President

Dean of Perrotis College;

Chair of the ‘New Food Product & Business Development’ MSc program

Dr. Kiki Zinoviadou is the Dean of Perrotis College and Chair of the ‘New Food Product & Business Development’ MSc program. She earned her PhD from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki as a fellow of the Ministry of Education, her MSc. in Product and Ingredient Functionality from Wageningen University in the Netherlands after being awarded a scholarship from NUFFIC (Netherlands Organisation for International Cooperation in Higher Education), and her BSc in Food Science from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. She has authored various articles in peer review journals while her work has been referenced more than 1500 times. Moreover, she participates in and coordinates major EU- and nationally-funded research projects. Her research interests include New Product Development, olive oil and table olives quality, development of delivery systems and biopolymer based antimicrobial packaging, as well as the understanding of the factors that determine the relationship between sensory perception, texture, microstructure, physicochemical properties and shelf-life of food systems. She is a jury at Olive Oil competitions and a member of the National Table Olive Taste Panel.

Contact: kzinov@afs.edu.gr

Publications

Chair of Sustainable Agriculture & Management Program (full-time)

Dr. Christos Vasilikiotis received his PhD in Molecular & Cell Biology from the University of California, Berkeley, an M.Sc. in Agronomy from Iowa State University and a BSc in Biology from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. He was a visiting scholar at the Department of Plant Sciences at UC Davis and he is a visiting professor at the MSc Program on Sustainable Agriculture at MAICH, and has served as a member of the EU CAP Network Focus Group on Regenerative Agriculture for Soil Health. His research focuses on Agroecology and Regenerative Agriculture, with expertise in Agroecosystem Design and Soil Health. He is actively developing Organic No-Till Agriculture and serves as the scientific coordinator for the Horizon Europe Lilas4Soils project at Perrotis College.

Contact: cvasil@afs.edu.gr

Professor in Sustainable Agriculture & Management (full-time)

Professor Athanasios Gertsis completed undergraduate degrees in Agriculture (BSc in Crop production) , in Thessaloniki and transferred to further his education in the USA. He received his BSc and MSc degrees from Mississippi State University (Miss State, MS) –and a Ph.D. degree from Texas Tech University (Lubbock, TX) , in USA. Post-Doctoral in the University of Thessaly, Volos-Greece. He was a Scientific collaborator at the Alexandrian Τechnological Education Institution (ATEI). He joined the founding faculty at Perrotis College/American Farm School in 1996 and he leads teaching and research in the upgraded programs (BSc and MSc in Sustainable Agriculture & Management ). He has over 200 publications, conferences, books and other publication materials. He is also the Director of the Krinos Olive Center/Perrotis College. He was awarded by The President of the Hellenic Republic, HE Carolos Papoulias in 2014, for his contribution to Innovative agricultural technologies in Greece.

Contact: agerts@afs.edu.gr

Lecturer in Sustainable Agriculture & Management (full-time)

Konstantinos Zoukidis is a Lecturer/Researcher at Perrotis College in the Department of Sustainable Agriculture & Management. He holds an Integrated Master’s Degree in Agriculture with major in Hydraulics Land Improvement, Soil Science and Agricultural Engineering and M.Sc. with honors, in Soil Science and Soil Resources Management from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (A.U.Th.) and he is currently a PhD Candidate with specialization Plant Nutrition and Plant Physiology at Department of Agriculture, International Hellenic University (IHU). He is a certified educator with a degree in the School of Pedagogical and Technological Education (ASPETE) and holds a certification of the teaching qualification of Trainers for Adults of non-formal education from National Organisation for the Certification of Qualifications and Vocational Guidance (EOPPEP). In addition, he has certification diploma in Agricultural Extension Services and registered in the Register of ELGO DIMITRA (Farm Advisory System). His research interests include soil and irrigation water management, horticulture, viticulture and enology, plant physiology, plant nutrition and Precision Agriculture.

Contact: kzouki@afs.edu.gr

Lecturer in Sustainable Agriculture & Management (Part-Time)

Nathalie Kamou holds a BSc, a MSc and a PhD in Agricultural Science from Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (A.U.TH.) with important experience in finding new biological control agents that act against phytopathogenic fungi and in identifying microbial metabolites. She carried out Postdoctoral Research at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki in collaboration with the laboratories of Pesticide Science, Agricultural Chemistry, Entomology and Plant Pathology as a researcher in scientific programs with topics related to analytical chemistry and Plant Pathology. She has been working since 2018 as an Adjunct Lecturer, within the framework of the Cardiff Metropolitan University accredited undergraduate program of Perrotis College. She has published 19 research papers in international peer-reviewed journals and 26 presentations at scientific conferences (h-index = 11).

Contact: nkamou@afs.edu.gr

Born in Thessaloniki in 1966. PhD in Remote Sensing & GIS; MSc in Soil Resource Management; MSc in Land Reclamation, BSc in Agronomy [Aristotle University of Thessaloniki]. Director of Precision Agriculture in Ecodevelopment S.A. [Environmental Applications]. Visiting Professor of Precision Agriculture, Remote Sensing, GIS, and Soil & Water Resource Management [the latter in Sustainable Agriculture and Management (SAM) dept. of Perrotis College]. Reviewer for the European Research Council. Coordinator of internationally or nationally co-funded research and application projects in land use, soil erosion, risk assessment, and precision farming. Peer-reviewed publications in international journals of high reputation.

Contact: ckaryd@afs.edu.gr

Lecturer (part-time)

Nektaria Tsivelika holds a BSc, MSc, and PhD in Agronomy from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, with specialization in Genetics and Plant Breeding. Her doctoral research focused on the genetic study and breeding of chamomile populations. She has participated extensively in national and EU-funded research projects at ELGO-DIMITRA (Hellenic Agricultural Organization), with scientific contributions in plant breeding, phytochemical profiling, and the study of genotype effects, environment effects and their interactions on plant characteristics. She teaches in the undergraduate program – B.Sc. Sustainable Agriculture and Management – at Perrotis College.

Contact: ntsive@afs.edu.gr

My name is Katia Beli and I am an agronomist and enologist. I have studied agronomy in the University of Thessaly and earned 2 masters in viticulture and wine production in Bordeaux, France. Since 2008 I have worked as enologist-production manager in big wineries in Greece, France and New Zealand. I also have a 10 year teaching experience both at the American Farm School and at public vocational institutes in wine microbiology, tasting, viticulture, winemaking procedures. I speak English, French and Greek. I currently teach at the American Farm School / Perrotis College and work as a freelance wine consultant.

Contact : abeli@afs.edu.gr

In 2010, Dr Kyriaki Chatzikyriakidou received a Fulbright scholarship for graduate studies in the USA, and she was awarded her PhD in Food Science-Microbiology in 2014 at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Her research work focused on E. coli stress response in beef products and microbial physiology. In 2017, Kyriaki received her Master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She has been assisting and serving in biology college education for the past 10 years. At Perrotis College, she teaches General Education biology labs and several first- and second-year Food Science courses.

Contact: kchatz@afs.edu.gr

Maria Emmanouilidou holds an MSc in Agricultural Economics and a BSc with Honors in Agriculture both from Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. She works for the Perfecture of Central Macedonia for the Managing Authority of Public Investment Programme since 2021, while for more than 15 years, she was member of the Thessaloniki’s Local Action Group for the EU Initiative LEADER. She is also active as an instructor in adult education and vocational training. She has participated as a researcher in various European and National funded programs, while she serves as external auditor for NSRF programs. She is teaching in undergraduate Perrotis College department.

