ΕΔΡΑ ΕΛΥΤΗ ΚΑΙ ΠΡΟΓΡΑΜΜΑ ΝΕΟΕΛΛΗΝΙΚΩΝ ΣΠΟΥΔΩΝ
ELYTIS CHAIR – MODERN GREEK STUDIES PROGRAM
AT RUTGERS UNIVERSITY
A. INTRODUCTION TO THE PROGRAM – CURRENT STATUS
Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, is home to the Modern
Greek Studies Program, which offers a Minor in Modern Greek Studies
alongside a range of elective courses in language, literature, history,
music, and film, for all students at the University. Established in 1979, the
Program was envisioned to operate under the auspices of an academic
chair named the “Odysseus Elytis Chair,” in honor of the great Greek poet
who was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature that same year. The
Program is sustained through the generous financial support of the Greek-
American community, contributions from external donors, and the
commitment of the Rutgers School of Arts & Sciences to fund three levels
of Greek language instruction (first, second, and third-year) each semester.
Since 2023, the Program has been affiliated with the Department of
Classics, which has assumed responsibility for its coordination. Previously
unaffiliated with a specific academic unit, the Program now benefits from
its integration into a department of recognized scholarly distinction. This
affiliation marks a pivotal development, enabling the Program to expand
its curricular offerings across the full spectrum of Greek culture, from
antiquity to the present day.
In 2021, Rutgers University announced the establishment of a Visiting
Professorship in Modern Greek Studies under the Elytis Chair. The
inaugural holder of this position is Professor Marinos Pourgouris of the
University of Cyprus, a distinguished scholar in Byzantine and Modern
Greek Studies.
The current curriculum of the Program provides high-caliber academic
courses that collectively form a rigorous and coherent framework for the
completion of a Minor in Modern Greek Studies. Instructional needs are
currently met by highly qualified Assistant Professors, Part-time Lecturers,
and Visiting Faculty. The presence of Professor Pourgouris as the Elytis
Chair Visiting Professor significantly enriches the Program. Additionally,
the Program benefits from the contributions of two prominent
Byzantinists, Professors Stephen Reinert and Tia Kolbaba, with Professor
Reinert engaging directly with early Modern Greek texts (15th century).
The seven teaching faculty members of the Program (see Section B)
have been offering a wide range of courses in Greek language, history, and
culture (see section C); their efforts are complemented by the activities of
eight supporting/advisory faculty members affiliated with the Program
who are involved in curriculum development, student advising, event
planning, and community outreach.
Nonetheless, the Program remains in a developmental phase, as it has
yet to secure a permanent senior faculty member with a specialization in
Modern Greek Studies. Efforts are actively underway—led in particular by
Professors Georgopoulos and Papathomas—to secure the funding
necessary to appoint a permanent faculty member to the Elytis Chair.
B. PROGRAM PERSONNEL
PROGRAM OFFICERS
The Director of the Modern Greek Studies Program since July 2023 is
Associate Professor of Classics TIMOTHY POWER. His email is tcpower
@classics.rutgers.edu and his office contact number is 848-932-9305.
The Chair of the Department of Classics, to which the Program belongs,
is Professor of Classics SERENA CONNOLLY. Her email is serena@classics.
rutgers.edu and her office contact number is 848-932-3230.
PROGRAM FACULTY
The academic faculty members participating in the Program are
categorized as either Teaching Faculty or Supporting/Advisory Faculty. As
of July 2025, the academic faculty members were as follows:
the list is updated regularly on the Program’s website
Teaching Faculty
Tia KOLBABA, Associate Professor of Theology and former Director of the
Modern Greek Studies Program. Research interests: Early Christianity and
Byzantium. – kolbaba@religion.rutgers.edu – 848-932-9638 or 848-932-9641
Elektra KOSTOPOULOU, Visiting Lecturer, Department of History, New
Jersey Institute of Technology, Newark. Research interests: Modern Greek
history, Ottoman history. – ik74@njit.edu – 973-596-3421
Katerina KOURTI-GAVALAS, Assistant Professor in the Modern Greek
Studies Program and the Department of Classics. Research interests:
Modern Greek language and grammar, Modern Greek literature, Greek
cinema. – kkourti8@sas.rutgers.edu – 848-932-3301
Marinos POURGOURIS, Elytis Chair Visiting Professor of Modern Greek
Studies. Research interests: Modern Greek literature and literary theory. –
marinos@rutgers.edu and pourgouris.marinos@ucy.ac.cy – 917-385-8975
and +35796520949
Timothy POWER, Associate Professor of Classics and Director of the
Modern Greek Studies Program. Research interests: Ancient Greek lyric
poetry, ancient Greek and Roman music, Athenian drama. –
tcpower@classics.rutgers.edu – 848-932-9305
Michael ROSSI, Part-time Lecturer in the Modern Greek Studies Program.
