Theoni Scourta

Theoni Scourta has ten years of experience at CYA, having served with great success as Academic Director since 2013 and, more recently, as Executive Vice President and Head of Academic Affairs. She was appointed President of CYA effective July 2023.

Theoni Scourta was born in Patras, Greece. She is an art historian with a research interest in contemporary art. She received an MA from California State University, Los Angeles, in Art History and another MA in Comparative Literature from the University of Indianapolis. She has taught for more than 25 years in the US and Greece. She served as an assistant to the head of the Greek EPP-ED delegation to the European Parliament in Brussels for five years, after which she returned to Athens to head the academic department of AKTO Art & Design College before joining CYA.

Sofia Krikela

Sofia holds a B.A. in Philosophy, Education, and Psychology from University of Ioannina. She has also received a B.A. in English Language and Literature, and an M.A. in Theoretical and Applied Linguistics, from the National & Kapodistrian University of Athens. Sofia has worked as an English language teacher and as a tutor to university students. She joined CYA in 2023.

Angeliki Dimitriadi

Angeliki Dimitriadi holds a PhD from Democritus University of Thrace, where her research focused on transit migration from Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. She also holds an MA in War Studies from King’s College London and a BSc in International Relations and History from the London School of Economics.

Dr. Dimitriadi is a political scientist specializing in irregular migration, asylum, and the dynamics between migratory movements and policies of deterrence and protection. Her research explores migration management policies at external borders, migration governance within the EU, and European foreign policy on migration.

From 2012 to 2021 and again from 2023 to 2024, she served as Senior Research Fellow and Head of the Migration Program at the Hellenic Foundation for European and Foreign Policy (ELIAMEP). Between 2022 and 2023, she was a Research Fellow at the Global Public Policy Institute (GPPi), where she co-led the migration unit and continues to be affiliated as a non-resident fellow.

Additionally, Dr. Dimitriadi was a Visiting Fellow in Residence at the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR) in Berlin from October 2015 to April 2016, focusing on migration and asylum policy. She has also taught at the University of Athens as an adjunct professor, delivering a master’s-level course on asylum and migration policy in Southeast Europe.

Maria Tsahas

Maria Tsahas was born in Ikaria, Greece but grew up in Northwest Indiana. She received an MS Ed from Indiana University Northwest. She taught in the US before moving back to Greece in 1999 and started working at the University of Indianapolis, Athens Campus as an Admissions Officer and Registrar. She joined CYA in 2014.

Anthi Papageorgiou

Anthi Papageorgiou studied Mass Media and Communication at the National University of Athens. She worked for several years in polling companies as administrative assistant and as an editor of various news websites.

Anthi joined CYA in 2013 and has worked in various positions of the organization. She is currently assisting the Registrar, and is responsible for student records. Her responsibilities include the creation and update of physical and digital academic records, and the generation of academic timetables, schedules, and reports. She also participates regularly in the field study trips as a group leader.

Georgia Katsarou

Georgia Katsarou joined CYA in 2006, following earlier professional experience in public and school libraries. She directs all library operations, including organizing CYA’s historical archive and administering assistive technologies to support users with learning accommodations. She holds a B.S. in Librarianship from the Technological Educational Institute of Athens and an MScEcon in Information and Library Studies from the University of Aberystwyth.

Rosa Vasilaki

Rosa Vasilaki holds a PhD in Sociology from the University of Bristol (UK) and a PhD in History from the Ecole des Hautes Etudes en Sciences Sociales (France).   She has taught history and sociology on undergraduate and postgraduate level and conducted research in a number of universities in Greece, Israel and the UK.

Rosa Vasilaki has been teaching at CYA since 2019.

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Vassilis Karavassilis

Vassilis was born in New York, USA, and holds a degree in Tourism and Hospitality Management from the Technological Institute of Thessaloniki. He has experience in the travel and tourism industry working for tour operators and hotels. Before joining CYA in 2015 he worked for Delice Hotel Apartments where he held the position of reservations executive for 10 years.

Rodeia Papagianni

Rodeia Papagianni was born in Greece and raised in the United Kingdom. She holds a BA in Criminology from the University of Kent and an MA in Conflict Resolution in Divided Societies from King’s College London. With a background in research, she has previously worked on projects focused on refugee and migrant mental health in the UK. Rodeia joined CYA in 2025, initially serving as a staff assistant to support field trip logistics and other administrative functions. As CYA’s Field Study Assistant, she supports the department manager in organizing study travel plans throughout Greece and Europe as part of CYA’s experiential learning program.

