St. John’s University Manhattan Campus 101 Astor Place, NYC 10003 1pm, Saturday, May 18th 2024 St. John’s University Manhattan Campus Philo4Thought Inc. www.philo4thought.org/gk2024 #P4THYP2024
Dear Attendees, Friends, Sponsors & Supporters: May 1, 2024
I have the distinct pleasure of welcoming you all on behalf of both my Philo4Thought and St John’s University family For those of you who have not yet made SJU your academic home, we hope you’ll find opportunities to do so in the future As for Philo4Thought, many are aware that we use the Aristotelian practice of mentoring to sow seeds of hope, anticipation and philotimo to enable a brighter, sustainable future for the next generation of leaders and professionals in every industry
Our Year 15 Spring Symposium, Gordian Knot: Managing Interdisciplinary and Cross-Cultural Challenges, is particularly personal to me for a variety of reasons The theme is primarily designed to showcase two missions that go hand-in-hand – the Five Pillars of Aristotelian thought, which forms the framework for holistic mentoring, the ancient concept of philotimo and reciprocity, and the more modern Vincentian Mission that SJU fervently upholds The Gordian Knot represents a path to empowerment inspired by the Five Pillars, which are the basis for the book Philo4Thought is hoping to raise funds to publish soon
In addressing the concept of the Gordian Knot, we embrace the legacy of both mentor and student at different levels today Since ancient times, the Gordian Knot has been representative of seemingly insurmountable challenges or obstacles in work and life. Good professionals and good leaders are able to contemplate different strategies to overcome obstacles; they have the clear vision needed to choose the best one for any given industry or situation In the 21st century this ability is critical to personal and professional productivity and success! Thus our 2024 theme is critical to navigating through today’s complex global society both personally and professionally
As you may know - indeed as my students may be sick of hearing - Aristotle’s famous pupil, Alexander the Great, is generally known to be a remarkably shrewd, egalitarian ruler whose impact is recorded in all the history books, however in taking a closer look we can see that both teacher and students were innovative disruptors who impacted entire civilizations through to the present day But what does the Knot itself represent, really? Most see the obvious meaning - a cocky Hellenic youth goes on a quest to fulfill a prophecy and becomes the greatest leader of the ages While this is true enough, the breaking of the Knot represents so much more! Alexander cast the mold for his own future This single action on his part indicates that he possesses critical skills needed to successfully navigate all the challenges that lay ahead of him These are the same skills that young professionals need today, which include: facing challenges fearlessly, creative problem solving, critical thinking, diversification, forecasting and what we at Philo4Thought refer to as the formation of a positive professional identity that others can grow to trust Like Alexander, each of you is expected to seek out and craft your own future
In keeping with the remarkable student-mentor theme set by Alexander and Aristotle, today’s event is dedicated to a dear mentor who advised me throughout my entire adult life, our Lifetime Achievement Honoree, Dr. Arthur F. Gianelli, who was loved by all those whose life he touched both on and off the SJU Campus We all loved his vitality, sincerity and passion and were in complete awe of his flawless intuition The combination made him a great leader and a revered mentoring figure to so many of us who have since followed his example by faithfully embarking on paths of leadership, education, innovation and community service He was a very diplomatic sort of disruptor throughout his time as Chair and Professor of Philosophy at SJU and as Director of our Honors Program… So many SJU initiatives have thrived over from their inception to the present day thanks to his fearless outreach and support. We can see the signs of this all around us today as a constant reminder of his hard work and dedication
But more importantly he was in the business of making a difference in the lives of those for whom opportunities had been scarce So many of us looked to him as a father figure when we lacked one in our own lives and so many of us confessed the truths of our hearts to him in that little office in the “dungeons” of St John’s Hall looking to him for encouragement when the chips were down and we needed a kind word, a bit of logic and a confident shove back out into the real world he was our guy our advocate and friend I admit I wouldn’t be half the boldfaced troublemaker I am today without his vigilant guidance and support and from one corner of this world to the other, there are students of his who join in expressing this sentiment with the combination of humor and sincerity we learned from him I can only pray that each of you will be as fortunate as we were to have at least one such perfect mentor on your life path At this time we will present the award to his family and I ask everyone to take a moment to pause out of respect for his memory As we say in Greek, Αιωνία
(may his memory be eternal)
Today we are blessed to have several other forward-thinking heroes, leaders and advisors as our guest speakers Our mentors, guest speakers and affiliate philanthropists are people of action and outreach Each bears the mantle of hope, wisdom, passion and life to pass along to the next generation Each is distinguished for their substantial professional and philanthropic contributions to society We are honored and humbled to have their amazing support We are equally blessed to share our thoughts and experience with all the hard working students present today, many of whom will be receiving merit awards this afternoon Remember to always ask questions, to always use your voices and share what’s on your mind so we can better serve you
With these thoughts and an optimistic vision of the future in mind, the Board and I offer our sincere gratitude to all those who have steadfastly supported our initiatives and to all those present Thank you from the bottom of our hearts
We hope our attendees will each leave this year’s event with a new and valuable outlook for the future Without further Ado, I invite you to join us for the start of our opening panel
Sincerely,
Chris Salboudis Founder & CEO
www philo4thought org
του η µνήµη
: Ευχαριστούµε πάρα πολύ!
20 years, the young people demonstrated with you, to those chosen to for learning limit to what can continue
Students and online learning achievements.
have upheld the have truly risen opportunity to applaud service, you’ve in the world
2022
2022’s
ANDREW HEVESI
THE ASSEMBLY STATE OF NEW YORK ALBANY
CHAIRMAN
Social Services Committee
COMMITTEES
Queens County
Assemblyman 28 th District
To Whom It May Concern:
Mentoring Initiative
Banks Codes Health Labor
May 13, 2020
May 12, 2022
May 1, 2024
This letter is submitted on behalf of Philo4Thought, as the organization celebrates another year as a leader and advocate within the State of New York.