Research interests: Greek Politics and political culture. – mrossi@polisci.
rutgers.edu – 732-910-2609
Lidia SANTARELLI, Part-time Lecturer in the Modern Greek Studies
Program. Research interests: Modern Greek and Cypriot history. – lidia.
santarelli@rutgers.edu – 646-639-6218
Supporting/Advisory Faculty
Emily ALLEN-HORNBLOWER, Associate Professor of Classics (Advisory
Role). Research interests: Ancient Greek history, ancient epic, ancient
drama. – emiallen@classics.rutgers.edu – 848-932-9493
Gary FARNEY, Associate Professor of History, Director of the International
Affairs Unit (Advisory Role). Research interests: ancient Greek history,
material culture, archaeology. – gfarney@newark.rutgers.edu – 973-353-3897
Thomas FIGUEIRA, Distinguished Professor of Classics (Advisory Role).
Research interests: Ancient Greek history and literature. – Figueira@
classics.rutgers.edu – 848-445-4037
Panos GEORGOPOULOS, Professor and Executive Director for Doctoral
Studies, School of Public Health, (Environmental and Occupational Health
Sciences Institute, New Brunswick), Chair of the Elytis Chair Fund Board
(Advisory Role). – panosg@ccl.rutgers.edu – 848-445-0159
James McGLEW, Professor and former Chair, Department of Classics.
Research interests: Ancient Greek history and literature. –
jmcglew@classics.rutgers.edu – 848-932-3230
Thomas PAPATHOMAS, Professor and Dean Emeritus, Biomedical
Engineering and Sciences, New Brunswick, Elytis Chair Council Member
(Advisory Role) – papathom@ruccs.rutgers.edu – 973-722-2785
Athena PETROPULU, Distinguished Professor of Electrical and Computer
Engineering (Advisory Role) – athinap@rutgers.edu – 848-445-0414
Stephen REINERT, Associate Professor Emeritus of History and Classics and
former Director of MGSP (Advisory Role). Research interests: Late Byzantine
and early Ottoman periods. – sreinert@history.rutgers.edu – 848-932-8234
C. COURSES OFFERED IN THE PROGRAM
Courses Offered in the Modern Greek Studies Program
In recent years, our Program has been offering the following courses,
that are attended by students of the Minor Degree in Modern Greek
Studies, by students from other Departments of the University (as elective
courses), as well as by members of the wider community:
1. Elementary Modern Greek (01:489:101 Fall, 01:489:102 Spring)
2. Intermediate Modern Greek (01:489:201 Fall, 01:489:202 Spring)
3. Advanced Modern Greek (01:489:301 Fall, 01:489:302 Spring)
4. Masterpieces of Greek Literature (01:489:340, 01:489:3405)
5. Odysseus in Literature, Theater and Film (01:489:358 Spring)
6. Greek Film: Love, Eros, and Death (01:489:370 Fall)
7. Contemporary Greek Music (01:489:376 Spring)
8. Myth & Modern Greece (o1:190:355 Fall)
9. Byzantine Art History (01:489:315 Fall)
10. Greek Christianity (01:489:312 Fall)
11. Byzantium: The Imperial Age (01:489:205 Spring)
12. Byzantium: The Last Centuries 01:489:206 Fall)
13. Byzantine Civilization 01:489:207 Spring)
14. History of Modern Greece (01:489:382 Spring)
15. Cyprus: A Global History (01:489:382 Spring)
16. Greek Food from Antiquity to Today (01:489:220 Fall)
17. Politics and Culture in Greece and the Balkans (01:489:385 Fall)
Elementary and Intermediate Greek are 4 credits per semester; all other
courses are 3-credit courses. Students pursuing a Modern Greek Minor must
complete six courses (18 credits); three of these courses (9 credits) must be at
the 300 or higher level. It should be noted that, on average, seven or eight (7-8)
Minor Degrees in Modern Greek are awarded each year.
