By Achilleas Kouremenos

Copyright thenationalherald

Dr. Panos Vlachos, the first Greek president in the history of Anatolia College, spoke to The National Herald about the challenges and achievements of the past, as well as the vision for the future of the historic educational institution, which last year celebrated its 100th anniversary in Thessaloniki.

From the years of Greece’s economic crisis to the era of artificial intelligence, Anatolia has been investing in new ideas, nurturing persons, and paving the way for an education that is not limited by the borders of Greece. With emphasis on social engagement, excellent programs, and scholarships, Dr. Vlachos highlights the College’s role as a ‘nucleus of change’ and expresses his optimism that Greece can develop into an international educational hub.

The National Herald: You are the first Greek president of Anatolia. What does this mean to you?

Dr. Panos Vlachos: Beyond being a great honor, this position was also an important challenge. When I took over in 2012 as the first Greek president in Anatolia’s 126-year history, the country was going through perhaps the most difficult year of the financial crisis.
At that time, I stressed to the Board of Trustees that Anatolia had to continue to innovate and demonstrate that anything is possible, even in the most difficult times, provided there is vision, will, and dedication to our educational and social mission. My proposal was to develop new programs, expand the Scholarship Program, and strengthen even further our connection with society, in line with the founding principles of the College and its example throughout history.
Of course, there was skepticism. I remember one Trustee suggesting that we reduce the school’s activities in order to ensure its survival. But that did not fit Anatolia’s history: the school had always been a pioneer that expanded its impact on society.
From there we began designing a ten-year plan, which was completed in 2013-2014. In 2024, when we reviewed it, we found that we had achieved all the goals we had set. This was also thanks to the guidance and unwavering support of the Chairs of the Board of Trustees, John ‘Jack’ Clymer (2009-2016) and Albert ‘Chip’ Elfner III (2016- ), as well as all the Trustees of the educational organization.

TNH: What were those goals?

PV: Anatolia significantly increased its student body, from 2,500 to 4,000-4,500 students. We created new educational programs for students, teachers, and the wider community – many of them offered free of charge. At the same time, we strengthened teacher training programs and expanded our Scholarship Program.
We implemented a major program of new construction and upgrades to existing facilities worth over €50 million, a truly large amount for the size of Anatolia. The goal was not only to expand the campus with new buildings and upgraded infrastructure but also to improve accessibility by enhancing the Scholarship Program, and to contribute to a re-examination of the Greek educational system.

Within that decade we created, among other things:

The Center for Talented Youth (CTY) Greece in collaboration with Johns Hopkins University and with the founding donation of the Stavros Niarchos Foundation
The Entrepreneurship Hub and the free young entrepreneurs training program VentureGarden, with the generous support of The Hellenic Initiative (THI) and in collaboration with Alba Graduate Business School
The Anna Papageorgiou STEM Center with innovative STEAM programs
The Kassandra Center for Educational Excellence, offering free training programs to teachers throughout Greece
The program English on the Mountains, which provides educational opportunities to children in mountainous Thrace, with English lessons and online classes throughout the year, while many students attend Anatolia’s Secondary School on scholarships. At the same time, several mothers of these children have enrolled in second-chance schools.

All this was made possible thanks to the support of donors, trustees, organizations, companies, alumni, parents, staff, and students, as well as an exemplary Board of Trustees, which works with strategic vision and actively supports Anatolia’s development.

TNH: Would you say this is also a story of resilience?

PV: Exactly. This resilience, along with the College’s mission, gives strength to all of us – and to me personally – to continue working for our entire community: the 10,000 parents, the 4,500 students, and the 700 staffers. It is our history and philosophy, our conviction that we have a role in society. Because if you do not feel you have a role in society, you live in a very narrow world.

TNH: Anatolia’s infrastructure is impressive. How important is it for your mission?

PV: Anatolia’s campus is one of the most distinctive features of the institution’s identity and educational approach. With 29 buildings across 220 acres, more than 55% open space, and over 2,250 trees and shrubs, Anatolia stands out in Greece and contributes meaningfully to biodiversity.
This is not a luxury but a real learning environment: in the summer, we host more than 1,300 children from across Greece, while the institution operates almost continuously, weekdays and weekends, from morning until night. This shows that Anatolia is a living nucleus of education and social engagement.

TNH: The world is changing rapidly; artificial intelligence is “sweeping through.” Is the College adapting?