To Whom It May Concern:
To Whom It May Concern:
May 13, 2020
May 12, 2022
May 12, 2022
This letter is submitted to Philo4Thought as the organization celebrates another year of community leadership and advocacy in the State of New York.
This letter is submitted on behalf of Philo4Thought, as the organization celebrates another year as a leader and advocate within the State of New York.
It has been my pleasure to work with Philo 4 Thought and CEO Christine Salboudis in my time as representative of New York’s 28th Assembly District. Philo4Thought has long promoted traditional Hellenic values within its mission, including compassion, fortitude, and brotherhood, which has allowed the organization to assist and inspire thousands of young individuals throughout our state, and across the globe.
To Whom It May Concern:
May 13, 2020
May 12, 2022
May 12, 2022
It has been my pleasure to work with Philo4Thought and CEO Chris Salboudis in my time as representative of New York’s 28th Assembly District. Philo4Thought has long promoted traditional Hellenic values within its mission, which includes compassion, fortitude and brotherhood, which allows the organization to assist and inspire thousands of young individuals throughout our state and across the globe
This letter is submitted on behalf of Philo4Thought, as the organization celebrates another year as a leader and advocate within the State of New York.
Philo4Thought is a true friend and ally to our communities, and I am proud to recognize the organization on this occasion. I look forward to our continued partnership.
Philo4Thought is a true friend and ally to our communities and I’m proud to recognize the organization on this occasion in honor of their annual International Spring Symposium I look forward to our continued partnership
It has been my pleasure to work with Philo 4 Thought and CEO Christine Salboudis in my time as representative of New York’s 28th Assembly District. Philo4Thought has long promoted traditional Hellenic values within its mission, including compassion, fortitude, and brotherhood, which has allowed the organization to assist and inspire thousands of young individuals throughout our state, and across the globe.
Sincerely,
Philo4Thought is a true friend and ally to our communities, and I am proud to recognize the organization on this occasion. I look forward to our continued partnership.
It has been my pleasure to work with Philo 4 Thought and CEO Christine Salboudis in my time as representative of New York’s 28th Assembly District. Philo4Thought has long promoted traditional Hellenic values within its mission, including compassion, fortitude, and brotherhood, which has allowed the organization to assist and inspire thousands of young individuals throughout our state, and across the globe.
Sincerely,
Sincerely, Andrew Hevesi 28th Assembly District
Andrew Hevesi 28th Assembly District
Philo4Thought is a true friend and ally to our communities, and I am proud to recognize the organization on this occasion. I look forward to our continued partnership.
Andrew Hevesi
Sincerely,
28th Assembly District
❏ ALBANY OFFICE: Room 844, Legislative 18-455-4926, FAX: 518-455-5173
❏ DISTRICT OFFICE: 70-50 Austin Street, Suit 63-5595, FAX: 718-263-5688 EMAIL: hevesia@nyassembly gov
Andrew Hevesi
28th Assembly District
❏ ALBANY OFFICE: Room 844, Legislative Office Building, Albany, New York 12248 518-455-4926, FAX: 518-455-5173
❏ DISTRICT OFFICE: 70-50 Austin Street, Suite 118, Forest Hills, New York 11375 718-263-5595, FAX: 718-263-5688 EMAIL: hevesia@nyassembly gov
❏ ALBANY OFFICE: Room 844, Legislative Office Building, Albany, New York 12248 518-455-4926, FAX: 518-455-5173
❏ DISTRICT OFFICE: 70-50 Austin Street, Suite 118, Forest Hills, New York 11375 718-263-5595, FAX: 718-263-5688 EMAIL: hevesia@nyassembly gov
Dear Friends:
May 1, 2024
It’s with great enthusiasm that the Hellenic American Chamber of Commerce supports Philo4Thought in their annual symposium, Gordian Knot: Managing Interdisciplinary and Cross-Cultural Challenges
Every year, Director Chris Salboudis and her leadership team organize among the most thoughtfully planned, relevant and beneficial programming for the Hellenic community and broader audiences For years we have recognized Prof Salboudis’ tireless and selfless service in promoting the development of our young professionals to advance their career goals as well as the broader Hellenic institutional landscape True to their tagline, they are constantly working collaboratively to educate, inspire and empower others.
We are excited to see the strong turnout of youth on this weekend event and to see Philo4Thought is effectively passing the torch to the next generation through their leadership example, excellent programming and opportunity for networking.
We wish you all a successful conference and all the best.
Sincerely,
John Papaspanos, Esq , Director Hellenic American Chamber of Commerce (HACC) Innovators
Dear All:
05 /01 /2024
On behalf of the Center for Genome Technology & Biomolecular Engineering (CGT-BE), we congratulate Philo4 Thought’s dedicated Executive Board, volunteers and honorees many, past and present, affiliated with Columbia – on the continuation of their fine efforts to provide emerging young professionals with opportunities that will empower them as we continue to work past a variety of challenges
Chris Salboudis has lent her expert administrative and instructional support to our interdisciplinary research group since 2005 while working towards her doctorate at Columbia Teachers College. Her work in educational technology and its applications in diverse learning communities has led to several advancements in collaborative, interdisciplinary educational initiatives including for this year’s international symposium Her determination to form a synergy between students and professionals in every field is truly admirable . She leads this group by example, with constant vigilance.
Through diligent efforts, Philo4 Thought hosted its annual International Symposium at Columbia University from 2015 -2017 , collaborating with prominent faculty, alumni and student groups on campus, including the Columbia Business School, Columbia Hellenic Studies Program and Hellenic Students Association, Women In Science at Columbia, the Columbia Alumni Association and the Columbia Club to support the academic and professional advancement of others
In 2016 , I had the pleasure to provide support their STEM Conference, which led to more robust recruitment of faculty and research experts from top universities and companies speaking and mentoring the young professional community for several years beyond the scheduled event. Since 2022 , Chris took next steps by including committees from Columbia School of Professional Studies, the Penn Club and other prominent organizations in New York and well beyond to support advocacy of scholars and professionals from historically marginalized groups. The 2023 -24 Gordian Knot series, which includes several podcasts as well as events, is impressive.
