Kernels of our Future

The selection of lecturers has a very important role in exercising the Kernels program. Apart from the professional knowledge each lecturer brings to the program, much emphasis is put on their experience in teaching teenagers and their ability of adequately communicating with youngsters. Because the young students usually tend to approach and communicate with the lecturers a lot, it is necessary to address the youngsters’ needs in a way that makes them feel taken serious and understood. Thus, all lecturers and instructors are experienced in the field of non-formal education. Lecturers are drawn from the University of Athens, Georgetown University, the Stuttgart State Civic Institute and other respectable educational foundations. During the Kernels-program lectures are being held by a permanent faculty and several guest lecturers.

Permanent faculty:

Dr. Aliki (Aliki – Panagiota) Mitsakos – Georgiou, M.D., Ph.D. - Greece

Dr. Aliki Mitsakos, born in Athens, Greece, attended Medical School at the Université Libre des Bruxelles, Belgium, the University of California Medical School at San Diego, U.S.A., and received the Medical Degree in 1974 from the University of Athens Medical School, Greece. She acquired the Anaesthesia Specialty in 1981 and Ph.D. in Pharmacology in 1983. She is a practicing Medical Doctor in Anaesthesia since 1981 and has recently been more involved in Civil Society projects especially relating to Education and Security issues and focusing on Youth & Women. She has worked at the Stanford University Medical Centre, California, U.S.A., as Director of the Anaesthesia Department at two major Hospitals of Athens, as well as Director of the Intensive Care Unit, keeping simultaneously a Private Practice. In addition to that, she has worked for shorter periods of time at Medical Units abroad, as in London, England, the U.S.A., Russia, and South Africa. She is a Professor at the Institute of Vocational Training and has been teaching postgraduate medical students of the University of Athens. She is also Member of the European Board of Anesthesiology, National Delegate of Greece at the Monospecialist Committee of the European Union for Medical Specialists (U.E.M.S.), and serves at the Board of the Open University of Greece. She is also a member (and member of the Board) of numerous Hellenic and International Scientific Societies, including the European Academy of Anesthesiology and the European Society of Anesthesiologists (founding member), and Chairperson of the Education and Science Committee of the Greek Association for Atlantic & European Cooperation. She is active in Soroptimist International, and is the President elect of the Union of Greece for the years 2006 – 2008. She has participated in more than 60 national & international meetings, published more than 50 original scientific papers, articles in the press, etc. The “Kernels of our Future” program is her vision and creation (©) realized since 2004.

Theodossis Georgiou, GAAEC President - Greece

Theo Georgiou studied Law at the Athens University, European Law at the Brussels University & International Law at the Academy for International Law in The Hague, Netherlands. He is the President of the Greek Association for Atlantic and European Cooperation, an NGO and think tank dealing with international relations and security issues, the Greek affiliate of the Atlantic Treaty Association (ATA). He is also Member of the Board of Regents of the Fund for American Studies & Co-Chairman of the International Institute for Political and Economic Studies, President of Eurodefence – Greece, Member of the Executive Board of AWEPA and Responsible for the Greek group & Member of the Board of Directors of IFES (International Foundation for Election System), Washington DC and IFES Ltd, London. Theodossis Georgiou has been a recipient of the “Chevalier dans l’ Ordre de la Legion D’ Honneur”, France & recipient of the “Golden Laurel Branch award” of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria. He has also been awarded several other decorations and distinctions in recognition of his effective support for the integration of Balkan countries to NATO and EU.

Jessica Townsend Teague, MSOD - USA

Jessica Townsend Teague manages the United States Congress’ Commission on the Abraham Lincoln Study Abroad Fellowship Program, in Washington, D.C., coordinating bi-partisan efforts with reporting responsibility to the President, Secretaries of State, Commerce, Education and Defense. She is a faculty member of the Fund for American Studies’ Institute on Business and Government Affairs at Georgetown University, teaching the institute’s “Power and Values in Organizations” course. Ms. Teague has extensive experience in organizational development, democracy building and international affairs. She has worked with the American Council of Young Political Leaders, the International Foundation for Electoral Systems, the International Republican Institute and the American Councils: ACTR/ACCELS. She holds degrees from the University of Kansas, the American University in Washington, DC and certificates from L’Universite de Bordeaux, France and Georgetown University. She is an alumna of the Fund for American Studies Institute on Comparative Political and Economic Systems, has served on its’ advisory council and encouraged its’ ventures into international education over many years.