PV: If, in our time, we do not understand our role and the need to adapt to new conditions, then our future will be difficult. The College is, of course, adapting.
Education today is at a crossroads. Traditionally, worldwide, the sector adapted slowly to societal changes because society itself changes at a slow pace. But now education must do something different: lead the way in a time when most changes are driven by technology as well as by social factors.
Education, however, relies on people – teachers, students, families – who are used to different rhythms. Therefore, it must make a huge leap as it faces the most demanding phase in its history.

TNH: What exactly is the role of A.I.? What is Anatolia doing in practice?

PV: Artificial Intelligence has disrupted, both positively and negatively, every aspect of our lives. But we should not approach it with fear; rather, we must understand it and integrate it quickly and responsibly, so that the future of education remains human-centered and not merely innovative.
At Anatolia, two programs have been launched. One is being implemented in collaboration with Google DeepMind, making us one of the few secondary schools in the world attempting to evaluate ‘A.I. tutors’.
This year, 50 Anatolia teachers – from Elementary, Junior High, and High School – will attend the annual MIT A.I. Day program, an initiative organized by the Kassandra Center for Educational Excellence.
This experience will give us a preview of new developments in artificial intelligence and help us adapt and shape our educational programs.
We must all accept that with A.I., what we know and apply today may not be valid in a year’s time. This requires constant effort at continuous adaptation. We must cultivate a new culture in people and especially in teachers, who once adapted their teaching material every decade but are now called to adapt it every two years.

TNH: Can there be a balance between the digital era and the humanities, which seem to be sidelined?

PV: I hope and wish that the digital transition will be accompanied by a return to, and emphasis on, the humanities and social studies. Only then will our society gain the balance it needs.
In the new digital age, many new professions will be created that will require support from the humanities, which today are somewhat undervalued. Professions such as philosopher, political scientist, and sociologist are not considered by everyone as ‘first choices’. And yet, in the future, new forms of these disciplines will be absolutely essential for digital society to stand firmly.

TNH: As Anatolia, do you feel a greater ‘burden of responsibility’ since you play a leading role in education in Northern Greece?

PV: We do feel the responsibility, because our school’s mission is not limited only to Anatolia but extends to all of Greece and the wider region. For example, four years ago we founded the Kassandra Center for Educational Excellence, thanks to a very important donation we received. The Center’s goal is to empower and support teachers, both of Anatolia and of the wider academic community, by offering free training, access to methodological tools, and familiarization with innovative teaching approaches.
To date, through the Kassandra Center for Educational Excellence, CTY Greece, and other initiatives, we have trained more than 5,800 teachers from schools across Greece and Cyprus.
This was always our mission. But now we also have the right tools to carry it out. The Center for Educational Excellence and the Center for Talented Youth are tools that allow us to reach and influence society at large, so that the logic of step-by-step change gradually takes root.

TNH: Tell us about the Center for Talented Youth.

PV: In 2013 we took our first step in expanding our programs. Johns Hopkins transferred its valuable expertise to us thanks to a major donation from the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF). The SNF’s initial idea was to send children to America to attend the Center for Talented Youth program, created by Johns Hopkins in the 1980s. But very quickly, through discussions, it became clear that sending 20, 30, or even 40 children to America would not have a meaningful or lasting impact in Greece.
Thus, SNF decided to bring the know-how to Greece. From 2013 until today, 9,000 children have participated in the Center’s programs. It is a national program, perhaps the largest educational program in the country, reaching even the most remote areas of Greece and Cyprus.
More than half the children participate in the summer programs on scholarships, thanks to a trust we established in collaboration with SNF. This trust, along with annual donations from organizations, ensures the continuation of scholarships in perpetuity.

TNH: Anatolia uses the Johns Hopkins test for the admission of students into the Center for Talented Youth programs. What exactly is this test? Is it simply translated into Greek or is it adapted?

PV: A special effort was made, and you are absolutely right to raise the question. It is not just a simple translation. A mere transfer of words does not help, because the culture is different. What Johns Hopkins does, and this is very important, is adaptation – specialists collaborate with us and do not confine themselves to linguistic translation; they adapt the content so that it makes sense for children within the Greek reality.

TNH: So, the tests are not knowledge exams.

PV: Exactly. These are not knowledge tests, since they are designed for two grades above the students’ actual level. Their purpose is to evaluate verbal as well as mathematical reasoning. They are graded in three levels, depending on the child’s grade. There is also a third test that examines spatial perception, memory, and attentiveness. In this way, the child has the possibility to choose between two equivalent tests, depending on what suits them best.