Contact: memano@afs.edu.gr

Dr Athanasios Falaras holds a Diploma in Applied Physics (MSc equivalent) from the School of Applied Mathematics and Physical Sciences of the National Technical University of Athens, an MSc in Information Systems, and a PhD—titled “Exploratory Statistical Analysis of Innovation and Entrepreneurship in the Agricultural Sector”—both from the University of Macedonia. He works as an educator in secondary and post-secondary (non-tertiary) education and as a researcher on Erasmus+ projects. His scholarly output includes five articles in international journals, three book chapters, and five papers in conference proceedings. At Perrotis College, he teaches research methodology in the postgraduate programmes and in the undergraduate Sustainable Agriculture & Management programme.

Contact : afalar@afs.edu.gr

Dr Karydas Antonis received his BSc in Crop Science and his MSc in Vegetation Survey and Assessment from Reading University (UK). Additionally, he earned his 2nd MSc in Sustainable Management of Protected Areas from University of Ioannina and his PhD in Plant Botany from University of Patras. His research interests include the monitoring and sustainable management of rare and endangered plants. He has participated in various national and European plant conservation projects, contributed in the Red Data Book of Rare and Threatened Plants of Greece and has collaborated with the Greek Agricultural Research Institute (ELGO-DIMITRA) and the Balkan Botanic Garden of Kroussia. Currently, he is an adjunct lecturer in BSc SAM, where he teaches the modules Botany and Plant Propagation, Introduction to Agro-environmental Systems, Horticultural Science and Greenhouse Management and Technology.

Contact: akaryd@afs.edu.gr

Christos Kissoudis holds a BSc and an MSc, with a specialization in Plant Genetics and Breeding, from Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. During his MSc, he worked on biotechnological approaches to increase herbicide and stress tolerance in transgenic tobacco. He obtained his PhD from Wageningen University in the Netherlands investigating the genetic utilization of wild species and other genetic resources of tomato for achieving increased stress tolerance and pathogen resistance. He subsequently worked as a research and teaching assistant at the Plant Breeding Department of Wageningen University. His research interests include the genetic regulation of environmental adaptation and the nutritional quality of plants and microbiome, metabolome, and microRNA investigations in plants and functional foods. He has participated in Greek, Dutch, and international projects on crop genomics resources and vegetable biotechnology. He authored numerous original research articles and reviews in high-impact international peer-reviewed journals and is a research project evaluator for the Dutch Research Council and the Swiss National Science Foundation.

Contact: ckisso@afs.edu.gr

Miltiadis Meliadis holds a BSc in Geography from the Aegean University (specialization in Geoinformatics and Environment) and two MScs, the first one from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, School of Forestry, in the field of Design and Development of Natural Resources, and the second from theInternational Hellenic University and Hellenic Fire Corps Academy in the field of Analysis and Management of Manmade and Natural Disasters. He is a professor in the B.Sc. Sustainable Agriculture and Management (SAM). During this period, he is working on his Ph.D. in geoinformatics, UAVs, and disaster management of manmade, natural, and Na-tech disasters, and he is working for the Hellenic Ministry of Climate Change and Civil Protection. His research and educational work include GIS, remote sensing, climate change, disaster management, and UAVs.

Contact: mmelia@afs.edu.gr

Dimitrios Psathas is a Lecturer in Olive Cultivation and Processing Systems at Perrotis College in Thessaloniki and founder of Klea Premium Goods, a brand dedicated to the production of high-quality extra virgin olive oil. He holds an MSc in New Food Product and Business Development from Perrotis College and Cardiff Metropolitan University, and a BSc in Agriculture with a specialization in Horticulture and Viticulture from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. His work combines hands-on cultivation with consultancy in olive oil production, focusing on quality, sustainability, and sensory evaluation. He is a certified olive oil taster by O.N.A.O.O. (Italy), and has served as a judge in international olive oil competitions, including ARMONIA in Parma. His research includes the volatile profile and ripening characteristics of Greek olive cultivars, with a recent publication on “Chondrolia Chalkidikis” virgin olive oils.

Contact: dpsath@afs.edu.gr

Mr. Saoulidis earned a M.Sc in Decision Sciences and an MBA in Finance from Georgia State University in Atlanta, Georgia and a BA, with Honors, in International Business from American Intercontinental University in Atlanta, Georgia. He brings over thirty years of experience in farm management and executive leadership, and is also actively involved in adult education and vocational training as an instructor. His core professional interests focus on agribusiness development, entrepreneurship, and equity investments.

Contact: asaoul@afs.edu.gr

Iro Sotiriadou is the Perrotis College Librarian working at the “Dimitris & Aliki Perrotis” Central Library of the AFS and she is responsible for managing the Library’s electronic resources. She holds a BA in English Language and Literature and an MA in Translation Studies both from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, as well as a BSc in Library Science and Information Systems from the Alexander Technological Educational Institute of Thessaloniki. She is also a faculty member teaching Information Literacy at Perrotis College Undergraduate program at Level 4. Some of her publications: https://repository.afs.edu.gr/handle/6000/378, https://repository.afs.edu.gr/handle/6000/377

Contact: isotir@afs.edu.gr

Associate professor of Food Science & Technology Program (full-time)

Dr. Tryfon Adamidis holds a BSc degree in Agriculture with a specialization in Food Science and Technology from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece, and a Ph.D. in Genetics from Michigan State University, MI, U.S.A. His doctoral research focused on the developmental regulation of antibiotic production genes. He worked as a Postdoctoral Researcher at the University of Minnesota, MN, U.S.A., where he focused on the genetic engineering of bacteria for the production of biodegradable plastics. He worked as a postdoctoral researcher at the Laboratory of Dairying and Food Hygiene, Department of Agriculture, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, on the microbiological and plasmid analysis of bacteria in feta and batzos cheese. He is currently the Head of the Food Science and Technology Department at Perrotis College, where he teaches various courses in both BSc and Master's programs. His research interests include the quality and shelf life of traditional Greek products related to the Mediterranean diet, with a particular emphasis on olive oil, wine, and spoon sweets.

Contact: tadami@afs.edu.gr

Publications

Lecturer in Dairy and Animal Science (part-time)

Efstratios Souglis is a Veterinarian (D.V.M.) from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, with a title from The School of Agricultural Technology and a Masters degree (M.Sc) in Husbandry and Pathology of Ruminants from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. In his current position he manages the American Farm School (AFS) educational dairy herd and the Dairy Milk and Milk Products Processing Plant, and is responsible for the health and well-being of all animal units at the A.F.S. educational farms. These include a dairy cow herd of 120 milking cows, a poultry operation of 25.000 egg laying hens, 42.000 turkeys, a poultry meat slaughterhouse, a hatchery, and an educational feed mill unit. Other tasks involve application and management of food safety and quality management systems to all farm products (ISO 22000, ISO 9001:2000 and ISO14001:2004), contacts with national and EU authorities. He is a Perrotis College lecturer for modules in Dairy and Animal Science.

Contact:esougl@afs.edu.gr

Lecturer in Food Safety Management Systems (part-time)

Nikolaos Gizgis holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry from the University of Ioannina and a Master of Science in Quality Control and Environmental Management from the Technical University of Crete. He possesses specialized expertise in Food Safety Management Systems, food legislation, regulatory procedures for the establishment and authorisation of new food businesses, as well as quality control and sensory evaluation (tasting). He has served as Quality Assurance Manager across a wide spectrum of the food industry, including dairy production, winemaking, olive and olive oil processing, canning, pastry manufacturing, and the bottling of natural mineral water. His experience encompasses the implementation and oversight of quality control systems, product safety assurance, and compliance with national and international standards. His professional and research interests include the authorisation of novel food products, the management of food industry waste and wastewater, and the nutritional profiling of food products.

