalymnos for years.  To find out more about the study abroad program, click here.

In addition to the study abroad program to Greece, SPC also hosts the annual conference of the American Foundation for Greek Language and Culture (AFGLC).  This year’s conference theme is “All That’s Greek on Stage and Screen” and will be held on Saturday, April 1, 2018 from 8:30 am – 12 noon on the Tarpon Springs Campus.  To find out more about AFGLC, click here.

President Williams concluded by saying SPC is ready to take the partnership with Greece to the next level and stated that SPC will work with the Greek Ambassador Haris Lalacos and others to ensure deeper collaborations in the future.

Questions? Don’t hesitate to contact us. 

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