TNH: Is there any thought of using these tests beyond the gifted program?

PV: We are already considering the possibility of introducing them in the entry classes of the Gymnasium (middle school). These are tests that do not require preparation or studying, and they provide a clear picture of the child’s abilities. When such a tool is integrated into a large educational institution, its benefits extend across its entire operation. I believe that within the next two years we will also apply it in the Gymnasium, of course with the necessary adaptation in addition to the ‘standardization process’ that is required.

TNH: Some say you are an ‘elite’ school. How do you respond?

PV: Historically, Anatolia has been a school of the middle class. Thessaloniki’s society does not have the same structure as Athens. Of course, there are children of entrepreneurs or families with financial means at the College. However, most parents who entrust us with their children are people of middle incomes, who believe that education can change their children’s lives. At the same time, a significant proportion of students come from more vulnerable social groups.
Today, 30% of the total student body across all levels and programs at Anatolia receive some form of scholarship (full, partial, or other financial assistance). Our goal is for this percentage to grow even more in the coming years.
The boarding school at Anatolia has always played a very important role in accessibility. Today Anatolia is the only secondary school in Greece that operates a boarding school. Our boarding facility expanded accessibility, as it currently hosts 52 children enrolled in the General Gymnasium and Lyceum of Anatolia, as well as in the Anatolia & Pinewood IBDP. These are children from all over Greece and also from abroad. Many of them are scholarship students, which guarantees the open and accessible character of our programs to students living far from Thessaloniki.

TNH: How is your relationship with local communities?

PV: Very close. We have developed educational and social ties with more than 20 cities across Greece, organizing free programs for students and teachers.
One of the College’s roles is to bring modern educational practices to Greece and to offer initiatives with a strong social character, giving children from different parts of Greece the chance to gain an experience that would otherwise be inaccessible to them.
We have placed particular emphasis on Thrace and Eastern Macedonia, with initiatives such as:

Examinations and Open Days with the Center for Talented Youth, offering at the same time a significant number of scholarships to local students
Free training programs for young entrepreneurs through the Entrepreneurship Center, in collaboration with organizations in Evros
The Kavala International Summer School, with the participation of university students from the region
The English on the Mountains program, which has been running for ten years in the mountainous parts of Thrace, including a summer school for more than 270 children, a winter tutoring program, and experiential workshops

Children from the mountainous region in Thrace have also received scholarships to attend Anatolia’s Gymnasium-Lyceum.
Our most recent initiative is STEAMing the Future, an innovative program of the Anna Papageorgiou STEM Center at Anatolia College, supported by the Bodossaki Foundation. The program took place in person in Xanthi, Alexandroupoli, and Drama, and online across Greece, aiming at equal access to educational innovation and the STEAM fields, with an emphasis on the active participation of students from remote areas. At the same time, it served as a tool for strengthening local communities.
Our presence in Thrace is further reinforced through the scholarship program. The Bodossaki Foundation has already provided three full scholarships with accommodation in the College’s boarding school for students from mountainous Thrace.
In addition, we have implemented programs for Roma students.
We invest significant resources without asking for anything in return – everything is our contribution. This is a fundamental part of our mission. At first, there was some hesitation from local communities; today, however, they invite us to return.

TNH: What is your perspective on Anatolia’s role in society?
PV: I believe societies evolve when nuclei with shared values and a sense of social responsibility are created. Anatolia is one such nucleus. Our goal is to cultivate good practices, not only for our students but also for society at large. Just as we bring children from all over Greece to our campus, we want our practices to spread throughout the country.

TNH: How so you describe your vision for education in Greece?

PV: I would recall Eleftherios Venizelos’ speech at Athens College, where he mentioned that institutions like Anatolia, Pierce, and Athens College would play a decisive role in transforming education in the country. This remains relevant today. Greece has capable people, universities with a century-long history, and significant scientific potential. With better organization, they can become internationally competitive.
We are already seeing steps in this direction, such as the creation of English-language departments in Greek universities.
On our side, in recent years, through our university-level programs, we have brought a significant number of foreign students to Greece – specifically over 6,000 students from American universities through exchange programs, creating an economic impact in the area of €150 million.
This demonstrates that education can serve as a lever for development, not only economically but also socially.

TNH: What are your expectations for the future?
PV: Our goal is to help Greece evolve into an educational hub for students from around the world. We have the capabilities, the human resources, and the infrastructure. If we can overcome stereotypes and strengthen our culture with more organization and outward-looking policies, our country can emerge as a strong international educational hub.
Additionally, we look forward to the acceleration of the necessary reforms in primary and secondary education that grant schools autonomy and liberate the creativity of educators.