Contact: ngizgi@afs.edu.gr

Lecturer in Food Science Program (Part-Time)

Theodoros Kalitsis holds a Ph.D. in Food Science / Food Microbiology and an M.Sc. in Food Science / Food Process – Engineering, both from the University of California at Davis and he is Veterinarian by training at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. He has been hired since 1998 as senior food scientist in Goody’s S.A., a leading Food Corporation in Greece with important activities in various countries. He has been managing projects in new product development and new activities.

Contact: tkalli@afs.edu.gr

Publications

Lecturer (part-time)

Dr Panagiotis Kabouridis earned his BSc in Biology from Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, and his MSc and PhD degrees in Molecular Biology from San Diego State University (SDSU) and University of California San Diego (UCSD). He followed an academic career in London, UK, initially at the Medical Research Council (MRC) and afterwards, as faculty member, at Queen Mary University London (QMUL). He also held an honorary appointment with the University College London (UCL), and a visiting scientist appointment with the MRC. His academic interests include molecular biology, cell biology, and the impact of diet on the gut microbiome and health. Dr Kabouridis has published research in high impact scientific journals. He was awarded a Career Development Award from the Wellcome Trust (UK) for his work on the role of lipids in cell function, as well as other grant awards from various research funding agencies. Dr Kabouridis is teaching at the undergraduate level in the Department of Food Science and Technology at Perrotis College.

Contact: pkabou@afs.edu.gr.

Specialized Scientist (part-time)

Ismini Dergiade is a specialized scientist in the field of Food Science and Technology, with extensive experience in both education and food quality control. She holds a Bachelor’s and a Master’s degree from the School of Agriculture of Aristotle University in Thessaloniki (AUTH). She has taught at various vocational institutions, with a strong focus on dairy technology, nutrition, and food hygiene and safety. She has actively participated in both European and national research projects and has contributed to publications and presentations at international conferences. Her professional experience includes roles in food production, quality assurance, new product development, and implementation of HACCP and ISO systems in food industries. She teaches the course “Introduction to Food Physical Chemistry” at the BSc program of Food Science and Technology of Perrotis College.

Contact: idergi@afs.edu.gr

In 2010, Dr Kyriaki Chatzikyriakidou received a Fulbright scholarship for graduate studies in the USA, and she was awarded her PhD in Food Science-Microbiology in 2014 at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Her research work focused on E. coli stress response in beef products and microbial physiology. In 2017, Kyriaki received her Master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She has been assisting and serving in biology college education for the past 10 years. At Perrotis College, she teaches General Education biology labs and several first- and second-year Food Science courses.

Contact: kchatz@afs.edu.gr

Maria Emmanouilidou holds an MSc in Agricultural Economics and a BSc with Honors in Agriculture both from Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. She works for the Perfecture of Central Macedonia for the Managing Authority of Public Investment Programme since 2021, while for more than 15 years, she was member of the Thessaloniki’s Local Action Group for the EU Initiative LEADER. She is also active as an instructor in adult education and vocational training. She has participated as a researcher in various European and National funded programs, while she serves as external auditor for NSRF programs. She is teaching in undergraduate Perrotis College department.

Contact: memano@afs.edu.gr

George Kartsiotis holds two BSc, two MSc and is now a Phd candidate; he received his first BSc in Mathematics from the Aristotle University, his second BSc in Applied Informatics from the University of Macedonia with honors (valedictorian), his first MSc (with honors) from the Electrical and Computer Engineering school in Advanced Communication and Intelligent Systems, and his second MSc (with honors) from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki in Theoretical Computer Science and Control Theory. Currently he is a PhD candidate at the Applied Informatics department at the University of Macedonia and has worked for various computer software and web development companies with extensive experience in education. His main research interests include bio inspired algorithms, optimal path planning, theoretical computer science and logic related problems, and application of statistics on economic and social sciences.

Contact: gkarts@afs.edu.gr

Dr. Sofia Lalou earned her PhD and MSc in Food Chemistry and Technology and her B.Sc. in Chemistry from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. Her research activity was awarded by AUTh Research Committee (Excellence Scholarship Award for PhD Candidates, 2014) and by the State Scholars Foundation (IKY) (Postdoctoral Researchers Fund, in 2019). Her research interests include fermented products, agro-industrial and food wastes valorization, process optimization for bioactive value-added ingredients, immobilization of microorganisms, new product development, quality control and sensory analysis. She has collaborated on several projects with multidisciplinary teams in three countries and teaches food biotechnology, microbiology, food analysis and analytical chemistry.

Contact: slalou@afs.edu.gr.

Iro Sotiriadou is the Perrotis College Librarian working at the “Dimitris & Aliki Perrotis” Central Library of the AFS and she is responsible for managing the Library’s electronic resources. She holds a BA in English Language and Literature and an MA in Translation Studies both from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, as well as a BSc in Library Science and Information Systems from the Alexander Technological Educational Institute of Thessaloniki. She is also a faculty member teaching Information Literacy at Perrotis College Undergraduate program at Level 4. Some of her publications: https://repository.afs.edu.gr/handle/6000/378, https://repository.afs.edu.gr/handle/6000/377

Contact: isotir@afs.edu.gr

Dr. Kiki Zinoviadou is the Dean of Perrotis College and Chair of the ‘New Food Product & Business Development’ MSc program. She earned her PhD from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki as a fellow of the Ministry of Education, her MSc. in Product and Ingredient Functionality from Wageningen University in the Netherlands after being awarded a scholarship from NUFFIC (Netherlands Organisation for International Cooperation in Higher Education), and her BSc in Food Science from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. She has authored various articles in peer review journals while her work has been referenced more than 1500 times. Moreover, she participates in and coordinates major EU- and nationally-funded research projects. Her research interests include New Product Development, olive oil and table olives quality, development of delivery systems and biopolymer based antimicrobial packaging, as well as the understanding of the factors that determine the relationship between sensory perception, texture, microstructure, physicochemical properties and shelf-life of food systems. She is a jury at Olive Oil competitions and a member of the National Table Olive Taste Panel.

Contact: kzinov@afs.edu.gr

Chair of Environmental Science Major (full-time)

Dr. Sofia Lalou earned her PhD and MSc in Food Chemistry and Technology and her B.Sc. in Chemistry from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. Her research activity was awarded by AUTh Research Committee (Excellence Scholarship Award for PhD Candidates, 2014) and by the State Scholars Foundation (IKY) (Postdoctoral Researchers Fund, in 2019). Her research interests include fermented products, agro-industrial and food wastes valorization, process optimization for bioactive value-added ingredients, immobilization of microorganisms, new product development, quality control and sensory analysis. She has collaborated on several projects with multidisciplinary teams in three countries and teaches food biotechnology, microbiology, food analysis and analytical chemistry.

Contact: slalou@afs.edu.gr.

Lecturer in Environmental Science (part-time)

Dr. Alexandra Demertzi is a Forest and Natural Environment Scientist with focus on biodiversity conservation strategies, forest and natural environment ecosystem integrity maintenance, and GIS. She holds a BSc from the Forestry and Natural Environment School of Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUTH), an MSc in Environmental Protection and Sustainable Development from the Civil Engineering School of AUTH and a PhD from the same department focused on methods of highlighting the important biodiversity areas in forest ecosystems. Dr. Demertzi’s area of expertise focuses on devising plans and methods to preserve ecological balance in protected areas based on data collection methods, investigative research, and innovative technologies.

Contact: ademer@afs.edu.gr

Lecturer (part-time)

Dr Athanasios Falaras holds a Diploma in Applied Physics (MSc equivalent) from the School of Applied Mathematics and Physical Sciences of the National Technical University of Athens, an MSc in Information Systems, and a PhD—titled “Exploratory Statistical Analysis of Innovation and Entrepreneurship in the Agricultural Sector”—both from the University of Macedonia. He works as an educator in secondary and post-secondary (non-tertiary) education and as a researcher on Erasmus+ projects. His scholarly output includes five articles in international journals, three book chapters, and five papers in conference proceedings. At Perrotis College, he teaches research methodology in the postgraduate programmes and in the undergraduate Sustainable Agriculture & Management programme.