Chris and the Philo4 Thought team are a constant force of empowerment for others They have done an outstanding job in recruiting the finest international speakers and advisors available today We are so pleased to see that her initiative has expanded since its inception in 2009 and that affiliated groups and partnerships are continually forming as a result of her admirable outreach efforts. We hope this wonderful initiative will continue to thrive and wish Chris as well as her amazing team the best of luck in ongoing efforts to promote collaborative and innovative educational initiatives and networks
Congratulations to all those graduating this year, to those being honored by the New York State Attorney General, the New York State Assembly, the New York City Mayor’s Office, and Philo4 Thought. We also look forward to the upcoming publications mapped out for the upcoming year Best of luck in all future endeavors
Jingyue Ju. Ph.D.
Samuel Ruben-Peter G. Viele Professor of Engineering Professor of Chemical Engineering and Pharmacology Director, Center for Genome Technology & Biomolecular Engineering Columbia University
New York, NY 10027
The AF Foundation
theaffoundation org
info@theaffoundation org
617-334-5552
Dear All,
On behalf of The AF Foundation, we congratulate Philo4Thought’s Board of Directors, volunteers and honorees on their hard work in bringing opportunities to young professionals to empower them as they continue to grow in their respective fields. Philo4Thought’s ability to provide students with real-life experience will give them an edge as they enter the workforce
As a new charity in the national Hellenic space, the AF Foundation is very excited to partner with Philo4Thought as our missions align with keeping Hellenism thriving across North America Our immediate goals are to create collaborative opportunities that promote our joint mission to provide a positive impact on as many Hellenes and Phil-Hellenes as possible.
We wish you all the best of luck in your future endeavors and cannot wait to see the positive impact your protegees will go forth and make in the world as the leaders of tomorrow.
Sincerely,
Roula Dimitrakopoulos Ari Kalogeropoulos Fotios Stamos
Co-Founder
Co-Founder
Co-Founder
Chief Development Officer Chief Technology Officer Chief Relationship Officer
The AF Foundation
The AF Foundation
The AF Foundation
Contributing Organizations
This event is possible because of the outstanding contributions of select organizations, who worked to make remarkable collaborative strides in promoting the advancement of emerging young professionals. Most began with humble roots and a simple mission, meeting a direct need to unite and strengthen our community through the critical ancient concept, Philotimo
Special thanks to the Aktipis, Christou, Gianelli, Kapetanos, Katopodis, Koulos, Liotopoulos, Michalatos, Ouranitsas, Papacostas, Papaspanos, Pierratos, Takos, Varghese, Villanueva families and the many individuals who offered their support year-round
EST.1775
The Judge Advocate General (JAG) Corps of the U S military is a group of commissioned officers who serve as legal advisors to their commands. They provide legal advice and assistance in various areas of practice, and also serve as prosecutors and defense counsel in courts-martial https://www goarmy com/careers-andjobs/specialty-careers/law html
EST.1870
EST.1901
EST ca 1950
EST.2003
St. John’s University is a private Catholic Vincentian University founded in response to Bishop John Loughlin (first Bishop of Brooklyn) to provide NYC youth with a reliable intellectual and moral education based on the Vincentian Mission, which fosters an inclusive world view, global harmony and sound development Since its inception, SJU has prided itself on creating a community that embodies the compassionate spirit characteristic of its patron saint, St. Vincent de Paul. www .stjohns.edu
Columbia University Club of New York, directed by Philo4Thought’s 2018 Keynote, James Gerkis, provides an interdisciplinary off-campus community for alumni, students, faculty, administration, and staff to enjoy the use of excellent facilities for professional, social and recreational needs of members and their families (including domestic and international club memberships) designed to instill a deep and lasting sense of pride in the Alma Mater and in University affairs www columbiaclub org
The Hellenic-American Chamber of Commerce (HACC) is a multifaceted organization formed to promote and strengthen the socio -economic ties between the U.S. and Greece, to foster commercial and trade relations. HACC provides a network and forum for its members to meet and exchange ideas. https://hellenicamerican.cc
Libra Group (LG) is a privately owned, global business group that includes 20 businesses predominately focused on aerospace, renewable energy, maritime, real estate, hospitality, and diversified investments With assets and operations in nearly 60 countries LG supports human ingenuity by empowering good ideas wherever they come from, advancing people based on merit, and providing a global platform with the proven agility to meet the needs of today's rapidly evolving market LG applies the strength of its global network and capabilities to deliver cross-sector insights and social impact https://www libra com
EST.2004
The National Hellenic Students Association of North America (NHSA) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit serving as an umbrella for Hellenic Student organizations at colleges and universities across the continent, promoting education, networking and unity within the Hellenic Diaspora. It’s currently the largest Hellenic Student organization, representing 50 institutions, inspiring positive action across the continent and in Greece
EST.2014
Contributing Organizations
MG Design is a graphic design provider that has completed several branding projects for local, regional and national organizations in Greece and the U .S ., including Georgopoulos Service (Athens), SUNY Fashion Institute of Technology, National Hellenic Students Association, Hellenic Book Club of New York Services include logo design, business cards, banners (for storefront awnings, step-and-repeats, event fliers and more). menios85@gmail.com
