Harvard Summer Program in Greece: 20th year anniversary
Summer 2021 marked 20 years since the program’s first iteration back in 2002. Two wonderful decades of dynamic research, stimulating class conversations on comparative cultural studies and beyond, exploration of Greek landmarks and history, shared meals, and shared laughs that started in Olympia and continued steady and strong, having welcomed hundreds of students and members of the Harvard and broader academic community throughout the years.
The celebratory event on June 26 & 27, 2021 aimed to bring together the people of the program to share their stories and insights, to reflect and hopefully get inspired for another 20 years and more.
This page is hosting the schedule of the event, videos and photographs gathered since the summer of 2012, testimonies, and the call for the photo contest organized on the occasion of the anniversary.
Schedule of the anniversary event
1st session: How the program came to be
Faculty and associates talking about the concept, the establishment, and the trajectory of the Harvard Summer Program in Greece.
2nd session: Spotlights on alumni
Brief presentations by alumni on a topic of interest from their respective fields and how it connects with their experience from the program.
- Pano Yannakogeorgos (Year 2003) on “Connecting Hellenic Antiquity with a Career in Cyber and Global Security: Reflections on the Olympia Summer Program”
- Kathryn Gundersen (Year 2015) on “International Law: A Vital Tool for Organizing the Modern World”
3rd session: Alumni meet-ups
Online activities for reminiscing and bonding.
1st session: Presentation of the Comparative Cultural Studies workshops and volumes that have been accomplished as spin-offs of the program.
Dr. Yota Batsaki and Dr. Dimitris Kastritsis leading the discussion.
2nd session: Spotlights on alumni
Brief presentations by alumni on a topic of interest from their respective fields and how it connects with their experience from the program.
- Roshni Chakraborty (Year 2018) on “Documenting Citizenship: Gender, Statelessness, and India's New Citizenship Laws”
- Lefteris Kefalas (Year 2014) on "Harvard Summer Program in Greece: A Spark for Future Endeavors in the field of Modern Greek Studies"
3rd session: Closing session – Alumni meet-ups
Online activities for reminiscing and bonding. Photo contest winner selection.
Photo Contest
Adding to the celebration of the anniversary, we extended a call to the program’s past participants –alumni, fellows, faculty, guests– to submit photos from their archive taken while attending the program. Candidates were asked to submit photos depicting unique Greek landscapes or special moments in the program’s company. A prize awaited the creator of the winning photo, which was selected by the participants of the anniversary event during the closing session.
Videos from years 2013 to 2019
2019 | 2018 |
2017 | 2016 |
2015 | 2014 |
2013 |
If I could do this program again tomorrow, I would! Such a meaningful learning experience, which reflected in all aspects of my life after completion, not just academic. I strongly encourage applicants who aren’t studying at Harvard to also apply. […] Not only did I learn about Greek history, but I also learned many different things from my fellow American, Chinese, and Greek peers too, and I'm sure they learned things from me. […] The Harvard Summer School Program in Greece is a life-changing adventure, filled with academia, exploration, friendship, breathtaking scenic tours, and unforgettable memories with all the people involved. An experience like this is one to consider, I would do it all over again in a heartbeat!
2015 participant