Contact: afalar@afs.edu.gr

Lecturer (part-time)

Dr. Angelos Tsaligopoulos is a Lecturer in the Environmental Science Department, teaching topics related to health impact assessment, environmental risk, and environmental acoustics. He is currently a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Trento, focusing on the development of a “Noise Footprint” framework. He has also completed postdoctoral research at the University of the Aegean, where he investigated emerging trends in ecologically sustainable acoustic management and design in urban environments. He holds a PhD in Urban and Acoustic Ecology and an MSc in Environmental Policy and Management from the University of the Aegean, as well as a BSc in Environmental Engineering. His research has focused on environmental acoustics, urban ecology, soundscape analysis, and noise management. He has received the Ypatia PhD Scholarship from the University of the Aegean and several travel grants. He has worked on numerous international research projects funded by the EU, addressing issues related to environmental sustainability, the circular economy, and the bioeconomy. He has published extensively in international scientific journals and conference proceedings and is an active member of the Hellenic Society for Acoustic Ecology and the Hellenic Institute of Acoustics (Helina).

Contact: atsali@afs.edu.gr

Dr Athanasios Falaras holds a Diploma in Applied Physics (MSc equivalent) from the School of Applied Mathematics and Physical Sciences of the National Technical University of Athens, an MSc in Information Systems, and a PhD—titled “Exploratory Statistical Analysis of Innovation and Entrepreneurship in the Agricultural Sector”—both from the University of Macedonia. He works as an educator in secondary and post-secondary (non-tertiary) education and as a researcher on Erasmus+ projects. His scholarly output includes five articles in international journals, three book chapters, and five papers in conference proceedings. At Perrotis College, he teaches research methodology in the postgraduate programmes and in the undergraduate Sustainable Agriculture & Management programme.

Contact: afalar@afs.edu.gr

Dr Panagiotis Kabouridis earned his BSc in Biology from Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, and his MSc and PhD degrees in Molecular Biology from San Diego State University (SDSU) and University of California San Diego (UCSD). He followed an academic career in London, UK, initially at the Medical Research Council (MRC) and afterwards, as faculty member, at Queen Mary University London (QMUL). He also held an honorary appointment with the University College London (UCL), and a visiting scientist appointment with the MRC. His academic interests include molecular biology, cell biology, and the impact of diet on the gut microbiome and health. Dr Kabouridis has published research in high impact scientific journals. He was awarded a Career Development Award from the Wellcome Trust (UK) for his work on the role of lipids in cell function, as well as other grant awards from various research funding agencies. Dr Kabouridis is teaching at the undergraduate level in the Department of Food Science and Technology at Perrotis College.

Contact: pkabou@afs.edu.gr

Miltiadis Meliadis holds a BSc in Geography from the Aegean University (specialization in Geoinformatics and Environment) and two MScs, the first one from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, School of Forestry, in the field of Design and Development of Natural Resources, and the second from theInternational Hellenic University and Hellenic Fire Corps Academy in the field of Analysis and Management of Manmade and Natural Disasters. He is a professor in the B.Sc. Sustainable Agriculture and Management (SAM). During this period, he is working on his Ph.D. in geoinformatics, UAVs, and disaster management of manmade, natural, and Na-tech disasters, and he is working for the Hellenic Ministry of Climate Change and Civil Protection. His research and educational work include GIS, remote sensing, climate change, disaster management, and UAVs.

Contact: mmelia@afs.edu.gr

Mr. Lefteris Papadopoulos holds a B.Sc. degree in Mathematics from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, an M.Sc. degree in Operational Research from the University of Southampton, a Postgraduate Certificate in Learning and Teaching from the University of Sheffield and is a Fellow of Higher Education Academy in the U.K.. He has spent more than 25 years in Financial Institutions (Greece and Romania) and in parallel as part-time Lecturer and Seminar Instructor for over 35 years. Since 2017, Mr. Papadopoulos is Expert-Evaluator for the SME EIC Accelerator in European Commission covering the sectors of Nanotechnology, E-Learning and Agricultural products. The areas of interest are Operations, Process & Project Management – Finance, Banking & Investments – Sales, teaching in both Undergraduate and postgraduate studies, mainly in Business departments.

Contact: epapado@afs.edu.gr.

Iro Sotiriadou is the Perrotis College Librarian working at the “Dimitris & Aliki Perrotis” Central Library of the AFS and she is responsible for managing the Library’s electronic resources. She holds a BA in English Language and Literature and an MA in Translation Studies both from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, as well as a BSc in Library Science and Information Systems from the Alexander Technological Educational Institute of Thessaloniki. She is also a faculty member teaching Information Literacy at Perrotis College Undergraduate program at Level 4. Some of her publications: https://repository.afs.edu.gr/handle/6000/378, https://repository.afs.edu.gr/handle/6000/377

Contact: isotir@afs.edu.gr

Dr. Christos Vasilikiotis received his PhD in Molecular & Cell Biology from the University of California, Berkeley, an M.Sc. in Agronomy from Iowa State University and a BSc in Biology from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. He was a visiting scholar at the Department of Plant Sciences at UC Davis and he is a visiting professor at the MSc Program on Sustainable Agriculture at MAICH, and has served as a member of the EU CAP Network Focus Group on Regenerative Agriculture for Soil Health. His research focuses on Agroecology and Regenerative Agriculture, with expertise in Agroecosystem Design and Soil Health. He is actively developing Organic No-Till Agriculture and serves as the scientific coordinator for the Horizon Europe Lilas4Soils project at Perrotis College.

Contact: cvasil@afs.edu.gr

Konstantinos Zoukidis is a Lecturer / Researcher at Perrotis College in the Department of Sustainable Agriculture & Management. He holds an Integrated Master’s Degree in Agriculture with major in Hydraulics Land Improvement, Soil Science and Agricultural Engineering and M.Sc. with honors, in Soil Science and Soil Resources Management from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (A.U.Th.) and he is currently a PhD Candidate with specialization Plant Nutrition and Plant Physiology at Department of Agriculture, International Hellenic University (IHU). He is a certified educator with a degree in the School of Pedagogical and Technological Education (ASPETE) and holds a certification of the teaching qualification of Trainers for Adults of non-formal education from National Organisation for the Certification of Qualifications and Vocational Guidance (EOPPEP). In addition, he has certification diploma in Agricultural Extension Services and registered in the Register of ELGO DIMITRA (Farm Advisory System). His research interests include soil and irrigation water management, horticulture, viticulture and enology, plant physiology, plant nutrition and Precision Agriculture.

Contact: kzouki@afs.edu.gr

Chair of Business School (full-time)

Dr. Nikos Zakakis is the Chair of the Business School at Perrotis College, overseeing the International Business, Digital Marketing, and Marketing Programs. He holds a PhD in Media and Organizational Communication, as well as BSc (Cultural Technology and Communication) and MSc (Cultural Informatics) degrees from the University of the Aegean. His research interests include Digital Marketing, Digital Communications, Behavioral Analytics, Corporate Reputation, and media theories such as Agenda-Setting, Framing, and Gatekeeping. His academic contributions include publications in international peer-reviewed journals and presentations at various research conferences. Dr. Nikos Zakakis also specializes as a MarTech Consultant, supporting organizations in Greece and abroad with digital transformation strategies.