EST 2022
EST.2022
Live Mazi is the top source for Greek concerts and events around the world. Live Mazi puts client needs first and is a fast, easy and safe solution to buying and receiving tickets to all kinds of events www livemazi com
Next Gen Greeks of New York is a brand new initiative launched under the aegis of the Consulate General of Greece in New York and with the support of all the major community leaders of the Greek American community The goal of NextGen GNY is to unite the Greek American community, consolidating efforts in true support of all its members Activities include a focus on arts and culture, professional women, young professionals, and more www linkedin com/groups/12740962
SPECIAL THANKS
For their extensive technical and administrative support:
The Consulate General of Greece in New York
The New York State Assembly
The New York State Attorney General’s Office
St. John’s University’s
Dean Teresa Delgado, Dean Luca Iandoli, Stacey Varghese
Eileen Jounakos, Erik Suarez, Jay Robinson Zuzanna Kromczyk
HACC’s
John Papaspanos & Alexandra Mitsakis
NHSA’s
Stephanie Papoutsakis & Demetrios Skoumbakis
Libra Group’s
Pelagia Konstantellou, Sarah Miller & Emily Teitelbaum
Philo4Thought’s
Julius Villanueva, Alexandra Liotopoulos, Konstantine Ouranitsas
Evelyn Adebayo, George Kourlas, Anna Pierratos, Adonis Takos
Editorial Support
Scott Sitter
CATERING BY
Martha’s Country Bakery & SVL Bar
Event Hosts
Opening Remarks
Consul General Konstantinos Konstantinou (Private International Law at Paris II Panthéon-Assas, Sorbonne University, Paris) has been a member of the Hellenic Diplomatic Service since 1999 From 2000-2002, he served at the Political Department Directorate for European Countries in the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs; from 2002-2005 served the political and consular sections of the Embassy of Greece in Washington D C ; from 2006-2008, he served in the Diplomatic Cabinet of Prime Minister Karamanlis of Greece; from 2008-2012, he was appointed political Counsellor and Consul at the Embassy of Greece in Buenos Aires; from 2012-2014 he addressed high-priority issues for the Political Department for Cyprus; from 2014-2018 he was Consul General of Greece in São Paulo, Brazil; from 2018-2019 he served the Political Department for Arab Countries & the Middle East (including Syria, Iraq and Iran); from 2019-2022, he was the Diplomatic Advisor to the Minister of Infrastructure and Transport of Greece, Kostas Karamanlis In August 2022 he was appointed Consul General of Greece in New York. The NextGen Greeks initiative is one of his many plans to consolidate Greek Americans in New York and the surrounding areas
Closing Remarks
John Papaspanos, Esq . (J D , University of Pennsylvania Law School (2014); Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania (2014); Fulbright Scholar at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece) is Partner at the international law firm of Baker Botts LLP where he specializes in domestic and international project financings involving energy and infrastructure projects and companies. He represents private equity sponsors, developers, independent power producers, public and private companies, lenders, financial institutions and investors on complex and novel project finance transactions, including renewable energy, conventional energy, commodities financing and infrastructure transactions. In philanthropic circles he is well known as the Director of the Hellenic American Chamber of Commerce Innovators, a Board Member of the Hellenic Lawyers Association and one of the lead coordinators of the NextGen Greeks initiative supported by the Consulate General of Greece in NY
Event Management
Chris Salboudis (Certified Life Coach, New Skills Academy (2020); M A English Language & Literature (2000) and M A Philosophy (1995), Columbia University; B A , English/Philosophy, M C L with honors, St John’s Univ (1994), USA All-American Scholar (1994)) is the Founding CEO and Director of the Thought initiative. Additionally, she is Adjunct Assistant Professor of Philosophy, Comparative Literature, Environmental Studies, etc. at SJU (1996-pres.) several other universities including and SUNY FIT ; Administrative Manager of the Columbia University Center for Genome Technology & Biomolecular Engineering pres ); and writes for several local journals Prior, Chris served as Assistant of Liberal Arts & Sciences at St. John’s University (2001-2003) and mentored countless youth through the NIH -funded Minority Action Plan (2005-2010) and various Christian/Career Missions (1992-pres ) She is completing doctoral work at Columbia Teachers College and has given several presentations on Pedagogical Communities & Resources, Educational Engineering, Ethical Research Compliance, Aesthetics, Metaphysics, Business Ethics, Equity for Marginalized Populations and related topics at major academic forums across the US and Europe She has earned various academic and community service awards over the years for her advocacy of women, young professionals, and underrepresented minority communities
Award & Networking Moderators
Award Moderators
Papoustakis (MBA Business Administration, Risk and Financial Advisory Business, St John’s University (2021) is currently working as a Staff Auditor at Atlas Air and serves as Executive Board President of the National Students Association (NHSA). As President, she helps Hellenic student and professional organizations across the US and Canada come together to network! Today, as a proud SJU Alum and Past President of the SJU be distributing today’s student merit awards
Konstantine Ouranitsas (Drexel University, 2014) is an Engagement Financial Advisor at Deloitte, LLP and serves as CFO of Philo4Thought Hellenic Mentoring Initiative He is the Chairman and Past President of the National Hellenic Students Association (NHSA) of North America; a Hellenic American Leadership Council 2030 Fellow; New Leaders co-chair for The Hellenic Initiative; Chair of the National Young Adult League (YAL); Parish Council member for the St. Nicholas Shrine (WTC); and Chair of both the Youth and Evzone committees for the annual NY Greek Independence Day Parade In previous years, he was a very active member and community leader in several additional Hellenic Young Professional organizations