Kate Donnelly

Kate Donnelly has been working in Athens as a teacher, translator and editor for many years. In 2011, she obtained the Cambridge English Level 7 Diploma in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (DELTA) and has spent the summers of each year since then as a tutor in English for Academic Purposes at British Universities.

This role includes planning and designing course content and materials for overseas students (undergraduate and post-graduate) about to embark on their academic careers in the UK. The focus is on developing academic reading, writing and presentation skills, conducting effective research, and managing self-study and autonomous learning practices.

At CYA, she offers academic skills support through workshops and individual or group sessions with students both in person and online.

Elena Kostadima

Elena Kostadima is a PhD Candidate in Ancient Greek Philology (NKUA). She holds a BA in Classical Philology from University of Ioannina (2016) and a MA in Ancient Greek Literature (2020). Her main research interests focus on the study of Late Antiquity, Rhetoric and Ancient Greek Novel. She has a long experience in teaching Ancient and Modern Greek.

Vassilis (Billy) Simopoulos

Vassilis “Billy” Simopoulos was born and raised in Athens, Greece, and holds dual citizenship in Greece and the United States. He earned his BA in Communication, with minors in Cinema-Television and in Business Administration, from the University of Southern California, and completed a Master of Liberal Arts in Government at Harvard University. Before joining CYA, he served in the Hellenic Government as Special Advisor to the Secretary-General for Lifelong Learning and later as Head of Communications at the General Secretariat for Youth. He has also managed projects for non-profit organizations, including the Lascaris Foundation and HOPEgenesis.

Billy joined CYA in 2018 as the Development Officer, where he played a central role in shaping strategic initiatives that supported the institution’s advancement. His commitment to education and cross-cultural engagement has significantly strengthened CYA’s growth, donor relations, and major institutional efforts, including the development of a capital campaign and various strategic partnerships. In 2025, he transitioned to the role of Director of Administration, where he now oversees key administrative functions and contributes to the effective operation and continued progress of the institution.

Maro Georgoutsou

After a career in Travel and hospitality where she worked for companies such as Thomas Cook,  Aegean Airlines, GulfAir, Travelport, Classical Hotels, to name a few, Maro Georgoutsou joined CYA in Summer 2022 as Front Desk Coordinator.  Her people skills and vast knowledge of Greece make her the ideal person to welcome our students and our visitors and help them with any questions about their everyday life in Athens and Greece in general.

Katerina Kanellopoulou

After following a successful career at “Hygeia” Hospital, Katerina joined CYA in 2022, as Coordinator of HR. She has a Master’s degree in Health Unit Management, from Conservatoire National des Arts et Métiers (CNAM), with a focus on performance evaluation. With a deep understanding of emotional communication and a track record in navigating challenging situations, Katerina brings a unique skill set to the CYA team.

Alex Makropoulos

Alex Makropoulos holds a BA in Sociology from the American College of Greece (Deree) and an MA in International Human Recourses from the University of Northampton, UK. Alex has worked with CYA through the years, starting as a part-timer while he was still a student. He has worked for multinationals and at the U.S. Embassy in Athens in various clerical & administrative positions and he has volunteered at the municipality level on educational projects for K-12 students of underprivileged families.

Alex’s current duties at CYA involve procurement, facilities coordination, emergency communications, safety and security. He is also one of the field study group leaders.

Υiota Vouzna

Yiota Vouzna studied Photography and Video Arts in Athens. She enjoys a challenge, a trait evident in her print, advertising, web and publishing work which spans 21 years. She lived in London for three years where she worked for asos.com as a Catwalk Video Producer, Stills Photographer, and Image Editor. Yiota cooperates with G Design Studio, an award winning design consultancy based in Athens, specializing in commercial photography. She has been a member of the Choir of the National Technical University of Athens (NTUA) since 2013.

Yiota joined CYA in 2010 where she works as an assistant librarian and a field study group leader.

Vicky Tsampis

Vicky Tsampis grew up in Northwest Indiana after her family moved to the United States from the island of Ikaria, where she was born. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Indiana University.  After graduating from college and many summer trips back to Greece, she decided to move to Athens on a permanent basis. She worked at Citibank International PLC in Athens for 21 years.  After a successful career in the banking sector, she wanted a change. Her love for travel brought her to CYA in the summer of 2024.  She is a field study assistant traveling with students both in Greece and abroad.