Attendance of Core Program Courses
During the 2024-2025 Academic Year (total of 151 student registrations)
Fall Semester 2024
• Greek Language Courses: 34 students
• Greek Film: Love, Eros and Death: 32 students
• Politics and Culture in Greece and the Balkans: 25 students
Spring Semester 2025
• Greek Language Courses: 23 students
• Cyprus: A Global History: 8 students
• Odysseus in Literature, Theater and Film: 29 students
D. INITIATIVES TO PROMOTE MODERN GREEK LEARNING
The three-year sequence of Modern Greek language instruction attracts
students from diverse cultural and ethnic backgrounds. As one of the
largest public universities in the United States, Rutgers draws a
heterogeneous student body from across the country and around the
world. The Program’s affiliation with the Department of Classics has
further enhanced interest among students with backgrounds in Ancient
Greek who wish to pursue Modern Greek. Upon completing their minor
requirements, students are invited to participate in a special graduation
ceremony hosted by the Department of Classics, where they share their
experiences with the Greek language and culture, often through readings
from seminal Greek literary works.
E. RESEARCH ACTIVITIES
Faculty affiliated with the Program engage in active and high-level
scholarly research, contributing books, journal articles, and book chapters
on topics in Greek and Cypriot studies. Notable examples include
Professor Stephen Reinert’s work on the late Byzantine period and
Professor Marinos Pourgouris’s studies on Odysseus Elytis and the British
colonial era in Cyprus. These and other scholarly contributions are
featured on the Program website and in the individual CVs of the
participating researchers.
F. SEMINARS, CONFERENCES, LECTURES, AND CONCERTS
These are events attended by Rutgers students, staff and faculty as well
as by the wider community. Given that the Rutgers School of Arts and
Sciences funding is limited to the language instruction component of the
Program, the listed cultural and scholarly events have been made possible
through the fundraising efforts of the Elytis Chair Fund Committee. The
events often involve the Hellenic Cultural Association, a Rutgers student
organization.
A highlight of the Program’s outreach is the annual “Nikos Mouyiaris
Memorial Lecture Series,” established in memory of Nikos Mouyiaris, a
distinguished Cypriot-American philanthropist who donated $800,000 to
the Program. Nikos’ generosity reflects a strong belief in the cultural
mission of the Program on behalf of the Greek and Cypriot diaspora in the
United States.
Selected Events of the 2024-2025 Academic Year
• The Third Annual Nikos Mouyiaris Lecture was held on November
22 2024 to commemorate the dark 50th anniversary of the invasion
of Cyprus by Turkey in 1974. The speaker was U.S. Congressman
John Sarbanes and the topic was “Cyprus since 1974: The Struggle
Continues.” Attendees included many of our Program’s students
and alumni, as well as members of the community from New Jersey,
New York and Pennsylvania.
• On May 1, 2025, the Rutgers Modern Greek Studies Program
organized a Roundtable Discussion on “ Greece and Cyprus in a
Mediterranean Context,” featuring Prof. Vangelis Calotychos
(Brown University), Marinos Pourgouris (University of Cyprus &
Rutgers) and Lidia Santarelli (New York University & Rutgers). The
Discussion was coordinated by Prof. Timothy Power, MGSP Director.
• On May 5, 2025, students receiving the Minor in Modern Greek
participated in the 2025 Graduation Ceremony of the Department
of Classics, during which they read a selection of poems by Elytis.
An Anthology of Selected Events for the Community
that Have Taken Place Over the Past 20 Years
• March 5, 2006: “The Apology of Socrates” one-man play with Yannis
Simonides, Emmy Award winner, at Rutgers
• September 11, 2010: Lecture by Prof. N. Sevcenko on “The Monastery of
Saint Catherine on Mount Sinai – from Justinian to Prince Charles,” at
Rutgers
• November 4, 2011: “A Night of Music and Song Celebrating the Centennial
of Odysseus Elytis” Concert by the Mikrokosmos Ensemble, at Rutgers
• December 10, 2011: “Cavafy: The Poet of the City” one-man play with
Yiannis Simonides, Emmy Award winner, at Rutgers
• November 30, 2013: “Greek Soundscapes: A Concert Featuring Folk Music
in the Globalized World”
• March 6, 2014: Susan Heuck Allen discussed her book, “Classical Spies:
American Archaeologists with the OSS in World War II Greece”
• October 21, 2014: Lecture by Prof. Pourgouris on “Elytis and Cyprus,” at
the Cyprus Consulate in New York City
• October 23, 2014: Lecture by Prof. Pourgouris on “The Nation and
Narration: Odysseus Elytis and the Vicissitudes of Greekness”
• November 4, 2014: Lecture by Prof. Othon Athanassakis on “ “Grecovery”
– A Fallacy or a Reality?” at Rutgers
