The University Record, November 23, 1998
Grant helps fund chair in modern Greek studies
By Joel Seguine
News and Information Services
The Foundation for Modern Greek Studies, a group of Ann Arbor and Detroit area Greek community leaders, presented the U-M with a grant of $170,000 on Oct. 15. This grant, along with funds already raised, completes the first of three annual payments of $250,000 to support the growth of the modern Greek studies program at the University.
Their contribution will join funds from the International Institute and the Program in Comparative Literature to establish a chair in modern Greek studies within the Department of Classical Studies.
Patricia Gurin, interim dean of LS&A, said: “The College is enormously grateful for the gift and pledge of support from the Foundation for Modern Greek Studies. By helping the University expand its program in modern Greek, this gift will offer new opportunities to our students and enhance our already stellar Department of Classical Studies. We appreciate the generosity of the Greek community that is making a reality of our hope for a professorship in Greek studies.”
Denny Stavros, secretary of the Foundation, said that it is “a signal honor for us to help advance learning in Modern Greek language and culture at a premier institution such as the University of Michigan. We also see the growth of Modern Greek studies at the U-M as an opportunity for outreach into the Greek-American community and the community at large.”
According to Michael Fotiadis, visiting assistant professor of modern Greek, the Foundation’s funding will help expand the program, begun in 1990, to include a third year of language study and courses in literature and cultural studies. “A lot of effort has gone into this collaboration between the area Greek community and the University. It’s a remarkable achievement,” Fotiadis said.
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