Sotiris Katsaris

Sotiris Katsaris joined CYA in 2024 as a Front Desk and Staff Assistant. He supports students throughout their experience in Athens and during field study, assisting with a wide range of questions and helping them navigate daily life both in the city and on trips. With a strong background and passion for team sports, Sotiris also enriches student life by organizing recreational activities such as soccer matches, pick-up basketball, and football games. He is currently pursuing a degree in Tourism Management at the University of West Attica.

Eve Geroulis

Eve Geroulis is a marketing strategist and educator devoted to exploring the synergies and intersection of politics, technology, economics, and culture on a global stage. After a 20+ year career with international advertising agencies, tech start-ups, and co-founding a VC funded lifestyle dot com, Eve joined the faculty of Loyola University Chicago Quinlan School of Business in 2003 teaching in the Department of Marketing. Eve has served as visiting faculty at the Edhec School of Business in Nice, France, The American College of Greece, and College Year in Athens. In addition to her teaching, Eve has worked with organizations in the U.S. and Europe advising on digital and global marketing, and the role of pedagogy in strategic planning for institutions and corporations. She has commented on mercantile and political realities for news organizations, delivered a TEDxAcademy Talk in Athens in October 2011, the opening address of the TED Brussels | EU Marie Curie Actions Research & Innovation Conference in Brussels in July 2012, and a TED Wrigleyville Talk in July 2023. Eve holds her BA in Political Science & Journalism from Loyola University Chicago and her MSA from Northwestern University Medill School of Journalism. Empty nesting with her husband of 40 years, together they realized an adolescent ambition and moved to Athens in May 2025. Eve admires how their four adult children are courageously making their way in the world from Denver, Los Angeles, and NYC. She is, consequently, a spirited believer in the power and possibility of the next generation. Fervently committed to abandoning 20th century paradigms if we hope to address 21st century challenges, Eve – named after the mother of all mothers, and in the spirit of her namesake – is a professional pessimist but a personal optimist. She remains enthusiastically open to explaining that dichotomy.

Erica Huffman (SP ’93)

Erica Huffman brings nearly three decades of experience and dedication to her role as Director of Alumni Relations. Over the past 3 decades at CYA, she has held a variety of key positions, including ​S​tudent Records Officer,​ Coordinator of Alumni Relations, ​Coordinator of Recruitment ​and Admissions, and eventually as Associate Director of Administration/Campus and Student Relations, where she managed​ the North American Office’s daily operations and oversaw staff. Since stepping into her current role, as Director of Alumni Relations, in 2016, she has been passionate about fostering lifelong connections between CYA and its alumni, working to strengthen and grow a vibrant, engaged alumni community.

Vasso Matrakouka

Vasso Matrakouka was born and raised in Athens. She studied Travel and Tourism Management in the School of Tourism in Anavyssos, Greece. She also holds a B.A. in Human Communication from the University of Indianapolis Athens Campus. After working for several years in the travel, tourism and hospitality industry in Greece and Europe, Vasso joined CYA in 2011 where she is managing the Short Term Programs Department coordinating field study, summer courses as well as faculty led programs.

Sophia Dede

Sophia Dede was born and raised in Athens, Greece. She has graduated from the department of Turkish and Modern Asian Studies of the National Kapodistrian University of Athens and holds an M.A. in Mediterranean Studies from the University of the Peloponnese. With a strong academic foundation, she transitioned into the role of an accomplished administrative professional with extensive work experience focused on education and tourism.

Litsa Bekiaris

Litsa Bekiaris was born in Greece and grew up in Johannesburg, South Africa. She is a holder of a Bachelor of Science from the University of the Witwatersrand. She was a licensed Sworn Translator for the South African Supreme Court as well as the Consulate General of Greece in Johannesburg. From 1995 until 2005 she worked as a radio presenter & news editor for the NPV radio station where she also served on the Board of Directors. She later founded the company LT Advertising Consultants where she held the post of Marketing & Advertising Director. She returned to Greece in 2005 and worked for AKTO Art & Design College as the Academic Quality Assurance Officer and Link Tutor for Middlesex University until 2024, when she joined CYA.

Maria Malliou

Maria Malliou joined the DIKEMES/CYA family in 1995 as an accountant and currently deals with financial affairs. She was born in Stuttgart, Germany, where she lived before her family moved to Athens. Ms. Malliou has a B.A. in Accounting from the Pireaus Technical Institute and an MA in Banking from Hellenic Open University.