Networking Moderators
Alexandra Liotopoulos (M.B .A ., Strategic Management, St. John’s Univ. Tobin College of Business (2023); Political Science and International Relations with a minor Business and Liberal Arts Honors, CUNY Queens College (2021)) is Philo4Thought’s Strategic Programming Director Prior, she served as Graduate Research Assistant at St John’s University’s Career Center, President of the CUNY Queens College Ikaros Hellenic Orthodox Students Association , completed Philo4Thought’s competitive Business Internship with a project that focused on nonprofit research, development and leadership She is a staunch advocate of her peers and is a dedicated community leader committed to connecting people, helping them pave their path and advancing the Hellenic diaspora, which led her to pursue a career in Talent Acquisition at Paramount Global. Specialties include strategic management, administrative coordination, large- and small-scale event coordination, community outreach, policy development and compliance and related research
Dr. George Kourlas (PharmD, Arnold and Marie Schwartz College of Pharmacy at Long Island University, 2004) is a Board Certified Nuclear Pharmacist (BNCP) in the division of Molecular Imaging and Therapy Service at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center In addition to his primary clinical work, George also serves as an Adjunct Professor for the Nuclear Technology program at Molloy University, where he teaches the specialized course on radiopharmaceutical chemistry
Keynote Address
Fireside Chat
Gordian Knot & the Secret
to Success
Moderator
Alexandra Liotopoulos (M B A , Strategic Management, St John’s Univ Tobin College of Business (2023); Political Science and International Relations with a minor Business and Liberal Arts Honors, CUNY Queens College (2021)) is Philo4Thought’s Strategic Programming Director Prior, she served as Graduate Research Assistant at St John’s University’s Career Center, President of the CUNY Queens College Ikaros Hellenic Orthodox Students Association , completed Philo4Thought’s competitive Business Internship with a project that focused on nonprofit research, development and leadership She is a staunch advocate of her peers and is a dedicated community leader committed to connecting people, helping them pave their path and advancing the Hellenic diaspora, which led her to pursue a career in Talent Acquisition at Paramount Global. Specialties include strategic management, administrative coordination, large- and small-scale event coordination, community outreach, policy development and compliance and related research
Keynote Honoree
George Logothetis is the Executive Chairman of the Libra Group, a privately owned, global business group encompassing 20 businesses predominately focused on aerospace, renewable energy, maritime, real hospitality, and diversified investments with assets and operations in nearly 60 countries
George is also Founder and Chairman of the group’s sister organization Philanthropies, an independent 501(c)(3) that includes 10 philanthropic initiatives encompassing social impact programs, strategic and independent non-profits supporting over 25 million people the world
George is Co-Chairman of the Leadership Council of Concordia, a member of the Board of Directors of President Barack Obama’s My Brother’s Keeper Alliance, a member of the American Democracy Council’s Board of Directors, and an Advisory Board Member of Genius 100 Foundation. In 2013, George and Nitzia Logothetis founded the Seleni Institute, an independently run clinic and nonprofit supporting individuals and their families’ mental and emotional health the family-building years
Panel I
Discussion Topic
Gordian
Knot
– Managing Interdisciplinary & Cross-Cultural Challenges
Demetrios Skoumbakis (BA Math & Economics, Long Island University, Valedictorian), is Treasurer of the National Hellenic Students Association and currently teaches a course in Economics at Columbia University in addition to working at Select Equity group, a 40B AUM long/short hedge fund, based in NYC, in the portfolio administration department Moderator
Panelists
Dr. Teresa Delgado, Ph.D. (Union Theological Seminary (2005)) is Dean of St John’s College of Liberal Arts & Sciences and Professor of Theology & Religious Studies at St John’s University Her research and publications include topics ranging from decolonial theology, diversity in higher education, transformational pedagogies, constructive theology and ethics, justice for marginalized individuals and populations, feminism and related topics She has several publications including, “For the Beauty of the World: Moral Imaginary of Martin Luther King, Jr ’s World House” in Reclaiming the Great World House in the 21st Century (2019). Among her many social services, Dr. Delgado served as President of the Board of the Westchester People’s Action Coalition, a leading force of social justice activism, and currently serves on the Board of Trustees for Colgate University and The Ursuline School.
Lt. Col. Jophiel Philips, Esq. (JD, Univ of San Francisco School of Law (2011); MA, Wesleyan Univ (2008), BA Political Science, SUNY Stonybrook (2005)) is General Counsel for the Department of Homeland Security and a reserve JAG for the 319th Reconnaissance Wing at Grand Forks Air Force Base, North Dakota, providing legal advice to the commander and fourteen squadrons and operational mission support to all Department of Defense agencies. Throughout his academic training he earned the Raymond Downey MVP Award (2008), President’s Award (2008) and Pursuit of Justice Award (2011) He joined the Air Force in 2012 and served on active duty for 10+ years In 2015, he proved his valor while deployed on a Special Opps mission in Afghanistan, earning the Purple Heart Medal and Bronze Star Medal for courageous service under fire.