TNH: Anatolia has officially received permission to operate in Greece as a non-profit, non-state university, and we now have Anatolia American University. What does this mean for Anatolia and for Greek education in general?

PV: The approval to operate Anatolia American University marks a milestone for Anatolia and for higher education in Greece. The creation of the university expresses our commitment to academic excellence, international collaboration, and equal access to education. We are proud to contribute to establishing Greece as an international educational destination and to offer young people the opportunity to grow in a dynamic, multicultural learning environment.
In this way, a long-standing goal of Anatolia’s Trustees is realized: the establishment of a university that provides new educational opportunities for Greek youth. At the same time, Anatolia American University contributes to making Greece an international hub for students while helping curb the emigration of young people abroad. Strategic goals also include repatriating Greek academics and scientists and boosting regional economic development by leveraging human capital and know-how.

TNH: What will distinguish Anatolia American University from public universities? Will you have a different model of teaching and research?

PV: We do not consider Greek public universities to be our competition; on the contrary, we aim for our operation to be complementary. Our goal is to attract more international students from the wider region, the U.S., and Europe, including through exchange programs.
We believe public universities should remain strong and be further strengthened. Our shared national objective is for higher education – public and non-state universities together – to serve as pillars of economic and social development, making a substantial contribution to Thessaloniki and Greece, as examples from countries like the United Kingdom, Italy, and Spain demonstrate.

Anatolia American University will offer four-year undergraduate programs in English with an international orientation, aiming not only at the acquisition of scientific knowledge but also at the development of skills critical for all 21st-century citizens, in an open and inclusive environment. With our long-standing experience in organizing academic conferences and research activities, we also intend to place special emphasis on these areas.
Anatolia American University will stand out for its multicultural student body, with students from Europe, the U.S., third countries, as well as from Greece who choose to study in an international environment. Small class sizes will enhance participation and interaction with faculty, while the curriculum will respond holistically to the needs of the new generation. In addition, special programs will be offered for Greek-American students, continuing an already established tradition.

TNH: What would you say to those who worry that non-state universities will only be accessible to a few? Tell us more about scholarships and social criteria?

PV: Our educational institution remains firmly committed to its social mission and dedicated to providing high-level education to young people with limited financial means. Today, about 30% of our total student body, across all levels and programs, benefits from some form of scholarship – full or partial – or financial aid. Our goal in the coming years is to further increase this percentage, so that access to quality education remains open and fair for all.

TNH: Tell us about your plans to bring in more students and faculty from abroad. Will the university act as a ‘bridge’ to keep talent in Greece that currently leaves for opportunities abroad?

PV: The university’s recruitment strategy targets three main groups of students:

Greek students seeking a comprehensive academic experience in an international learning and cultural environment
International students
Visiting students from foreign universities, mainly from the U.S. and Europe, through exchange programs

At the same time, we aim to attract Greek and international faculty members with teaching experience abroad and active research involvement, to meet the needs of a university with an international character.
Anatolia has already developed partnerships and programs with leading U.S. universities such as Northeastern University in Boston, the University of Michigan, Boston College, American University in Washington DC, and Washington University in Missouri. These collaborations demonstrate in practice that fruitful synergies can be created for the benefit of students, the academic community, and the country.

TNH: Anatolia College celebrated its 100 years in Thessaloniki in 2024. How do you imagine Anatolia in 15-20 years?

PV: Last year we celebrated our centenary – a milestone honoring a legacy built on resilience, vision, and faith in the power of education. As we move into our next century, Anatolia aims to expand its geographical reach and audience, maintaining its relevance in a rapidly changing world while remaining true to its values: Innovation, Excellence, Social Responsibility, and Inclusion – values rooted in our past and serving as the compass for our future.

This strong and enduring value system can already be seen in the first graduating class in Merzifon, who adopted the motto “Dare to Do Right.” That is a phrase closely tied to Anatolia – it speaks to the will and courage to make a difference in society by being the best version of oneself. This was the spirit instilled by our predecessors, and it remains the bond uniting our community today.

I feel optimistic, and optimism is a critical factor in education. I envision Anatolia playing a significant role in Greece and the wider region, with a bright future at all levels. I see an institution that grows with balance, equipping students with skills and academic knowledge while at the same time encouraging them to develop character and social awareness.