With a festive dinner, held recently at the Mediterraneo Restaurant in Ann Arbor, Michigan, the Foundation for Modern Greek Studies celebrated 10 years of productive collaboration with the Modern Greek Program at the University of Michigan. The event was attended by a capacity gathering (100 people) including 13 students of the Program and their parents. Informative presentations were given by Professor Artemis Leontis, on behalf of the Program, and George Reganis, on behalf of the Foundation. It was an extraordinary evening with exceptional Greek food, wine and music, the latter provided by pianist Pantelis Polychronides and soprano Mariangela Chatzistamatiou, two young musicians from Greece who presented an evening-long program of classic songs.

The Foundation was incorporated in 1997 with the mission of promoting the study of modern Greek language and culture by supporting educational institutions, as well as related efforts. It was and remains a grassroots effort of many dedicated Greeks and Philhellenes in the greater metropolitan Detroit area, as well as supporters throughout the country. The Foundation has played a central role in the development of Modern Greek at the University of Michigan by making possible the C.P. Cavafy Chair, a wide range of cultural events each year, scholarships and general student support.

The Modern Greek Program at Michigan has achieved remarkable success in attracting students. Most notable has been its range of diverse courses that appeal to ever increasing numbers of undergraduates of all ethnic backgrounds. Starting with a couple of dozen of students in the 1990s, enrollments specifically in Modern Greek courses reached 400 this year. In addition, Professors Vassilis Lambropoulos and Artemis Leontis stress that each semester approximately one in ten undergraduates at Michigan take a Greek course. This popularity of Greek learning is particularly important since, according to recent rankings in the London Times, Michigan is the top public University in America.

The synergy between the Foundation and Michigan has been exceptional. First, the University matched the Foundation’s funds, creating the endowed C. P. Cavafy Chair in Modern Greek, the cornerstone of the Program. Next, the University responded to growing enrollments by creating two additional, full-time teaching positions. Overall, Michigan is extremely pleased with its collaboration with the Foundation and the commitment of Greeks and Philhellenes to contemporary Hellenism. Congratulating the Foundation for its first 10 years, Terrence McDonald, the Dean of the College of Literature, Science & the Arts, wrote: “We are proud to work in partnership with you to provide outstanding resources for the study of Modern Greek language, culture and history at the University of Michigan in the 21st century.”