Nancy Papaioannou (MBA, Finance, SJU Marymount Manhattan College (MMC); BA, Accounting & Business Admin. MMC; Taxation and Business Law Certification, NYU) is Sr Executive Advisor to the President & CEO of Alma Bank She previously served as President & CEO of Atlantic Bank and as Managing Director of NYCB. Her career began in Athens as Vice President of Branch and Retail Banking Development at the National Bank of Greece Additionally, she is deeply committed to fostering broader business relations and community engagement through her philanthropic work as Advisory Bord Chairman for the Hellenic American Chamber of Commerce as well as her executive roles at Mount Sinai Hospital Queens Division and the National Hellenic Society Nancy possesses a versatile skill set encompassing leadership, consulting, strategic planning, business development, networking, and teamwork
Harry Koulos, Esq. (J D , Cum Laude, Georgetown Law (2014); B A , History, Cum Laude with distinction, Yale (2011)) is a Senior Associate in Complex Litigation & Trials at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP He is a member of the New York and California Bar Associations and a Nikos Mouyaris 2030 Leadership Fellow for the Hellenic American Leadership Council Prior to joining Skadden, Harry was law clerk to Hon Thomas A. Varlan (Chief Judge, Eastern District of Tennessee). At Georgetown, Harry interned for the FBI's National Security Law Branch, the Air Force's JAG Corps and the Department of Justice's Torts Branch. At Yale, he received several awards, including the Francis Gordon Brown Prize for Juniors upholding standards of excellence in intellect, character, leadership, and service Harry was also on Yale’s Varsity Baseball Team and played for the Greek National Baseball Team’s European Championships (2012)
Panel II AI Discussion Topic
Moderator
Chris Salboudis (Certified Life Coach, New Skills Academy (2020); M.A . English Language & Literature (2000) and M A Philosophy (1995), Columbia University; B A , English/Philosophy, M C L with honors, St John’s Univ (1994), USA All-American Scholar (1994)) is the Founding CEO and Director of the Thought initiative and Adjunct Assistant Professor of Philosophy at SJU (1996She has served as the primary advisory instructor for Gabriella’s Independent on the topic of the Philosophy of Philanthropy in the Spring 2023 Semester
Panelists
, Ph.D . (PhD, Engineering Management, Univ. of Rome Tor Vergata Electronics Engineering, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II logo Dean for the Collins College of Professional Studies, Professor of Science, Mathematics, and Science at SJU . He previously served as an Professor at the University of Naples Federico II (Italy) Visiting Research Stevens Institute of Technology and Past President of the International Small Business (2016–17) He was a Fulbright Visiting Scholar at MIT’s Collective Intelligence and has published >100 papers on the analysis of collaboration and collective intelligence in online networks. His current focuses on leveraging online interaction and collaboration to help groups, communities and companies aggregate/store dispersed knowledge; increased creativity, innovation, and problem solving; and the support of large-scale, collective intelligence. He is also on the editorial board of several academic journals.
Nicholas Carey is a co-founder of Sprintfolio, an AI-powered learning and career development platform. He earned his B .S in Applied Physics from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) and has since established a career in education technology Nicholas was among the first product hires at Juni Learning, a startup backed by Y -Combinator that delivered virtual project-based education in math and computer science. He is currently focused on improving the ability of educational AI models to anticipate user needs without direct prompting.
PANEL III
Discussion Topic
Student Presentation: AI & NextGen - Careers & Curriculum
Zuzanna Kromczyk is a second-year Psychology Major in St. John's University’s Honors Program She is an academic tutor at the University Learning Commons, a Student Ambassador, President of Polish Culture Club and Secretary of Phi Eta Sigma National Honor Society Moderator
Featured Doctoral Student
Seonwoo (Sunny) Bak is a Ph.D . student in Multisector Communication at John's University’s Collins College of Professional Studies
Completed Degrees: M A , International Communication, SJU (2023); B S , Marine Environmental Sciences, SUNY Stony Brook (2019).
Current Work & Research : Sustainable development and communication well as the impact of digitalization on sustainability
Current Working Papers: Pedagogical impacts of Large Language Models.
Event Itinerary
OPENING REMARKS
Prof. Chris Salboudis
Founding CEO & Director, Philo4Thought
Adjunct Professor, Philosophy & Literature, St. John’s University Administrative Manager, Columbia University CGT-BE
PANEL I
Gordian Knot - Managing Interdisciplinary & Cross-Cultural Challenges (in Academia & Industry)
Moderator
Mr. Demetrios Skoumbakis Board Member, Philo4Thought Treasurer, National Hellenic Students Association
Adjunct Instructor, Economics, Columbia Business School – etc.
Panelists
Dr. Teresa Delgado, Ph.D.
Dean, St. John’s College of Liberal Arts & Sciences, St. John’s University Lt. Col. Jophiel Philips, Esq. General Counsel, Department of Homeland Security
Ms. Nancy Papioannou Sr. Executive Advisor to the President & CEO, Alma Bank
Mr. Harry Koulos, Esq. Senior Associate, Skadden
KEYNOTE ADDRESS
Moderator
Ms. Alexandra Liotopoulos Programming Director, Philo4Thought Talent Acquisition Specialist, Paramount Global Keynote Honoree Mr. George Logothetis Executive Chairman, Libra Group
PANEL II
AI & NextGen Impact on Careers & Curriculum
Moderator
Prof. Chris Salboudis Founding CEO & Director, Philo4Thought – etc.
Panelists
Dr. Luca Iandoli, Ph.D.
Dean, Collins College of Professional Studies, St. John’s University Chair, St. John’s University AI Taskforce
Mr. Nicholas Carey Founder, Sprintfolio
PHOTO, AUDIO, VIDEO RELEASE : By registering, attendees grant Philo 4 Thought permission to be recorded during the event our for educational and training purposes .
PANEL III Student Panel: AI, Psychology & Society
Moderator
Ms. Zuzanna Kromczyk
Psychology Major, St. John’s College, St. John’s University President, Polish Students Association, St. John’s University
Featured Student
Ms. Seonwoo (Sunny) Bak
Doctoral Student, Computer Science , St. John’s University
AWARDS CEREMONY
A Celebration of Empowerment & Achievements
NYS Assembly Proclamations
NYS Attorney General’s “Triple C” Honorees Philo4Thought-Churchill Awards
Presenters
Mr. Konstantine Ouranitsas CFO, Philo4Thought – etc.
Ms. Stephanie Papoutsakis
President, National Hellenic Students Association of North America Past President, St. John’s University Hellenic Society
CLOSING REMARKS
Moderator
Mr. John Papaspanos, Esq. Director, Hellenic American Chamber of Commerce YP Division Senior Associate, Baker Botts LLP
INTERACTIVE NETWORKING SESSIONS
Moderator
Dr. George Kourlas
Adjunct Instructor, Radiopharmaceutical Chemistry, Molloy University Nuclear Pharmacist, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
Each of the featured talks will proceed as a conversational Q&A session with a featured moderator. Time permitting, attendees will have time to ask questions for a few minutes after each panel discussion If your question is not addressed during the timed panel session, please reserve it for the networking session at the end of the symposium .