• February 19, 2015: Lecture by Prof. Robert Ousterhout, “The Christian
Parthenon: The Forgotten History,” at Rutgers
• April 25, 2015: “Songs of Greece and the World” Concert by renowned
Greek singer Maria Farantouri, at Rutgers
• October 22, 2015: Screening of the film “Kisses to the Children”
(co-sponsored by the Onassis Foundation), at Rutgers
• January 18, 2018: Lecture by Ambassador Andreas Mavroyiannis on “The
Present and the Future of the Cyprus Problem,” at Rutgers
• April 9, 2019: Lecture by Dr. Georgios Makris, Andrew Mellon Fellow in Art
History, Metropolitan Museum of Art, on “Familiar Strangers Coming
Together: Byzantine Monasticism and Archaeology”
• May 1, 2021: Webinar roundtable on “1821 in 2021: Rethinking the Birth
of Modern Greece.” The participants were Elisavet Papalexopoulou
(European University Institute), Ada Dialla (Athens School of Fine Arts),
Berke Toronoğlu (University of Tennessee, Knoxville), and Anna
Karakatsouli (National & Kapodistrian Univeristy of Athens.” Discussants
were Alex Tipei (University of Montreal) and Elektra Kostopoulou (NJIT &
Rutgers University)
• September 15, 2021: Lecture by Professor Dimitris Plantzos (National and
Kapodistrian University of Athens) on “Archaeopolitics: The Second Life
of Statues,” co-sponsored by the Rutgers Center for European Studies,
• December 11, 2021: First Nikos Mouyiaris Memorial Lecture by Marinos
Pourgouris, Professor of Literary Theory and Modern Greek Studies,
University of Cyprus, on “The Reception of the Greek Revolution of 1821
in Cypriot Literature during the British Colonial Period”
• December 9, 2022: Film screening of Maria Iliou’s “Smyrna: The
Destruction of a Cosmopolitan City 1900-1922”
• May 2, 2023: Lecture by Marinos Pourgouris, Professor of Literary Theory
and Modern Greek Studies, University of Cyprus, on “Sigmund Freud and
Sophocles’ Oedipus at Colonus,” at Rutgers
• May 3, 2023: Second Nikos Mouyiaris Memorial Lecture by Marinos
Pourgouris, Professor of Literary Theory and Modern Greek Studies,
University of Cyprus, on “Odysseus Elytis and Cyprus: The Winnow-Sieve
that Works Like Consciousness”
• December 12, 2023: Lecture by Nikoleta Tzani (Princeton University) on
“Byzantium revisited: A Focus on Modern Greek painting”
• March 17, 2024: Book presentation by Cypriot author Vivian Avraamidou
Ploumbis, “Haunting Voices: The Mediterranean Jewel Speaks”
• May 1, 2024: Students of the Modern Greek Studies Program participated
in the 2024 Graduation Ceremony of the Department of Classics, during
which they read poems by the Cypriot poet Kyriakos Charalambides
Collaboration with Universities in the USA
The Program maintains strong ties with the Seeger Center for Hellenic
Studies at Princeton University. While Princeton’s Program emphasizes
graduate-level research and seminar instruction, Rutgers’s Program
focuses on undergraduate teaching, complemented by graduate seminars
and lectures. This collaboration facilitates the exchange of scholars and
allows qualified Princeton Ph.D. students and graduates to teach courses
at Rutgers. Additional connections exist with Hellenic programs at
Stockton University and Queens College.
Collaboration with Institutions in Greece
Since 2014, our Program, in collaboration with the American College of
Thessaloniki (ACT), has sponsored a summer program option for Rutgers
students in Greece for five weeks in June and July. This summer program
has not operated since the pandemic but we plan to restart it as soon as we
have the personnel and the funds to pursue it.
Courses included a history seminar on Thessaloniki and a service-
learning course coordinated by Mrs. Katerina Kourti-Gavalas, featuring
placements in social and cultural institutions throughout the city.
Collaboration with Institutions in Cyprus
The Program works closely with the Department of Byzantine and
Modern Greek Studies at the University of Cyprus, particularly with
Professor Marinos Pourgouris. Discussions are ongoing about future joint
initiatives, including a potential summer school in Cyprus and visiting
scholar exchanges.
Mission of the Elytis Chair Fund
at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
The Elytis Chair Fund is a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting
and supporting the study of Greek language, culture, and history, in its
unique continuity through the centuries to the present, at Rutgers, The
State University of New Jersey.
Funds that were raised over the years, from the contributions of the Greek-
American Community of New Jersey and beyond, have provided the
financial base that has sustained, and continues to sustain without any
interruption, the Modern Greek Studies Program at Rutgers University.
ELYTIS CHAIR – MODERN GREEK STUDIES PROGRAM, RUTGERS UNIVERSITY
Εστάλη στην ΟΔΥΣΣΕΙΑ, 1/2/2026 #ODUSSEIA #ODYSSEIA