News

(Portland, Ore.) June 28, 2010 - Students and community members in Portland, Oregon will have more opportunities to learn about modern Greece and the Hellenic world thanks to a $250,000 gift to Portland State University by E. John Rumpakis.

Portland State will use Rumpakis' gift to help launch a new Hellenic Studies program with the mission of strengthening the relationship between the Portland region and the people, culture, and businesses of Greece and the Greek Diaspora. Greece is regarded as the first cradle of Western Civilization, making fundamental contributions to art, architecture, drama, philosophy, government, math, and science. As the birthplace of the Olympic Games, Greece was the location of the first modern Olympics in 1896 and most recently hosted the successful 2004 Summer Olympics.

Hellenic Studies will combine classes in language, history, culture, and current affairs with internships, study abroad, and lectures and performances by visiting scholars, authors, and artists. It also will strengthen collaboration with Greek universities and develop synergy with other PSU programs, including Italian Studies, Judaic Studies, and the Middle East Study Center. PSU will begin by offering a minor in Modern Greek Language, Literature and Culture.  The university then hopes to establish a major and a certificate.

According to Marvin Kaiser, Dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, where the program will reside, "Just like the Greek city-states, to prosper today urban centers must have strong connections to other communities and cultures around the globe. Portland State is committed to continuing to build those connections for our region. Thanks to John's gift, we're taking another step toward that vision."

Ioannis Andreades, Consul General of Greece, joined in celebrating the gift and the program's creation at a reception at PSU's Simon Benson House on June 21st. "It is a great and joyful day for Portland State University. I wholeheartedly commend both PSU and Mr. E. John Rumpakis for their laudable initiative and I wish the program full success in its goals."

E. John Rumpakis is a longstanding supporter of Portland State. Twice elected Oregon's "Realtor of the Year", for 20 years, beginning at age 32, he gave an annual scholarship to pay the final term's tuition for a PSU business major interested in the field of real estate.  More recently he has helped the university to hire a conflict resolution scholar with expertise in the conflict between the Greek and Turkish residents of Cyprus.

According to Rumpakis, "My vision is for this to be more than 'Greece for Greeks'. This is for the public at-large, everyone.  We should be building bridges and relationships, not just with Greece, but with its neighboring countries and cultures throughout the Mediterranean—and the world. I'm very excited about the possibilities."

About Portland State University
Portland State University (PSU) serves as a center of opportunity for over 28,000 undergraduate and graduate students. Located in Portland, Oregon, one of the nation's most livable cities, the University's innovative approach to education combines academic rigor in the classroom with field-based experiences through internships and classroom projects with community partners. The University's 49-acre downtown campus exhibits Portland State's commitment to sustainability with green buildings, while many of the 213 bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees incorporate sustainability into the curriculum. PSU's motto, "Let Knowledge Serve the City," inspires the teaching and research of an accomplished faculty whose work and students span the globe.

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