We’re here for you! Connect with our speakers and mentors today or via LinkedIn Learn more about benefits of HYP Passport Membership: www philo 4 thought org
NYS Assembly Honorees
Presenters
Prof. Chris Salboudis CEO, Philo4Thought
Konstantine Ouranitsas CFO Philo4Thought
Philo4Thought, in collaboration with the office of NYS Assemblyman Andrew Hevesi, awards Certificates of Excellence to the following individuals for their outstanding contributions to the empowerment of young professionals in our local, national and global communities:
Lifetime Achievement
Dr. Arthur F. Gianelli, Ph.D. Professor & Past Chair, Philosophy Department, Director, Honors Program, St. John’s University
Keynote Honoree
George Logothetis Executive Chair, Libra Group
Outstanding Community Outreach
Lt. Col. Jophiel Philips, Esq. General Counsel for Department of Homeland Security
Stacey Varghese Director, St. John’s University Alumni Professional Development Initiative
Frank Peluso Director, St. John’s University Academic Service Learning
Outstanding Young Professional Leadership
Stephanie Papoutsakis President, NHSA
Demetrios Skoumbakis Treasurer, NHSA
Student Honorees
Presenter
Stephanie Papoutsakis President, NHSA
Triple C Honorees
Philo4Thought, in collaboration with the office or the NYS Attorney General awards the auspicious “Triple C Awards: to the following students in recognition of their outstanding student leadership and scholarship More specifically, these individuals have demonstrated courage, character and commitment to outstanding academic performance and community leadership despite challenges and obstacles They’re truly wonderful examples to their peers
Evelyn Adebayo
Ioannis Bassouris*
Isidoros Doulis
Natalia Cote*
Nicky Giannakakis *
Olivia Greco *
Adrianna Iliadis
Nicolette Iliadis
Katerina Karandrikas
Ava Likourentzos
Philo4Thought-Churchill Award
Maria Mouzakitis
Anna Papagianakis
Christina Petrone*
Brianna Reese
Adam Samakovlis
Angel Shaw *
The recipients of the Philo4Thought-Churchill Award, given to select students and young professionals for their outstanding contributions to the advancement of a Hellenic Community Initiative, thus reviving Aristotelian principles of a good, thoughtful life and the famous saying of Mr Churchill, that “Heroes Fight like Greeks ”
Cynthia Adebayo
Ioannis Bassiouris
Natalia Cote
Quinnell de Garcia
Nicky Giannakakis
Olivia Greco
Loralie Landesman
Alexandra O'Reilly
Christina Petrone
Maja Rogalewska
Angel Shaw
Emily Weiss
Kristina Zhu
Lifetime Achievement Honoree
Dr. Arthur F. Gianelli (1939-2023)
Arthur F. Gianelli was an Associate Professor of Philosophy at St. John’s University (SJU) for nearly half a century His field of expertise was the philosophy of science, and he taught undergraduate courses in metaphysics, logic, ethics, and the philosophy of the environment.
Dr. Gianelli was Chair of SJU’s Philosophy Department and ran its Honors Program, each for 14 years Under his direction, the Honors Program grew from a small cohort of 10 students to the University-wide community of teachers and students that it is today.
He co-edited three texts: The Tests of Time: Readings in the Development of Physical Theory, with Drs Lisa Dolling and Glenn Statile; The Journey of Metaphysics, with Drs Kevin Kennedy and Glenn Statile; and The Metaphysical Quest, with Drs. Kevin Kennedy and Paul Gaffney.
He also published “Science and a Significant Being Theodicy” through the Metanexus Institute, a not-for-profit organization “dedicated to promoting scientifically rigorous and philosophically open-ended explorations of foundational questions.”
Dr Gianelli earned his undergraduate degree in physics from Georgetown University and his Ph D in Philosophy of Science from St John’s University The son of Italian immigrants, he was born and raised in Waterbury, Connecticut and resided in Mineola, New York
He was pre-deceased by his wife of 52 years, Barbara Gianelli, and he was survived by his children Arthur (Sharon) and Scott (Donna) and his grandchildren Cameron, Jessica, and Inga.
In honor of Dr. Gianelli, St. John’s University will host on an annual basis the Arthur and Barbara Gianelli Memorial Lecture in the Philosophy of Science beginning in October of 2024.
May his memory be eternal…
Our Major Fundraiser For 2024-2025
Sponsors Needed!
Preparing to publish a new book
“A” is for “Aristotle”
by Prof. Chris Salboudis
Description
The seminal work about the 5 Pillars of Sustainable Productivity & Flourishing developed by Prof. Salboudis in her 30 years of teaching the comprehensive works of Aristotle to students, protegees and clients. The book ‘A’ is for ‘Aristotle’ serves as a practical guidebook for setting order to work and life to allow for genuine human flourishing.
Donation Proceeds
All Philo4Thought publications are dedicated to young professional education and empowerment and the general promotion of healthy lifestyles and mindsets, work-life balance and the overall creation of happy, flourishing professionals from all walks of life.
Philo4Thought is a 501(c)3 philanthropic educational foundation. As such, all contributions are considered tax deductible to the fullest extent of the law.
Donate Today!