Google Scholar profile: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=asmv9r0AAAAJ

Contact: nzakak@afs.edu.gr

Adjunct Lecturer (part-time)

Alexandros Charalampidis is an Adjunct Lecturer at Perrotis College in the Department of Digital Marketing Management. He holds an MSc Degree in Digital Marketing from the University of Huddersfield. His professional experience spans various facets of digital marketing, including Digital Marketing Strategy, Search Engine Marketing, Performance Marketing, and Social and e-Commerce tactics. In addition to hands-on industry experience, he has a strong academic background, with 13 years of teaching experience in the UK Education system. His teaching philosophy centres on empowering students through practical, hands-on learning experiences. Teaching modules: Search marketing, E-commerce.

Contact: achara@afs.edu.gr

Lecturer in in Business Communication, Marketing, and Business Development (Part-Time)

Evita Gantina brings over 25 years of leadership experience in both Greek and international companies, with a specialization in Business Communication, Marketing, and Business Development. Evita has held senior management positions and served on the boards of major companies in the textile industry. Since 2001, she is involved in academic teaching, while also co-owning a marketing and public relations firm since 2011. Evita continues to contribute to the business world as a speaker and mentor in business incubators, and her expertise is often sought after in various advisory and executive committees. She is a graduate of the University of Houston in USA and EU Business School in Montreux, Switzerland. At Perrotis College, she teaches at the undergraduate level in the B.Sc. International Business and B.A. (Hons) Digital Marketing Management programs. At the graduate level, she teaches in the M.Sc. Marketing for the Agro-Food Sector program.

Contact: eganti@afs.edu.gr

Lecturer (part-time)

Mr Marios Grantas is an Adjunct Lecturer at Perrotis College in the department of International Business. He holds a BSc in Business Administration from University of Macedonia, Thessaloniki and an MBA in Food Marketing & Supply Chain Management from Michigan State University, Michigan, USA. Marios has had more than 20 years experience in Marketing Management as an executive in multinational companies in Greece, USA and Southeast Asia. Since 2004, he has been a Lecturer at undergraduate and graduate levels in the fields of Marketing & Management (Greece, Romania, Bulgaria, and Albania). He has a keen interest in ICT and informatics, marketing technologies, branding, Digital Media, and Strategic Marketing.

Contact: mgrant@afs.edu.gr

Lecturer (part-time)

Mr. Lefteris Papadopoulos holds a B.Sc. degree in Mathematics from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, an M.Sc. degree in Operational Research from the University of Southampton, a Postgraduate Certificate in Learning and Teaching from the University of Sheffield and is a Fellow of Higher Education Academy in the U.K.. He has spent more than 25 years in Financial Institutions (Greece and Romania) and in parallel as part-time Lecturer and Seminar Instructor for over 35 years. Since 2017, Mr. Papadopoulos is Expert-Evaluator for the SME EIC Accelerator in European Commission covering the sectors of Nanotechnology, E-Learning and Agricultural products. The areas of interest are Operations, Process & Project Management – Finance, Banking & Investments – Sales, teaching in both Undergraduate and postgraduate studies, mainly in Business departments.

Contact: epapado@afs.edu.gr.

Adjunct Lecturer (part-time)

Eleni Konstantinidou is an Adjunct Lecturer at the International Business Department of Perrotis College and teaches legal modules to students. She is a registered lawyer at the Bar Association of Thessaloniki. She holds a degree in Law and an LLM in Public Law and Political Science from AUTH. In addition, Eleni holds an MSc in Bioeconomy, Biotechnology and Law from IHU and is a proud alumna and full-scholarship holder of Perrotis College, where she completed an MSc in Marketing for the Agro-food sector. She also holds a Certificate of Pedagogical and Teaching Competence from ASPAITE. Her research interests lie at the intersection of sustainable development and public law.

Contact: ekonst@afs.edu.gr

Adjunct Lecturer (part-time)

Konstantinos Antoniou is an Adjunct Lecturer in the Business Department at Perrotis College, American Farm School, where he has taught since 2007. He holds an MSc in International Economics, Banking and Finance from the University of Wales (Cardiff) and a BA in Economics from the University of Essex. With over 17 years of academic experience and a professional background in finance and banking, he brings both theoretical knowledge and practical insight to his teaching. He also serves as an IBO Examiner and has contributed to curriculum development and academic publications.

Contact: kanton@afs.edu.gr

In 2010, Dr Kyriaki Chatzikyriakidou received a Fulbright scholarship for graduate studies in the USA, and she was awarded her PhD in Food Science-Microbiology in 2014 at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Her research work focused on E. coli stress response in beef products and microbial physiology. In 2017, Kyriaki received her Master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She has been assisting and serving in biology college education for the past 10 years. At Perrotis College, she teaches General Education biology labs and several first- and second-year Food Science courses.

Contact: kchatz@afs.edu.gr

Maria Emmanouilidou holds an MSc in Agricultural Economics and a BSc with Honors in Agriculture both from Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. She works for the Perfecture of Central Macedonia for the Managing Authority of Public Investment Programme since 2021, while for more than 15 years, she was member of the Thessaloniki’s Local Action Group for the EU Initiative LEADER. She is also active as an instructor in adult education and vocational training. She has participated as a researcher in various European and National funded programs, while she serves as external auditor for NSRF programs. She is teaching in undergraduate Perrotis College department.

Contact: memano@afs.edu.gr

Nikolaos Gizgis holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry from the University of Ioannina and a Master of Science in Quality Control and Environmental Management from the Technical University of Crete. He possesses specialized expertise in Food Safety Management Systems, food legislation, regulatory procedures for the establishment and authorisation of new food businesses, as well as quality control and sensory evaluation (tasting). He has served as Quality Assurance Manager across a wide spectrum of the food industry, including dairy production, winemaking, olive and olive oil processing, canning, pastry manufacturing, and the bottling of natural mineral water. His experience encompasses the implementation and oversight of quality control systems, product safety assurance, and compliance with national and international standards. His professional and research interests include the authorisation of novel food products, the management of food industry waste and wastewater, and the nutritional profiling of food products.

Contact: ngizgi@afs.edu.gr

George Kartsiotis holds two BSc, two MSc and is now a Phd candidate; he received his first BSc in Mathematics from the Aristotle University, his second BSc in Applied Informatics from the University of Macedonia with honors (valedictorian), his first MSc (with honors) from the Electrical and Computer Engineering school in Advanced Communication and Intelligent Systems, and his second MSc (with honors) from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki in Theoretical Computer Science and Control Theory. Currently he is a PhD candidate at the Applied Informatics department at the University of Macedonia and has worked for various computer software and web development companies with extensive experience in education. His main research interests include bio inspired algorithms, optimal path planning, theoretical computer science and logic related problems, and application of statistics on economic and social sciences.

Contact: gkarts@afs.edu.gr

Dr Karydas Antonis received his BSc in Crop Science and his MSc in Vegetation Survey and Assessment from Reading University (UK). Additionally, he earned his 2nd MSc in Sustainable Management of Protected Areas from University of Ioannina and his PhD in Plant Botany from University of Patras. His research interests include the monitoring and sustainable management of rare and endangered plants. He has participated in various national and European plant conservation projects, contributed in the Red Data Book of Rare and Threatened Plants of Greece and has collaborated with the Greek Agricultural Research Institute (ELGO-DIMITRA) and the Balkan Botanic Garden of Kroussia. Currently, he is an adjunct lecturer in BSc SAM, where he teaches the modules Botany and Plant Propagation, Introduction to Agro-environmental Systems, Horticultural Science and Greenhouse Management and Technology.

Contact: akaryd@afs.edu.gr

Dr. Dimitra Mitka is a postdoctoral researcher and professor who focuses on emerging media technologies and digital transformation in the era of AI. She graduated from Aristotle University of Thessaloniki with a Master’s in Communication, Culture & New Media and a PhD in Journalism and Digital Mass Media with scholarships from the Greek state and EU. Her research examines the relationship between gender representation, media literacy, and digital media in the era of AI, with an increasing emphasis on topics pertaining to the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and ESG. She frequently gives presentations at international conferences and has written for a number of peer-reviewed journals. In addition to overseeing student dissertations, Dr. Mit teaches undergraduate and post-graduate courses in Digital Journalism, Marketing & Social Media, Converging Media, and Environmental Communication. Her instruction equips students to navigate and influence the digital media landscape by fusing theory with practical application.

