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AFGLC EDUCATIONAL FORUM AT USF ADDRESSES HELLENISM AND
WORLD PEACE
Tampa, Florida
Professor John U. Balis, Executive Vice President of the American Foundation for Greek Language and Culture, AFGLC, and Chairman of the Annual Educational Forum, proudly announces the twelfth annual forum to be held March 3-5, 2005 on the campus of the University of South Florida in Tampa. The theme this year will be “Hellenic Paideia: Educating for Democracy and World Peace.” The 2005 AFGLC Forum is sponsored by George and Margo Behrakis of Boston. The Forum is free of charge and the public is invited to attend.
FEATURED SPEAKERS THIS YEAR INCLUDE:
Dr. John Erickson, Peter Gramowics Professor of theology and church history and Dean of St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Seminary. He is a graduate of Harvard College, Yale, and St. Vladimir’s Seminary. The author of innumerable articles and books, Dr. Erickson will address “Democratic Institutions in the Byzantine Patristic and Canonical Tradition.”
Dr. Christos Evangeliou, professor of Greek philosophy at Towson University. Author of Aristotle’s Categories and Porphyry, among other works, Dr. Evangeliou is a graduate of the University of Athens and Emory University. He will speak on “Platonic Paideia and European Culture.”
Ms. Marilyn Rouvelas, author of the best-selling Guide to Greek Customs and Traditions in America, former public television researcher, prominent Orthodox layperson, and philanthropist. A graduate of American University, she has also edited and annotated books on ecclesiastical life and music. Ms. Rouvelas will offer a look at “The Orthodox Tradition of Inner Peace and the World Community.”
Dr. Richard Rubenstein, professor of conflict resolution and public affairs at George Washington University. Dr. Rubenstein is the author of the recent Aristotle’s Children: How Christians, Muslims and Jews Rediscovered Ancient Wisdom and Illuminated the Dark Ages and other books. He is a graduate of Harvard College, Oxford University (Rhodes Scholar) and Harvard Law School. Dr. Rubenstein will deliver the keynote address Thursday evening on “How Aristotle Can Help Resolve the Conflict of Cultures.” He will also discuss “Peace, Education and Conflict Resolution.”
Mr. Robin Waterfield, British classicist, author and translator. Mr. Waterfield has translated more than a score of texts of ancient Greek philosophers and is the author of Athens, A History: From Ancient Ideal to Modern City. A graduate of Manchester and Cambridge Universities, he is writer in residence at Sussex University. He will speak on “ The Creation of Democracy in Ancient Athens: An Unseemly Scrabble for Power?”
Friday audiences will hear sessions on various subtopics of the theme, including “Contributions of Hellenic Thought to Emerging Democracies,” “Hellenic Paideia and Democratic Institutions as Instruments for Social Development and World Peace,” and “The AFGLC ICHS Concept: ICHSs’ Accomplishments and Plans.” Sessions will be moderated by Reverend Dr. Stanley Harakas, professor emeritus and former dean of Holy Cross Orthodox Seminary, Dr. Joanne Waugh, chair of the USF Philosophy Department, and Dr. Ippokratis Kantzios, Gus and Mary Stathis Professor of Greek Language and Literature at USF. Panel discussions of topics will include the participation of the speakers above, plus Dr. Michael Gibbons of the Department of Political Science at USF; Mr. Manny Rouvelas, Esq., chairman of Preston Gates Rouvelas and Ellis, a Washington, D.C., law firm; Drs. William and Suzanne Murray, director of the ICHS at USF and director of the Greek Study Abroad program, respectively; Drs. Fred Mench and Tom Papademetriou, respective director and associate director of the ICHS at Stockton College in New Jersey; and Dr. Lily Macrakis, dean of Hellenic College in Massachusetts. In the afternoon, Drs. Peter Yiannos and Niki Kantzios, presidents of the local chapters of AFGLC in Pennsylvania-Jersey-Delaware and Tampa Bay, will participate in a panel discussion with their counterparts from Athens, Dr. Dennis Koutras and Ms. Ioanna Tzanoudaki. Drs. Demetris Halkias and Kimon Valavanis of USF will moderate.
On Saturday Professor Chris P. Tsokos will be the moderator of a session on “The AFGLC Strategic Plan.” Dr. Ulysses J. Balis from Harvard University will be the key speaker on “AFGLC – Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow.” Dr. Peter Yiannos President , AFGLC Tri-State Center will be the moderator of a session “Strategies for the Support of AFGLC Educational Mission.” Panel participants will include Mr. George D. Behrakis, President of Gainesborough Investments, Mr. Manny Rouvelas, Esq., chairman of Preston Gates Rouvelas and Ellis, a Washington, D.C., law firm; and Mr. E. J. Elliot, President of Gencor Industries. Additional distinguished guests will include Dr. Judy Genshaft, President of USF; Dr. John Skvoretz, Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, USF; Dr. Herman Saatkamp, President of The Richard Stockton College of New Jersey; Dr. Renu Khator, Provost of USF; The Honorable Leonidas Raptakis, State Senator from Rhode Island; and Dr. Vasilios Protopsaltis, Vice-President of the American College of Greece.
As in previous years, the Forum concludes with a black-tie gala dinner-dance, to be held at the new Renaissance Tampa Hotel, at which recognition will be paid to those who have served the cause of Hellenism and the mission of AFGLC in a signal way. For additional information about the free Forum, call (813) 980-1161 or (813) 962-0708.