Avgustina K. Tzvetkova – Bulgaria

Avgustina is a historian by education, M.A. of History and Archaeology by Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski. In the early 90s, she has been a journalist in the Bulgarian National Radio and TV. From 1995 till 2006 she worked as a Program Director and Secretary General of the Atlantic Club of Bulgaria. She is a former Vice-President of the Atlantic Treaty Association (2004-2007). Today, Mrs. Tzvetkova is the President of the Euro-Atlantic Education Initiative (www.eaei.org) and the Balkan Mosaic Foundation (www.balkanmosaic.net). She is also a member of the Advisory Board of the International Institute for Political & Economic Studies (IIPES) and member of the Board of Kernels of Our Future.

Prof. Dr. Zehra Odyakmaz - Turkey

After working as a free-lawyer for 7 years, Zehra Odyakmaz became an assistant at the University on Administrative Law. Following her professorship in 1996, she worked as faculty member of board, chief of Department of Public Administration, and Dean of Law Faculties of two different universities, for 6 years.

She worked at Atatürk Research Center, dependent to Turkish Republic General Staff, for 5 years. Currently, she is the chairwoman of the “General Administrative Procedural Act Preparation Commission”, which is established by Ministry of Justice and also the chairwoman of “Institution of Ombudsmanship Act Preparation Commission”. In recent years, she executed the project on “How should the women prisons be in Turkey?” for Ministry of Justice. She performed as “Chairwoman of Law and Woman Sub-commission” during the studies on Woman Participation in Society Specialization Commission and member of Woman Participation in Development Specialization Commission. She has attended approximately 90 international meetings, lectured and presented declarations and papers about 215 times, has leaded sessions for about 45 times.

She has 60 printed articles and 3 books.

Dr. Michael J. Collins – USA

Michael J. Collins earned his Bachelor of Schence degree from Fordham College in 1963, his Master’s degree from New York University in 1964 and his doctorate in 1973, also from NYU. He served as a captain in the United States Army from 1965 to 1968. He began his tenure at Georgetown University in 1981, as Dean of the School for Summer and Continuing Education. As Dean, Collins was responsible for administering the graduate and undergraduate courses offered each summer at Georgetown and at locations abroad. He also oversaw a variety of continuing education courses and programs throughout the year, including the graduate and undergraduate degree programs in liberal studies, the Alumni College and a variety of non-credit courses and certificate programs for the personal and professional development of adults. In addition, Mr. Collins was responsible for the various academic and residential programs at Villa Le Balz, Georgetown’s study center in Fiesole, Italy and the office of international programs.

In 2003, Collins was appointed distinguished professor in the department of English and dean emeritus. He teaches courses on Shakespeare, the American idea and modern British theatre. Mr. Collins lectures frequently on American studies and Shakespeare in performance, and he co-directs the annual Georgetown alumni study tour to Florence and Assisi. He has published many articles on Shakespeare, modern poetry and teaching and has edited two collections of essays: Text and Teaching, which he co-edited with fellow TFAS Professor Francis Ambrosio and Shakespeare’s Sweet Thunder: Essays on the Early Comedies.

Stefano Pilotto – Italy

Stefano Pilotto, born in Rome, holds a PH.D. in History of International Relations (University of Rome, Italy) is the Head of International Relations at MIB School of Management (Trieste, Italy). He is Professor of History of International Relations and of History of European Integration at the University at Trieste (Italy). He is also Professor of International Relations and Director of Origini Program at MIB School of Management (Trieste, Italy). He wrote several essays and articles on international politics and international economics sunjects. He is lecturing in France (Bordeaux and Paris), in Spain (Madrid and Sevilla), in Poland (Warsaw), in Russia (Saint Petersburg and Moscow), in Croatia (Zagreb and Sipan) and in Slovenia (Ljubljana and Bled). He is also Coordinator of the Socrates/Erasmus Program at the University of Trieste. He is a member of the Atlantic Committee of Friuli Venezia Giulia region in Italy.

René Repasi – Germany

René was born on November 8th, 1979 in Karlsruhe, Germany. He studied Law at the Universities of Heidelberg (Germany) and Montpellier (France) from 2000 to 2006. He is assistant lecturer for European Community Law at the Institute for German and European Company and Economic Law at the University of Heidelberg (Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. Peter-Christian Müller-Graff). At present, he is working in the cabinet of Advocate General Prof. Dr. Juliane Kokott at the European Court of Justice. In the field of civic education he works since 2002 as a specialist in European Affairs and Human Rights on behalf of the “Landeszentrale für politische Bildung Baden-Württemberg” (Institute for Civic Education of the Land of Baden-Württemberg).

Previous year’s guest lecturers:

Stefanos Gialamas – Greece

Dr. Stefanos Gialamas is the President of the American Community Schools of Athens-ACS Athens, Greece