Contact: dmitka@afs.edu.gr

Katherine Pitselis holds a Bachelor’s in Industrial Relations from McGill University and a Social Sciences degree from Marianopolis College in Canada. After relocating to Thessaloniki, she built a career at CITIBANK Greece. In 2010, she earned her English diploma from the University of Michigan and transitioned into education, driven by a passion for lifelong learning and youth development. Since 2013, Katherine has been teaching English (ESL) at Perrotis College, preparing students for academic success in undergraduate programs.  She played key roles in the NECHE Accreditation process (from 2016) and the establishment of the Career Office (2018). Katherine also holds a diploma in Counseling & Vocational Guidance from Aegean University. In her current role, she supports students and alumni in career planning, graduate studies, and employment opportunities.

Contact: apitsel@afs.edu.gr

Mr. Saoulidis earned a M.Sc in Decision Sciences and an MBA in Finance from Georgia State University in Atlanta, Georgia and a BA, with Honors, in International Business from American Intercontinental University in Atlanta, Georgia. He brings over thirty years of experience in farm management and executive leadership, and is also actively involved in adult education and vocational training as an instructor. His core professional interests focus on agribusiness development, entrepreneurship, and equity investments.

Contact: asaoul@afs.edu.gr

Iro Sotiriadou is the Perrotis College Librarian working at the “Dimitris & Aliki Perrotis” Central Library of the AFS and she is responsible for managing the Library’s electronic resources. She holds a BA in English Language and Literature and an MA in Translation Studies both from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, as well as a BSc in Library Science and Information Systems from the Alexander Technological Educational Institute of Thessaloniki. She is also a faculty member teaching Information Literacy at Perrotis College Undergraduate program at Level 4. Some of her publications: https://repository.afs.edu.gr/handle/6000/378, https://repository.afs.edu.gr/handle/6000/377

Contact: isotir@afs.edu.gr

Dr. Spyropoulos Theocharis (Haris) is a post-doc researcher at the International Hellenic University, and holds a Ph.D. (Entrepreneurship) from the International Hellenic University, an M.Sc. Degree in Networks and Complexity from Aristotle University, an M.B.A. (Marketing) degree from the Sheffiled Univerisity, a bachelor in Economics and Business Administration from Aristotle University, and the Abertay Dundee Post Graduate Certification for Higher Education Teaching. Haris is working in the private sector as an entrepreneur and Managing Partner of Exoha New Technologies, and acts as a judge and mentor for MIT StartSmart Accelerator. Haris is also working as an Expert Evaluator for EU and European Institute of Innovation and Technology projects and acted as EIT Food – RIS Council Member. Haris is an adjunct lecturer at Perrotis College and also teaches at the International Hellenic University. His research interests include Entrepreneurship and Start-Up, using a variety of analysis tools, including Entropy Ratios and Network Theory, and most of his research is freely available at https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=vdmzcNgAAAAJ&hl=el

Contact: hspyro@afs.edu.gr

Chair of Business School (full-time)

Dr. Nikos Zakakis is the Chair of the Business School at Perrotis College, overseeing the International Business, Digital Marketing, and Marketing Programs. He holds a PhD in Media and Organizational Communication, as well as BSc (Cultural Technology and Communication) and MSc (Cultural Informatics) degrees from the University of the Aegean. His research interests include Digital Marketing, Digital Communications, Behavioral Analytics, Corporate Reputation, and media theories such as Agenda-Setting, Framing, and Gatekeeping. His academic contributions include publications in international peer-reviewed journals and presentations at various research conferences. Dr. Nikos Zakakis also specializes as a MarTech Consultant, supporting organizations in Greece and abroad with digital transformation strategies.

Google Scholar profile: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=asmv9r0AAAAJ

Contact: nzakak@afs.edu.gr

Adjunct Lecturer (part-time)

Alexandros Charalampidis is an Adjunct Lecturer at Perrotis College in the Department of Digital Marketing Management. He holds an MSc Degree in Digital Marketing from the University of Huddersfield. His professional experience spans various facets of digital marketing, including Digital Marketing Strategy, Search Engine Marketing, Performance Marketing, and Social and e-Commerce tactics. In addition to hands-on industry experience, he has a strong academic background, with 13 years of teaching experience in the UK Education system. His teaching philosophy centres on empowering students through practical, hands-on learning experiences. Teaching modules: Search marketing, E-commerce.

Contact: achara@afs.edu.gr

Lecturer (part-time)

Dr. Spyropoulos Theocharis (Haris) holds a Ph.D. (Entrepreneurship) from the International Hellenic University, an M.Sc. Degree in Networks and Complexity from Aristotle University, an M.B.A. (Marketing) degree from the Sheffiled Univerisity, a bachelor in Economics and Business Administration from Aristotle University, and the Abertay Dundee Post Graduate Certification for Higher Education Teaching. Haris is working in the private sector as an entrepreneur and Managing Partner of Exoha New Technologies, and acts as a judge and mentor for MIT StartSmart Accelerator. Haris is also working as an Expert Evaluator for EU and European Institute of Innovation and Technology projects and acted as EIT Food – RIS Council Member. Haris is an adjunct lecturer at Perrotis College and also teaches at the International Hellenic University. His research interests include Entrepreneurship and Start-Up, using a variety of analysis tools, including Entropy Ratios and Network Theory, and most of his research is freely available at https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=vdmzcNgAAAAJ&hl=el

Contact: hspyro@afs.edu.gr

Lecturer in in Business Communication, Marketing, and Business Development (Part-Time)

Evita Gantina brings over 25 years of leadership experience in both Greek and international companies, with a specialization in Business Communication, Marketing, and Business Development. Evita has held senior management positions and served on the boards of major companies in the textile industry. Since 2001, she is involved in academic teaching, while also co-owning a marketing and public relations firm since 2011. Evita continues to contribute to the business world as a speaker and mentor in business incubators, and her expertise is often sought after in various advisory and executive committees. She is a graduate of the University of Houston in USA and EU Business School in Montreux, Switzerland. At Perrotis College, she teaches at the undergraduate level in the B.Sc. International Business and B.A. (Hons) Digital Marketing Management programs. At the graduate level, she teaches in the M.Sc. Marketing for the Agro-Food Sector program.

Contact: eganti@afs.edu.gr

Lecturer (part-time)

Dr. Dimitra Mitka is a postdoctoral researcher and professor who focuses on emerging media technologies and digital transformation in the era of AI. She graduated from Aristotle University of Thessaloniki with a Master’s in Communication, Culture & New Media and a PhD in Journalism and Digital Mass Media with scholarships from the Greek state and EU. Her research examines the relationship between gender representation, media literacy, and digital media in the era of AI, with an increasing emphasis on topics pertaining to the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and ESG. She frequently gives presentations at international conferences and has written for a number of peer-reviewed journals. In addition to overseeing student dissertations, Dr. Mit teaches undergraduate and post-graduate courses in Digital Journalism, Marketing & Social Media, Converging Media, and Environmental Communication. Her instruction equips students to navigate and influence the digital media landscape by fusing theory with practical application.

Contact: dmitka@afs.edu.gr

Adjunct Lecturer (part-time)

Kostoula Margariti is a postdoctoral researcher and an adjunct lecturer in Marketing Communications and Digital Marketing. She holds a BSc in Economics (AUTh), an MBA (AUTh), an MSc in Finance and Accounting (UoM), and a PhD in Marketing (AUTh). Her academic interests lie on website and advertising design, luxury branding, cross-cultural advertising and neuromarketing. She has published her work in International Journal of Advertising, Food Research International, Journal of Global Fashion Marketing, Journal of Promotion Management, International Journal of Internet Marketing and Advertising, and Sustainability.

