Faculty Bios
Fern Deliyannis
Debate Coach
BA, in Speech and Language Pathology, Brooklyn College (City University of New York); MS in Speech Pathology and Audiology, Boston University
Fern Deliyannis has been an English Language instructor at Pierce – The American College of Greece for 33 years. EFL and ESL level courses taught include British and American Literature, Public Speaking, as well as senior electives in Current Issues and Literature and Film. Ms. Deliyannis has been Faculty Co-Advisor to the Pierce Forensics Club (coaching Debate, Original Oratory and Impromptu Speaking) and to the Harvard Model Congress Europe program. She has been elected twice president of the Panhellenic Forensics Association (2004-2008, 2012-present). The PFA currently has 22 member schools, both private and public, from Athens, Thessaloniki and Patras.
Ioli Despi
Human Rights Session
MA in Information Communication Technologies in Education, King’s College London; Bachelor’s degree in Greek Philology, at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens
Olga Despi is a Pierce graduate and has been teaching Modern, Ancient Greek Language, and Greek History at Pierce for the last years. She created the Human Rights club three years ago with a co-teacher and then she took over the photography club. She never stopped being a Human Rights defender and she is participating at the educational program for human rights “Speak Truth to Power”. She has studied Greek Philology at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens with a specialization in Linguistics and she has an MA in Information Communication Technologies in Education from King’s College London. Her research focuses mainly on Greek Education and ICT. Nonetheless, she has attended many seminars and conferences regarding special education, and history in an effort to continue personal progress and training.
Maria Foteinopoulou
Emotional Intelligence Session
MSc in Psychology from MMU, BSc in Speech & Language Therapy (SLT) from UCL
Maria Foteinopoulou is an IB DP Psychology teacher at ACG and an official IBO examiner. She has extensive training in Applied Behavioral Analysis specializing in Autistic Spectrum Disorders and has attended various courses in the fields of Special Education, Counseling and Positive Psychology. Her work experience reflects her academic interests, as she has been a lead member of a multidisciplinary team working with children with severe communication and behavioral difficulties in an early intervention program and continues to support children that face various difficulties conducting individual and group therapy sessions while providing support for their families. Further interests include working with vulnerable groups through different volunteering organizations, with her most recent activity-taking place in Nepal.
Nektaria Glinou
Emotional Intelligence Workshops
Ph.D., Education, Health and Behavior Studies, Teachers College, Columbia University, New York
M.Phil., Education, Teachers College, Columbia University, New York
Ed.M., Instructional Practice, Teachers College, Columbia University, New York
M.A., Special Education, Teachers College, Columbia University, New York
B.A., Psychology, The American College of Greece-Deree
Dr. Nektaria Glinou received her Bachelor of Arts with a major in Psychology at the American College of Greece in 1994. Subsequently, she moved to New York City where she completed, on full scholarship, a Masters of Arts, a Masters of Education, a Masters of Philosophy, and her doctorate (PHD in Education), at Teachers College, COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY. Her dissertation received the National Dissertation Award by the Academy on Mental Retardation. During the 11 years she resided in New York City she worked as a special education teacher, developer of innovative educational programs, conference coordinator, researcher, founder of an experimental school, and as an Assistant Professor at Teachers College, Columbia University. While in New York she also received intensive training in therapeutic techniques through dance, theater and public art. She has created the parent-child kinesthetic program entitled dance together ©. She has performed or participated in numerous dance-theater productions. She has organized seminars and festivals that blend education, community contribution and the Arts. Upon her return to Greece in 2006, she started working at the American College of Greece as the PIERCE school psychologist with responsibilities ranging from individual psychotherapeutic evaluation and intervention for students and parents, to in-class seminars to teacher training programs. In 2010, she took upon an additional responsibility at the American College of Greece, namely Developer of International, Community Contribution, Art and Education Programs.
Yannos Tsatalis
Theater & Drama Modules & Workshops
Ptychion in Modern and in Ancient Greek Literature, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
Mr. Tsatalis has been a member of the Pierce faculty since 1991, teaching Modern and Ancient Greek Language. He is creator of the “Greek Drama Club”, of the Days of the Arts Club and of the festival by the same name at Pierce. He is head of the Ancient Greek Language Department at Pierce. During his studies, he has delved into theater (Ancient Greek drama and modern theater) and has participated in many theater conferences. He is currently pursuing his MA in Communication & PR strategies at Deree-The American College of Greece.
Maria Korda
Human Rights Session
BA in Greek Philology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens
MA in Trilingual Professional Translation (French-English-Greek), Marc Bloch University of Strasbourg
Maria Korda has been a member of the Pierce Faculty since 2015, teaching Modern and Ancient Greek Language and Greek History. Currently, she is the Faculty Advisor of the Greek Sunny Days Publication for the Pierce Gymnasium. She is participating at the educational programs of the UNESCO Associated Schools Network (ASPnet), as well as at the educational program for human rights “Speak Truth to Power”. In 2012-2015, she worked as a translator in the Editions Department of the European Public Law Organization (EPLO). In 2007-2012, she worked as a Scientific Assistant in the Hellenic Parliament, where her work focused mainly on human rights issues.
Chrysanthi Agrafiotis
BA, in English Literature and Classical Studies, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, USA.
Chrysanthi Agrafiotis has been an English Teacher at Pierce – The American College of Greece since 2018. During this period, she has been teaching English Language and Literature, IELTS Preparation, Current Affairs, and Public Speaking. She is also the Teacher Advisor for the Junior Forensics Club, a certified Socratic Seminar Instructor and has had training in the Middle Years Program of the International Baccalaureate (MYP IB). Being bilingual and bicultural, she shares insights, and gives students the opportunity to understand and learn from the American culture and way of life. As an avid supporter of Professional Development, updating her knowledge and becoming familiar with Best Practices in Teaching in areas such as differentiated instruction, oral efficacy, blended learning, project-based learning (PBL), social-emotional learning (SEL), and student engagement, is a priority. In addition, she always shares the acquired knowledge with colleagues through workshops, seminars, and daily interaction.