Greek studies guru in new position at CDU

Charles Darwin University’s first head of Greek studies says he will focus on strengthening postgraduate programs and community engagement in his newly created position.

Head of Greek Studies Associate Professor George Frazis has worked in tertiary education for more than three decades and helped pioneer Greek studies units at CDU in 2003 through Flinders University.

“Learning a foreign language is so important because not only do you learn a new language but also the culture, values and history that go along with it,” Dr Frazis said.

“I am very proud and happy to now be part of both this community and the CDU community.”

The Greek-born academic has had a longstanding connection with Darwin since his father migrated there from Greece in 1963.

He said his first priority in the position was to establish new relationships with interstate and overseas universities to enhance CDU’s language units through resource sharing and collaborations.

Dr Frazis is also the coordinator of CDU’s Greek In-country program and each year accompanies students to Greece for a three-week intensive course.

He completed a Graduate Diploma in Education from the University of Adelaide in 1987 and then a Master of Arts at Flinders University in 1995. Dr Frazis also completed a PhD in 1999 on the 20th Century Greek writer, Pandelis Prevelakis.

Included in the financial supporters of the new position at CDU are Friends of Greek Language and Culture, the Guardians of Greek Language and Culture and the CDU Foundation.