Check out donation levels and perks by visiting Philo4Thought: https://www.philo4thought.org/fund-aristotle
Make a contribution on Live Mazi: https://events.livemazi.com/e/p4t-publication-sponsors
For those who prefer PayPal or Venmo, these are available at www.Philo4Thought.org
Ongoing Events & Initiatives
We thank you all for attending and hope you enjoyed this year’s symposium. Please hashtag #P4THYP2024 with photos and comments to social media. We hope you’ll join us at future events! www.philo4thought.org
Check out our page or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn for updates on upcoming events, which include:
Mentor Mapping & Personalized Career Tutorials (Fall & Spring)
Internship Program (Fall & Spring)
Seasonal Fundraisers & Holiday Socials (Fall & Spring)
HYP Life Newsletter (Seasonal Quarterly Digest)
Advisory Articles (Quarterly)
Pes Mou Empowerment Secrets (Podcast Series)
Annual International Spring Symposium (First Saturday of May)
”A” is for “Aristotle” (New book to be rolled out in 2024-25 academic year)
Proceeds
& Donations
Each of the above helps bring Philo4Thought’s protegees closer to their professional and academic goals
Since Philo4Thought’s inception the Board has made every effort to work with young professionals from all areas of interest as they take new strides to flourish and shine Our team works tirelessly with community to identify and provide the best opportunities for college students, and emerging young professionals At present, Alum from Philo4Thought, NHSA and several affiliate HYP organizations are working together to lead the next generation forward through their own good examples and inspiring convictions.
Dedicated fundraising activities help us with the cost of our services and publications Proceeds from all events, fundraisers and membership drives supports the technological costs to maintain and improve our ongoing educational programming and outreach services (listed above) Select affiliate projects are also supported through the joint contribution of time, advisement and/or fundraising based on researched community goals and needs
We look forward to continuing our global efforts in support of young professionals for many years to come
To participate or learn more, visit www .philo4thought.org or email info@philo4thought.org
Save the Date! Join us at our next Spring Symposium! Saturday May 3rd 2025 11am-3pm For Tickets, follow us on: www.philo4thought.org/events Spring 2025 Symposium
Mentoring Opportunities
Make a difference in a young person’s life by volunteering to become A Philo4Thought Mentor!
Professionals from all disciplines are welcome and may be asked to serve as moderators, featured speakers and event ambassadors at our seminars, podcasts or symposiums. Please visit www.philo4thought.org/mentoring for more details
To maintain the highest level of safety and professionalism for our mentoring community, prospective mentors, representatives and partners are asked to complete a mentoring application and to agree to our terms and conditions Three professional references will also be requested to verify the applicant’s good standing in the community.
BECOME A MENTOR
JUN. 12TH Fall Application Reviews DEC. 21ST Spring Application Reviews
NEED A MENTOR OR COACH?
Start your professional progress today!
SNAP & Peer Mentoring: We have amazing mentors in every industry who are well-respected experts and an affinity for helping the next generation.
Coaching: For those who need advanced coaching services, these are available at very low cost as part of Philo4Thought Membership!
Email info@philo4thought.org or visit philo4thought.org/training to sign up.
Internship & OpportunitiesResearch
Philo4Thought seeks bright young professionals to serve as interns at different levels in our organization.
Flexible weekly hours, wonderful networking benefits, assistance with job placement & referrals Certificate of Achievement upon completion of hours.
Those seeking college credit the internship is specifically 120-140 hours (in keeping with NYS Standards) Written approval from Dean/College Office is required at the time of application
Those seeking a research or technical internship should email a a letter of intent indicating your interest in applying for an internship
For information about available internship opportunities visit www.philo4thought.org/interns
APPLICATION DEADLINES
JUN. 12TH for 3-month Fall Interns DEC. 21ST for 3-month Spring Interns
To apply, email info@philo4thought.org or visit philo4thought.org/interns or OrthodoxJobs.com
For these and other opportunities, visit our free Job Board: www.philo4thought.org
“Rise & S.H.I.N.E.” A Theme for Life…
Congratulations Class of 2024!
We urge you to take every opportunity to S.H.I.N.E. and excel.
SHARE your knowledge with others; ask and learn about the big questions/ issues in your area of interest.
HELP those in need – direct them to good resources. #PayItForward!
IGNITE intellectual and professional interest of others through your networking practices.
NAVIGATE your connections and experiences to ensure you stay on track.
EXCELLENCE in all you do; steadily excel – don’t settle for less than excellence!
Best wishes to the members of the graduating Class of 2024. May your future always be bright; may the wind always be in your sails; may you have every opportunity to flourish and reach your goals!
A special shout - out to the members of the Philo4Thought family as they embark on new chapters of academic and professional excellence! Keep shining!
Ads for the Grads Congrats Class of 2024! 139 E 57th St, NYC 10022 5088 www.lexmednyc.com www.smoothsynergy.com Congratulations to all current and future young professionals! Stay the Course! 123 Washington St, New York, NY 10006 www.skinos123.com 646-720-0060
Remembering Dr. Arthur F. Gianelli
Ads from the Grads Class of 1994
An amazing professor, supervisor, mentor and friend to so many. The empathetic person who made St. John’s a real home for those in need of one A real visionary and a sincere embodiment of the Vincentian Mission. We hope you take a moment to enjoy this small token prepared in memory of our dear “Dr. G.”
C.E. Salboudis, Dr. K. Rao, L. Pierrucci, and families
Class of ‘94
Remembering Dr. Arthur F. Gianelli
An amazing professor, supervisor, mentor and friend to so many. The empathetic person who made St. John’s a real home for those in need of one. A real visionary and a sincere embodiment of the Vincentian Mission. We hope you take a moment to enjoy this small token prepared in memory of our dear “Dr. G.”
C.E. Salboudis, Dr. K. Rao, L. Pierrucci, and families
Class of ‘94
Reception Hosts Spring 2024! 30-18B Astoria Blvd Astoria, NY 11102 718-406-9141 order.svlbar.com A shout out to our catering sponsors at SVL Bar in Astoria NY!
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Consider what you learned today and what next steps you plan to take.
Need something you didn’t find today? We’re here for you!
Email info@philo4thought.org
Philo4Thought, Inc., Est. 2009
International Virtual Spring Spring Symposium
Gordian Knot: Managing Interdisciplinary & Cross -Cultural Challenges
Prof. Chris Salboudis & Dr. Nadine E. Sabbagh, M.D.
Copyright Philo4Thought © 2024 www.philo4thought.org