TORONTO, January 14, 2004 -- York University history professor Thomas Gallant will deliver a public lecture inaugurating the Hellenic Heritage Foundation Chair in Modern Greek History, Friday, Jan. 16, at 7 p.m.

His lecture, Toward a Social History of the Greeks, will examine the  challenges that confront historians attempting to write a social history of Greek peoples living around the world, including in Canada and the United States.

"The Greeks have transcended their national borders and have made major contributions to culture, politics and everyday life in many countries. The story of Greek society can only be told on a global scale," said Gallant. "I am extremely pleased that the Hellenic heritage foundation of Toronto has recognized York University as a centre of academic excellence in the area of Greek and Hellenic studies and made this chair possible."

Prof. Marlene Shore, York History Department chair, added, "Thanks to the generous support of the local Greek community, the establishment of the Hellenic Heritage Foundation Chair is enabling students, including more than 1,000 students of Greek heritage enrolling each year at York, to study Greek history, language and culture."

Among the activities undertaken by Gallant as chair thus far are three international conferences including the Modern Greek Studies Association (MGSA) International Symposium held at York fall 2003; three new courses in modern Greek history; a new comprehensive degree program in Hellenic Studies commencing September 2004; and the York Hellenic Studies summer field school program held in Greece for fourth year students.

Gallant is a professor of Greek history at York and is the author of several books and more than thirty articles. His most recently published books are Modern Greece (Oxford University Press, 2001) and Experiencing Dominion (University of Notre Dame Press, 2002), which recently won the MGSA Best Book Prize. He has received numerous grants and awards including from the H.F. Guggenheim Foundation. Gallant is the current President of the Modern Greek Studies Association.

The lecture will take place in the Robert R. McEwen Auditorium of the new Schulich School of Business and Executive Learning Centre building complex on York University’s Keele Campus, located at 4700 Keele Street, Toronto.

The Hellenic Heritage Foundation Chair in Modern Greek History at York was endowed for $2 million by the Hellenic Heritage Foundation of Toronto, with a $500,000 contribution from York. It is the first endowed chair in Hellenic studies and inaugurates the only Hellenic studies program in Toronto.

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For further information, please contact:

Ken Turriff
Media Relations
York University
416-736-2100, x22086
kturriff@yorku.ca

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