Vana Bica

Vana Bika joined CYA in 2001.  She holds a B.A. in Accounting from the Technological Education institute and she also received a BA in Business Administration from the University of Piraeus while working at CYA.

Evgenia Ghizas

Evgenia Ghizas was born in Germany and grew up in Toronto, Canada where she studied environmental geography. She worked many years in the finance area of a major Canadian bank before returning to Greece in 1991. While in Greece, she worked in finance and her last position before joining CYA in 2015 was Controller and Bursar at the Athens Campus of the University of Indianapolis.

Kallia Alexandridi

Kallia has been with CYA since 2011, bringing her background in interior design to her role in overseeing housing and catering services. She has worked to enhance both the living spaces and the food experience for students, ensuring their needs are met with care and efficiency. Kallia is dedicated to regularly updating and redecorating student apartments and shared areas to reflect modern student lifestyles and create a comfortable, home-like environment.

Christina Tsilika

Christina joined CYA in 2017, drawing from her experience in catering for private events centered around the Mediterranean diet and Greek cuisine. She plays a key role in planning weekly menus that balance nutrition, variety, and authentic flavor. Christina is committed to accommodating students’ dietary restrictions while maintaining the essence of the Greek culinary experience.

Athanasia Vlachou

Athanassia became part of the CYA team in 2023. Her background as an airline hostess and in customer service has equipped her with strong communication and problem-solving skills, which she brings to her work in housing. She is focused on ensuring that students feel supported and comfortable in their living arrangements throughout their time at CYA.

Makis Kypriotis

Makis Kypriotis spent his teen years between South Africa, Greece, and the U.S. He relocated from New York in 2021 to join CYA. Makis is a certified electrician by trade and a perfectionist by nature.

Andreas Konstantinou

Andreas Konstantinou was born and raised in Athens and joined CYA in 2025. He brings strong technical expertise to CYA’s Maintenance team, developed through his experience with Micton, specializing in telecommunications wiring and equipment, and Polymichaniki Constructions, a company active in commercial and residential building projects and photovoltaic installations for major clients across Greece. Having served as a project supervisor in these operations, Andreas has built a reputation as a reliable, skilled, and solutions-oriented technician. He is a collaborative team member, an effective problem-solver, and a consistently positive presence within the CYA community.

Mary Lazarikos

Mary Lazarikos, an accomplished marketing and communications strategist, brings her expertise to the North America team in May 2024. A career spanning Fortune 100 companies and nonprofit organizations, Mary has a proven track record of developing comprehensive marketing and communication plans. Her portfolio also includes successful rebranding initiatives within the insurance and consulting sectors. Mary is an alumna of Loyola University and Columbia College, both located in Chicago. Thrilled to blend her professional achievements with her Greek American heritage, Mary is dedicated to embracing traditions and fostering connections.

Spiros Kourkoulos

Spiros was born and raised in Corfu, Greece. He holds advanced degrees in Graphic Design and Illustration from Middlesex University and AKTO Art and Design College. Spiros joined CYA as an award-winning digital designer with over 20 years of experience in the field. His many skills include web design, logo creation, advertisement development, and both industrial and fashion design.

Maddie Hengst (SP ‘18) 

Maddie Hengst is a strategic communications professional with a passion for great storytelling—branded and otherwise. The CYA alum turned Social Media Consultant brings expertise in content creation, public relations, and social media management to the team.

Throughout her career, Maddie has developed go-to-market and growth campaigns for startups, always with a focus on using digital media to tell stories that matter. She graduated from the University of Southern California with dual degrees in Public Relations and Global Studies.

Evmorfia (Efi) Kevork

Efi Kevork was born and raised in Athens. She studied for three years at AKTO College and graduated in 2025 with a Bachelor of Arts (First Class Honors) Degree in Graphic Design from Middlesex University.

During her studies, she participated in several real-life design projects, including her involvement in the 10th International Andros Festival, where her logo creation won 2nd place.

Her professional interests focus on illustration, editorial design and storytelling branding aiming to combine visual communication with meaningful narrative and aesthetic clarity.

Popi Triantafyllidou

Popi Triantafyllidou was born in Athens. She received her B.S. in Business Administration specializing in Management and Computer Programming. She joined College Year in Athens / DIKEMES in 2011, with over 20 years of experience in multinational environments.