Contact: kmarga@afs.edu.gr

Mr Marios Grantas is an Adjunct Lecturer at Perrotis College in the department of International Business. He holds a BSc in Business Administration from University of Macedonia, Thessaloniki and an MBA in Food Marketing & Supply Chain Management from Michigan State University, Michigan, USA. Marios has had more than 20 years experience in Marketing Management as an executive in multinational companies in Greece, USA and Southeast Asia. Since 2004, he has been a Lecturer at undergraduate and graduate levels in the fields of Marketing & Management (Greece, Romania, Bulgaria, and Albania). He has a keen interest in ICT and informatics, marketing technologies, branding, Digital Media, and Strategic Marketing.

Contact: mgrant@afs.edu.gr

George Kartsiotis holds two BSc, two MSc and is now a Phd candidate; he received his first BSc in Mathematics from the Aristotle University, his second BSc in Applied Informatics from the University of Macedonia with honors (valedictorian), his first MSc (with honors) from the Electrical and Computer Engineering school in Advanced Communication and Intelligent Systems, and his second MSc (with honors) from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki in Theoretical Computer Science and Control Theory. Currently he is a PhD candidate at the Applied Informatics department at the University of Macedonia and has worked for various computer software and web development companies with extensive experience in education. His main research interests include bio inspired algorithms, optimal path planning, theoretical computer science and logic related problems, and application of statistics on economic and social sciences.

Contact: mgrant@afs.edu.gr

Eleni Konstantinidou is an Adjunct Lecturer at the International Business Department of Perrotis College and teaches legal modules to students. She is a registered lawyer at the Bar Association of Thessaloniki. She holds a degree in Law and an LLM in Public Law and Political Science from AUTh. In addition, Eleni holds an MSc in Bioeconomy, Biotechnology and Law from IHU and is a proud alumna and full-scholarship holder of Perrotis College, where she completed an MSc in Marketing for the Agro-food sector. She also holds a Certificate of Pedagogical and Teaching Competence from ASPAITE. Her research interests lie at the intersection of sustainable development and public law.

Contact: ekonst@afs.edu.gr

Adjunct Lecturer (part-time)

Konstantinos Antoniou is an Adjunct Lecturer in the Business Department at Perrotis College, American Farm School, where he has taught since 2007. He holds an MSc in International Economics, Banking and Finance from the University of Wales (Cardiff) and a BA in Economics from the University of Essex. With over 17 years of academic experience and a professional background in finance and banking, he brings both theoretical knowledge and practical insight to his teaching. He also serves as an IBO Examiner and has contributed to curriculum development and academic publications.

Contact: kanton@afs.edu.gr

Katherine Pitselis holds a Bachelor’s in Industrial Relations from McGill University and a Social Sciences degree from Marianopolis College in Canada. After relocating to Thessaloniki, she built a career at CITIBANK Greece. In 2010, she earned her English diploma from the University of Michigan and transitioned into education, driven by a passion for lifelong learning and youth development. Since 2013, Katherine has been teaching English (ESL) at Perrotis College, preparing students for academic success in undergraduate programs. She played key roles in the NECHE Accreditation process (from 2016) and the establishment of the Career Office (2018). Katherine also holds a diploma in Counseling & Vocational Guidance from Aegean University. In her current role, she supports students and alumni in career planning, graduate studies, and employment opportunities.

Contact: apitsel@afs.edu.gr

She earned her Ph.D. in Biophysics from Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, the Netherlands, within the Department of Biophysics and the Physics of Complex Systems. Prior to that, she completed an M.Sc. in Physical Chemistry at the University of Groningen, also in the Netherlands, where she conducted research in the Ultrafast Laser and Spectroscopy Laboratories of the Department of Chemistry. Her research was supported by a NUFFIC scholarship (Netherlands Organisation for International Cooperation in Higher Education). She also holds a B.Sc. in Physics from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece. Her research interests focus on the dynamics of photosynthetic systems, as well as the development and characterization of polymer-based light-emitting diodes (LEDs) and photovoltaic devices. She is teaching at the undergraduate level at Perrotis College.

Contact: slampo@afs.edu.gr

A professional Educational Coach training teachers on multiple levels and an Academic EFL Teacher with a demonstrated 25 year-history of working in multilingual educational backgrounds – on line and within a classroom environment. An internationally Certified Educational Coach (CEC) and an Accredited Leader-Coach in Women Empowerment. Teaching Life Coaching in the Kapodistrian University of Athens and a Mentor in Women On Top Organization and empowering programs, designs her own (online) seminars/workshops on soft skills, excellence in teaching, goal setting. Skilled in employing coaching tools aiming at communicative student-centered approaches, in strategic planning, designing academic courses (Academic Writing – Public Speaking & Business Communication) and programs, empowering adults/students, and experienced in educational management. Holder of an MA in American Literature and Language – Gender Studies from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, in Greece with high honors. Owner of the ‘FS Educational Soft Skills Center’.

Contact: fsotir@afs.edu.gr

Dr. Christos Ritzoulis, Vice-President for Academic Affairs at Perrotis College (full-time), served as a Professor of Food Chemistry at the Department of Food Science and Technology at the International Hellenic University since 2017, while since 2004, he belongs to the Faculty of the Alexander Technological Institute of Thessaloniki, having served as an Adjunct Professor, Senior Lecturer, Associate Professor and Professor. He has worked at the General Chemistry Laboratory of the State between 2004 and 2008.  He earned his Masters and Ph.D. in Food Science from the University of Leeds and his undergraduate degree from the Department of Chemistry of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki.

Contact: critzou@afs.edu.gr

Sophia Mihalaki (full-time) started her career in 1988 as a Certified Auditor with Ernst & Young in Athens. In 1993, she joined the Thessaloniki office of Deloitte and was soon promoted to Principal, Head of Office. She acquired extensive experience serving Greek and multinational entities. She also served as an auditor at the Hellenic Court of Auditors. In 2010 she joined the position of Chief Financial and Administrative Officer of the American Farm School and Perrotis College. Sophia holds a degree in Economics from the University of Macedonia, Thessaloniki and a post-graduate degree in European Economic Studies from the College of Europe, Bruges, Belgium.

Contact: smihal@afs.edu.gr

Despina Theodoridou has been the Head of Institutional Human Resources since 2010 (full-time). An HR generalist with expertise in the application of labor legislation, payroll and benefits, recruitment and selection, professional development and personnel assessment. Despina has attended numerous postgraduate courses in Adult Education and Management. She is a member of the Greek People Management Association and has also worked as Program Coordinator at the Lifelong Learning Department of the American Farm School. Previous appointment (1995-1997), Head of Production of the Galaxidi Marine Farm S.A. nursery.  First degree in Zoology from the University of Wales, Aberystwyth and Masters in Aquaculture from Stirling University. Fluent in English and German.

Contact: dtheod@afs.edu.gr

Polina Tzourtzoukli is the Administrative Assistant at the Vice President for Academic Affairs’ Office (full-time). She holds a Bachelor’s degree in History and Archeology with a specialization in History from Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. In 2016 she started working at the American Farm School as a school escort and then she continued as a School Administrative Assistant at the Preschool Education, Elementary and Junior High School. After more than 5 years of experience in administrative positions in all school education levels, she has acquired the knowledge and skills required for being an administrator of higher education providing optimal service to stakeholders.

Contact: ttzourt@afs.edu.gr.

