Eight Princeton undergraduates, all rising sophomores from first-generation and lower-income backgrounds, participated in a new summer seminar held in Athens, Greece. The program, titled “Made in Greece,” was organized by the Stanley J. Seeger ’52 Center for Hellenic Studies with support from the Emma Bloomberg Center for Access and Opportunity (EBCAO). The 10-day seminar provided a fully funded, noncredit immersion into modern Greek history, art, and contemporary culture.
Guided by Princeton lecturer Soo-Young Kim and Greek historian Kostis Karpozilos, students explored historical neighborhoods like Kaisariani and visited cultural sites such as the National Museum of Contemporary Art and the Acropolis Museum. The seminar was hosted at the Princeton Athens Center, which offers research and learning opportunities to university scholars.
Pre-med student Shadan Al Zuhairi expressed appreciation for the program’s efforts to increase access to international academic experiences. Al Zuhairi plans to further engage with Hellenic studies through future courses and hopes to return to Athens for additional Seeger Center programs.
Dimitri Gondicas, director of the Seeger Center, said: “The summer seminar encapsulates the mission and spirit of the Seeger Center, namely, to provide unique learning and experiential opportunities for Princeton students to pursue on-site study of the Hellenic world and its impact over three millennia.”
The program included interdisciplinary activities connecting students with local historians, curators, artists, alumni, and other experts based in Athens. According to Gondicas: “We make it possible for our students to delve into cultural dialogues with students and scholars at Greek institutions, to engage with enduring questions about the human condition, and thus to reflect on their own values and aspirations.”
Khristina Gonzalez of EBCAO highlighted that international learning is a core goal: “One of EBCAO’s core goals is to ensure that all students have the opportunity to engage in the full range of educational experiences that Princeton has to offer, which includes global learning. The ‘Made in Greece’ trip was the first time that some of our students had the chance to study internationally; it quite literally showed them a new part of the world.”
Al Zuhairi also commented on how rare it is for first-generation low-income students “to foster exploration for the sake of curiosity,” stating: “As a first-generation low-income student, that kind of freedom is rare.”
Soo-Young Kim explained that while Greece is often associated with its classical past, this program aimed to integrate both historical understanding and insight into contemporary life. Kim led walking tours such as “Constructing Modern Athens” alongside architect Fanis Kafantaris. Students examined urban planning decisions like maintaining unobstructed views of historic landmarks including the Acropolis.
At Panteion University in Athens—where Karpozilos now teaches—the group continued immersive learning practices established during his postdoctoral fellowship at Princeton’s Seeger Center. Karpozilos said: “We had a genuine dialogue where the students actively connected dots between places, histories and contemporary experiences.”
Anthony Pleitez-Rivas discovered an interest in migration studies through his participation: “My love for academics, learning and knowledge-seeking was reignited,” he said. “I feel a lot more inclined to explore beyond the boundaries that I had in mind.”
Additional sessions covered Greek art traditions as well as local food customs. Grace Monk—a doctoral candidate—accompanied participants along with local experts Nicos Nicolaides (historian) and Ilirida Musaraj (sociologist) on walking tours through Athens neighborhoods as well as excursions outside the city.
Reflecting on her experience after returning home from Athens Al Zuhairi said: “Despite only spending a short amount of time in the city, this program offered a deep and lasting experience. Our group of students and mentors built connections with each other, local leaders, and the city itself. As I explore new cultures and spaces I find myself using the model we set during this program of interacting with local community members and immersing myself within new cultures.”
