Modern Greek Studies Association


Standing Committees & their Mandates

Article IV §13 of the MGSA Constitution states that the Executive Board “shall have the power to create any standing or ad hoc committees . . . [and] shall appoint the personnel thereof from among the membership of the association.”

All standing committees are expected to submit written reports of their deliberations to the board.

Here are mandates for the current standing committees:

Administration

Chair: Roland Moore

The Administration Committee monitors and evaluates the organizational structure and operations of the MGSA. In doing this, it considers ways to make the Association more effective in carrying out its mission. It may:

  • evaluate the performance of the Executive Board and officers
  • evaluate the performance and salary of the Executive Director
  • consider the best method for appointing committee chairs and members 
  • evaluate the performance of standing and ad hoc committees
  • review committee mandates and modify them as needed
  • examine how various projects are funded
  • oversee the compilation, updating, and periodic review of the Corporate Resolutions Book 
Endowments Funds

Oversees the MGSA's endowment funds and, in particular, applies and oversees a long established formula for the procedural withdrawals of funds.

Its members are Peter Bien, Thomas Gallant, Van Coufoudakis, Peter Allen, and the MGSA Treasurer, Sakis Gekas.

 

Financial Advisory Committee (FAC)

Comprised of four members of the Association, one of whom is the Treasurer of the MGSA. The FAC must elect from its membership a Chief Investment Officer charged with chairing the Financial Advisory Committee, convening a minimum of two meetings per year, and communicating the minutes of those meetings, including recommendations, to the Executive Board. The FAC serves at the pleasure of the Executive Board, which can dissolve the FAC and convene a new one if it deems it necessary to do so.

Frank Hess (Chair).

In consultation with the Executive Director and Treasurer of the Association, the Financial Advisory Committee (FAC) shall oversee the Association’s finances regarding investment strategy and asset allocation to promote the long-term growth of principal as well as income generation for the Association’s annual operating budget.  In so doing, it shall take the following specific actions:

 
  • Assess biannually the asset allocation of the Association seeking the preservation of principal with moderate to conservative growth
  • Make recommendations regarding asset allocation and types of investments to be held in the Association’s Endowment
  • Determine the amount of funds to be withdrawn annually from the growth and income earned from the Endowment (to be based on the formula approved by the Executive Board and the MGSA Endowment Funds Committee)
  • Preside over the investment of surpluses from the Association’s operating budget and income earned from the Endowment

Recommendations made by the FAC to the Executive Board of the MGSA shall be approved by the Executive Board before coming into effect. Approved recommendations shall be implemented by the Executive Director of the MGSA, working in consultation with the Treasurer.

Fundraising

Chair: Franklin Hess

The Fundraising Committee explores ways to improve the MGSA’s finances by identifying fund-raising opportunities and recommending strategies for taking advantage of such opportunities. In consultation with the Financial Advisory Committee, Executive Board officers, and other Committee chairs, it determines short-term and long-term priorities for the MGSA’s fundraising efforts. In doing so, this Committee is empowered to:  

  • suggest the use of fund-raising consultants
  • work with the President and Executive Board to cultivate relationships with foundations and other relevant agencies
  • work with the President and Executive Board to foster contacts with relevant officials in the Greek, Cypriot, US, and Canadian governments
  • collaborate with the Membership and Publicity Committee to determine membership fee structures and rates
  • consider public fundraising events for the MGSA’s biennial Symposia in consultation with the respective Local Arrangements Committees, with special attention to securing financial aid for graduate students and faculty without research funds to attend the Symposia 
  • assess proposals for endowments to support MGSA prizes, publications, and other activities
Graduate Studies

Chair: Lissi Athanasiou-Krikelis

The Graduate Studies Committee explores ways for the MGSA to meet the needs of graduate students and provides them with support and encouragement. To facilitate this mission, the Committee:

  • welcomes and orients the Graduate Student Representative, makes expectations clear, and works to create an inclusive environment for them to give graduate students a voice on the Executive Board 
  • works to facilitate informal mentoring connections for graduate students who express a need for faculty input on specific issues or research interests, by pairing them with appropriate experts
  • keeps a current list of graduate students, their affiliations, and fields and areas of research
  • gathers and disseminates information to graduate students regarding fellowship and job opportunities in Modern Greek Studies
  • awards the Victor Papacosma Graduate Essay Prize
  • introduces to the Executive Board for discussion issues that concern graduate studies and graduate students
  • organizes social and information-sharing event(s) at each MGSA Symposium
  • is empowered to organize occasional workshops and other events between Symposia, at the Committee’s discretion and in consultation with the Executive Board
Graduate Student Representative

The Graduate Student Representative is a voting member of the Executive Board of the MGSA and is also a member of the Graduate Studies Committee.  In collaboration with the chair of the Graduate Studies Committee, this position entails organizing graduate student event(s) at each MGSA Symposium, as well as updating the database of graduate students in Modern Greek Studies enrolled at North American institutions. Should the Graduate Student Representative graduate before the completion of their term, they may remain in office until the election of the next Executive Board. 