Pantelis Hantzaras is the Residence Life Coordinator (full-time). He received his Bachelor degree from Perrotis College, with a major in International Business, after completing his secondary education at the American Farm School. In both educational programs, he received the prestigious Bruce and Tad Lansdale Leadership Award. He has undertaken training in Student Affairs from the University of Massachusetts-Amherst, Colorado State University and National Kapodistrian University. As a resident student on the campus of the American Farm School and Perrotis College throughout his education, Pantelis has developed a strong multicultural perspective. He is also an experienced graphic designer.

Contact: phantz@afs.edu.gr

Maria Liakou holds a degree in Tourism Business Management and is a Residence Life Staff Member since 2023 (full-time). She has gained insight into different levels of customer service and workplaces management through her experience in administrative positions and especially in the tourism industry. She sees teenagers and students as the future citizens of the world with wide open horizons in front of them, and being there to help them whenever needed makes her feel that she does something meaningful and important.

Contact: mliako@afs.edu.gr

Katherine Pitselis is the Outreach & Foundation Coordinator (full-time). She has lived and studied in Canada and the U.S. for many years. She is a graduate of McGill University with degrees in Industrial Relations and Social Sciences. Katherine received her English teaching diploma from the University of Michigan. She has a wide range of experience teaching English and preparing students for various level Cambridge and Michigan language exams. Her career experience includes having worked at Mandoulides Private Schools and Perrotis College/American Farm School, where she taught advanced level English to students and trained them to enter various undergraduate degree programs. Her activities also include the language improvement of professionals in various fields (e.g. Administration, economics, accounting) as well as English translation of professional texts.

Contact: apitsel@afs.edu.gr

Kally Chalkia is the Registrar at Perrotis College (full-time). She brings over 15 years of diverse international experience in higher education and nonprofit organizations across the US, UK, and Greece. She holds an MA in Marketing Communications from Bournemouth University (UK) and a BSc in Marketing from Northeastern Illinois University in Chicago (USA). She is currently furthering her education through an MSc in Tourism and Local Development at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, specializing in Environment and Sustainable Tourism. She has also earned a certification in Circular Economy (EOPPEP), strengthening her knowledge in sustainable resource management and innovative economic models. Having spent 11 years living and working in Chicago and London, she developed a deep understanding of cross-cultural communication and institutional support frameworks.

Contact: kchalk@afs.edu.gr

Anastasia Kastritsi currently serves as a Registrar Assistant (full-time). She holds a BSc in Early Childhood Education and an MSc in Learning Technologies and Educational Sciences. She has experience in both teaching and administrative roles in schools and museums. In addition, she holds a certification in Human Resource Management and Organizational Analysis and is currently pursuing an MSc in Lifelong Learning: Educational Administration and Leadership. Anastasia currently serves as a Registrar Assistant.

Contact: akastr@afs.edu.gr

Helen Yarenis is the Study Abroad Coordinator of Marketing and Communications at Perrotis College (full-time). Born and raised in New Jersey, she received her BA in Psychology from Boston University, USA and CELTA from Center for English Studies in New York. After teaching ESL in Greece for two years, Helen returned to the US to work in the Admissions Department of Tufts University School of Dental Medicine. She moved back to Greece in 2004, teaching ESL, advising students seeking post-graduate studies and working as an examiner for several language certification bodies.  At Perrotis College, Helen is responsible for creating marketing content and coordinating communication strategies for study abroad programs.

Contact: hyaren@afs.edu.gr

Eleni Kantyltzoglou is the Coordinator of Outreach & Development in the Study Abroad Department of Perrotis College (full-time). She was born and raised in New York before returning to her home country of Greece at the age of 15. She received her Bachelor’s degree from Flagler College, USA in Sport Management and Business Administration. Eleni has extensive experience in the tourism industry in Greece, organizing and leading trips for businesses, travelers, and professional groups. Eleni has also successfully coordinated and managed faculty-led groups from large-scale American universities in Greece and abroad. Her love of education and travel motivated her transition to higher education and study abroad. At Perrotis, Eleni directs the promotion, development, and coordination of the study abroad programs.

Contact: ekanty@afs.edu.gr

Alexandros Charalampidis is an Adjunct Lecturer at Perrotis College in the Department of Digital Marketing Management. He holds an MSc Degree in Digital Marketing from the University of Huddersfield. His professional experience spans various facets of digital marketing, including Digital Marketing Strategy, Search Engine Marketing, Performance Marketing, and Social and e-Commerce tactics. In addition to hands-on industry experience, he has a strong academic background, with 13 years of teaching experience in the UK Education system. His teaching philosophy centres on empowering students through practical, hands-on learning experiences. Teaching modules: Search marketing, E-commerce.

Contact: achara@afs.edu.gr

Haroula Katzani is the Director of Finance (full-time). She is an Economist with a BSc in Business Economic Administration from the Department of Law & Economics of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki.  She is responsible for overseeing all the College’s financial activities in order to ensure its strong financial structure and economic development.  Her career experience includes having worked at the Financial Department of the American Farm School since 1994.  In her current position she is responsible for preparing the annual operating and capital budget, monitoring the cash flow on daily basis, analyzing financial data into key performance metrics as well as overseeing the annual audit & any special audits. She also manages incoming gifts and monitors financial aspects of all privately and state-funded projects.

Contact: hkatza@afs.edu.gr

Damiana Koutsomiha is the Head Librarian of Dimitris & Aliki Perrotis Library (full-time). She holds a BSc on Library and Information Systems and a MScEcon on Management of Library and Information Services from the University of Aberystwyth, Wales. She promotes library services to the community through education, outreach and participation in professional conferences, trainings, publications and research groups. Her research interests cover a range of issues such as digital literacies, evaluation of Web resources, knowledge management, library instruction. Over the years her vision and mission as a librarian has taken concrete form: to strengthen the learning process of students and the general public and provide the means and foundations through teaching for the development of critical thinking in the chaos of information and the fundamental value of lifelong learning. When not teaching she likes to return to her first favorite job as librarian: identifying information and reaching where her users cannot and ultimately provide them with the necessary tools to reach the desired information on their own.

Contact: dkouts@afs.edu.gr

Iro Sotiriadou is the Perrotis College Librarian working at the “Dimitris & Aliki Perrotis” Central Library of the AFS and she is responsible for managing the Library’s electronic resources. She holds a BA in English Language and Literature and an MA in Translation Studies both from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, as well as a BSc in Library Science and Information Systems from the Alexander Technological Educational Institute of Thessaloniki. She is also a faculty member teaching Information Literacy at Perrotis College Undergraduate program at Level 4. Some of her publications: https://repository.afs.edu.gr/handle/6000/378, https://repository.afs.edu.gr/handle/6000/377

Contact: isotir@afs.edu.gr

Katerina Stamatika (full-time) is the Arcadia program coordinator and academic learning specialist for the American Farm School and Perrotis college students. She holds a Master’s of Science degree in Special Education with specialization in learning disabilities and behavioral issues from Indiana State University. She has been working at the American Farm School for the past 15 years supporting and training students, faculty members and parents.

Contact: kstama@afs.edu.gr

Katerina Roumelioti is the Head of the Europe Direct Central Macedonia, Thessaloniki, Greece, hosted by Perrotis College (full-time). She holds a BSc in Biology from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, an MSc in Environmental Sciences from the Wageningen University in the Netherlands and a Diploma in Education for Sustainability from the University of the Aegean. She works for more than two decades on European funded programs especially on the environment, education and environmental policy.

Contact: kroume@afs.edu.gr

Sophia Gourgouri (full-time) is the Administrative Assistant of the Head of the Europe Direct Central Macedonia hosted by Perrotis College working specially on the social media/ website management and event organization. She received her Bachelor degree from Perrotis College in Digital Marketing Management where she excelled academically and stood out for her ethos.

Contact: sgourg@afs.edu.gr