Jennifer Holland (SP ’99)

Jennifer Holland helps students with any personal problems they may encounter. Whether you are having difficulties with roommates, adjustment problems, homesickness, or just want someone to share your excitement with, she is available to discuss personal or sensitive issues in private, and in general to give encouragement and help. Born in New York, Jennifer is a CYA alumna who joined the staff in 1999 and now lives in Athens with her daughter Anais.

Angela Kouvara

Angela Kouvara was born and raised in Athens. After studying Greek Literature in the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, she got her MsC in Cultural Organization Management. She has worked for many years in the Communications Department of several cultural institutions and publication houses. As a part of the Student Affairs Department, Angela is looking forward to sharing with the students her enthusiasm about Greek culture and civilization, as well as helping them get the most out of their stay in Greece!

Niki-Vanesa Evbuomwan

Niki Evbuomwan is from Nigeria, born and raised in Athens, Greece: this mixture of Africa and Europe and the advantage of observing two different worlds has played a major role in the shaping of her personality. Niki holds a bachelor’s degree in international and European Studies from the University of Piraeus and is passionate about learning by living with culturally diverse people. After an eye-opening study abroad experience in France, and an internship on promoting migrants visibility in Greece, she joined CYA as Student Affairs & Community Engagement Assistant focusing on students’ cultural immersion, intercultural communication and political awareness.

Alexia Lingaas

Rachael Bittick (FA ’17)

Rachael Bittick (FA ’17) joined the CYA North American team in May 2021. Her passion for international education began during a semester at CYA in 2017 while studying at the University of Michigan. After earning a BA in Anthropology, she returned to CYA to enhance the student pre-departure process. As CYA’s Student Advisor for three years, Rachael brought creativity to visa application resources and expanded the Ambassador Program. In July 2024, she became Program Manager, aiming to streamline visa applications, pre-departure requirements, and improve digital resources. Rachael is dedicated to supporting students as they prepare for their transformative journeys.

Maria Marakas

Annie Dawson

Annie Dawson joined the CYA team in August 2022. After earning her Bachelor of Science in Community Psychology at St. Cloud State University, Annie pursued her passion for higher education and international education while obtaining her Master of Science in Education in Higher Education Student Affairs at Fort Hays State University. Having spent the summer after her first year of college in Alnwick, England, Annie discovered how impactful an international experience in college can be. She has worked in the study abroad field since returning from England and is excited to continue working with students who want to explore the world with CYA!

Tessa Borchardt (FA ’19, SU ’21)

Tessa Borchardt (SU ’21) joined the CYA team in July 2024. She attended CYA in Fall 2019 while pursuing her bachelor’s in Classics and Psychology at Lewis and Clark College. After completing her undergraduate degree, she obtained her master’s in Classical Art and Archaeology at King’s College London, where she worked in student affairs for the Classics department. After she finished her master’s, Tessa represented CYA during the 2023-24 recruitment seasons. She is thrilled to join the CYA team again and share her passion for international education, Greek culture, and history with students.

Thandiwe Knox

Thandiwe graduated from Barnard College in May 2025 with a major in Ancient Studies and a minor in Art History. As a classicist focused on the Hellenistic world, she knew that studying abroad with CYA during her junior spring ’24 would be the perfect opportunity to expand her knowledge and gain hands-on experience with ancient sites. During her time there, she enriched her studies of antiquity while interning at art galleries to support her Art History minor. CYA allowed her to broaden her academic interests, experience life in a new country, and make friends for life. She hopes to share these experiences with other prospective students through her role as a Campus Relations Representative.

Camryn Shevlin

Camryn graduated from the University of Southern California in May 2025 with a double major in Psychology and Cinema and Media Studies. After researching study abroad, she fell in love with CYA’s courses and field study options. In Spring 2024, studying with CYA gave her the opportunity to dive into a new culture through hands-on learning and inspiring connections. She left CYA with lifelong friendships and a newfound passion for cultural exchange. As a Campus Relations Representative, Camryn is thrilled to have the opportunity to introduce students to the wonderful program that CYA is. 

Jaylah Wilson

Jaylah graduated from the University of Southern California with a B.A. in Political Science and an M.S. in Social Entrepreneurship. Her passion for international human rights and politics led her to study abroad with CYA in spring of 2024. During her time in Athens, Jaylah grew professionally and academically, while also forming lifelong friendships and memories. This experience sparked a lasting interest in international education and travel, and she is excited to introduce prospective students to everything that CYA has to offer.