Undergraduate Studies

Chair: Will Stroebel

The Undergraduate Studies Committee explores ways to support and enhance the development of undergraduate programs in Modern Greek, and promotes cooperation among these programs. In doing so, this Committee: 

  • examines and recommends teaching methods and resources
  • disseminates information on pedagogical research and tools (including online tools) through the MGSA resources portal 
  • organizes the Modern Greek Pedagogy Workshop biennially 
Library Consortium 

Liaison: Tom Papademetriou

The Library Consortium comprises a group of librarians who work in Modern Greek collections in the US and Canada. This Consortium is not formally part of the MGSA, but its members work with the MGSA to develop and publicize relevant library resources such as the GDJA (Greek Digitized Journals Archive), and may convene special sessions at MGSA Biennial Symposia. The Consortium communicates its plans and needs to the MGSA Executive Board through their Liaison, who serves on the Executive Board and is appointed from among current Executive Board members. 

The Library Consortium Liaison helps the Consortium to: 

  • communicate with others involved with Modern Greek Studies collections as well as the MGSA membership
  • cooperate internationally with other library and area studies organizations on projects of mutual concern and benefit
  • compile and disseminate information relating to Modern Greek Studies collections and resources
  • identify areas for needed reference and research tools, initiate relevant projects and remain in contact with library specialists as they see these projects to fruition
  • encourage cooperation among librarians involved with Modern Greek Studies collections in areas such as acquisition, bibliographic control, preservation and digitization, and vulnerable or underrepresented materials
Membership & Publicity

Chair: Despina Lalaki

The Membership and Publicity Committee explores ways to expand the MGSA’s membership. It does this by:

  • reviewing data about membership with the Executive Director
  • working with the Executive Director to invite institutions and individuals, from scholars and students to people from the broader community, to become members
  • working with the Local Arrangements Committee to publicize the Association’s Biennial Symposia
  • actively communicating the MGSA’s events and activities to various potential constituencies through social media
  • periodically reevaluating the categories of MGSA membership in light of changing membership trends
Nominations

Chair: TBA

The Nominations Committee is established by each Executive Board at the third to last meeting of its term to undertake the election of a new Executive Board. The composition, duties, and procedures of this committee are specified in Article IV §6-§7 of the MGSA Constitution.

Publications

Chair: Eugenia Georges

The Publications Committee concerns itself with the quality, usefulness, and appeal of the MGSA’s publications. It may offer recommendations to the Executive Board concerning the Journal of Modern Greek Studies, the MGSA Bulletin, bibliographies, and other publications. While the editorial responsibility for the Journal rests entirely with its editor(s) and editorial team, the chair of the Publications Committee serves as liaison between the editor(s) and the Executive Board. The committee also organizes the search for the new editor(s). 

Transnational Studies

Chair: Will Stroebel

The Committee on Transnationalism has the following goals and responsibilities both short and long term:

  • To foster and strengthen relationships globally between programs, centers, and departments of Modern Greek Studies and allied fields – e.g., Balkan, Middle Eastern, Mediterranean, and Diaspora Studies – through collaboration on intellectual and academic projects. The committee will initiate such collaborative projects in a spirit of parity among participating entities and will prioritize and amplify the work of Early Career Researchers regardless of affiliation.
  • To materialize its collaborations through forms of outreach such as organizing semi- regular panels, sessions, and remote webinars at venues like the MGSA Symposium or other organizations or centers across the globe.
  • To advance and enhance the overall mission of the Resource Portal, which is a key tool for teachers, researchers, and for the broader community of the MGSA, providing information on research and resources in the field of Diaspora and Mobility Studies broadly defined.
Website & Digital Communications

Chair: Othon Alexandrakis

The Website and Digital Communications Committee provides MGSA members with electronic resources and aids them in utilizing those resources. This Committee:

  • oversees the MGSA web site, maintaining and updating its content in consultation with the webmaster and Committee chairs
  • works with web services professionals to improve website design and functionality as needed
  • makes recommendations to the Executive Board regarding the hiring of web services professionals and oversees the hiring process 
  • works with the Membership and Publicity Committee to maintain and update the membership data base
  • works with the Executive Director to coordinate the MGSA-L listserv