2021 Socrates Speaker Series
March 25th, 2021 | April 15th, 2021
March 25th, 2021
Celebrating the 200 Year Anniversary of the Greek War of Independence!
March 25th, 2021
Celebrating the 200 Year Anniversary of the Greek War of Independence!
Alpha Omega Council continues its Socrates Speaker Series this evening and is honored to have the Greek Ambassador Alexandra Papadopoulou, offer the opening remarks to tonight’s event.
We are also honored and pleased to welcome our keynote speaker Ambassador Nicholas Burns (2001 Alpha Omega Lifetime Achievement Award honoree) of the Harvard Kennedy School’s Roy & Barbara Goodman Family Professor of the Practice of Diplomacy and International Relations.
Broadcasted on March 25, 2021, at 6:30pm ET
via the Alpha Omega Youtube Channel:
Click here to view.
Speakers:
Ambassador Alexandra Papadopoulou
Ambassador Papadopoulou is the first female Ambassador of Greece to the US. Prior to that, she was also the First Female Permanent Representative of Greece to the European Union and served in other important positions, such as Head of the Diplomatic Cabinet of the Prime Minister, Director General for European Affairs / in charge of the Greek Presidency of the EU in 2014, Head of the Greek Liaison Office in Skopje and Deputy Permanent Representative of Greece to the United Nations.
She also served as Head of the European Union Rule of Law Mission (EULEX) in Kosovo.
Ambassador Papadopoulou holds a Law Degree from the University of Athens and a Master’s Degree in International Relations / International Law from the University of Pennsylvania (Fulbright Scholar).
Ambassador Nicholas Burns
Ambassador Burns is the Goodman Professor of the Practice of Diplomacy and International Relations at the Harvard Kennedy School. He is Faculty Chair of the Future of Diplomacy Project and also of the Project on Europe and the Transatlantic Relationship at the Kennedy School’s Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs. Burns is Executive Director of the Aspen Strategy Group and the Aspen Security Forum; he is Senior Counselor at The Cohen Group. He is Chairman of the Board of Our Generation Speaks, which seeks to bring together young Palestinians and Israelis in common purpose.
Ambassador Burns served in the United States government for 27 years as a career Foreign Service Officer. He was Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs (2005-2008), US Ambassador to NATO (2001-2005), US Ambassador to Greece (1997-2001), and State Department Spokesperson (1995-1997). He worked at the National Security Council as Senior Director for Russia, Ukraine and Eurasia Affairs; Special Assistant to President Clinton; and Director for Soviet Affairs for President George H.W. Bush. Ambassador Burns served in the American Consulate General in Jerusalem where he coordinated U.S. economic assistance to the Palestinian people in the West Bank and before that, at the American embassies in Egypt and Mauritania. He earned a bachelor’s degree in history from Boston College and a master’s degree in international relations from The Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies.
Thursday, April 15th, 2021 at 7:00 pm via Zoom
Running a Successful Marathon
We are also honored and pleased to welcome our keynote speaker Ambassador Nicholas Burns (2001 Alpha Omega Lifetime Achievement Award honoree) of the Harvard Kennedy School’s Roy & Barbara Goodman Family Professor of the Practice of Diplomacy and International Relations.
Broadcasted on March 25, 2021, at 6:30pm ET
via the Alpha Omega Youtube Channel:
Click here to view.Speakers:
Ambassador Alexandra Papadopoulou
Ambassador Papadopoulou is the first female Ambassador of Greece to the US. Prior to that, she was also the First Female Permanent Representative of Greece to the European Union and served in other important positions, such as Head of the Diplomatic Cabinet of the Prime Minister, Director General for European Affairs / in charge of the Greek Presidency of the EU in 2014, Head of the Greek Liaison Office in Skopje and Deputy Permanent Representative of Greece to the United Nations.
She also served as Head of the European Union Rule of Law Mission (EULEX) in Kosovo.
Ambassador Papadopoulou holds a Law Degree from the University of Athens and a Master’s Degree in International Relations / International Law from the University of Pennsylvania (Fulbright Scholar).
Ambassador Nicholas Burns
Ambassador Burns is the Goodman Professor of the Practice of Diplomacy and International Relations at the Harvard Kennedy School. He is Faculty Chair of the Future of Diplomacy Project and also of the Project on Europe and the Transatlantic Relationship at the Kennedy School’s Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs. Burns is Executive Director of the Aspen Strategy Group and the Aspen Security Forum; he is Senior Counselor at The Cohen Group. He is Chairman of the Board of Our Generation Speaks, which seeks to bring together young Palestinians and Israelis in common purpose.
Ambassador Burns served in the United States government for 27 years as a career Foreign Service Officer. He was Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs (2005-2008), US Ambassador to NATO (2001-2005), US Ambassador to Greece (1997-2001), and State Department Spokesperson (1995-1997). He worked at the National Security Council as Senior Director for Russia, Ukraine and Eurasia Affairs; Special Assistant to President Clinton; and Director for Soviet Affairs for President George H.W. Bush. Ambassador Burns served in the American Consulate General in Jerusalem where he coordinated U.S. economic assistance to the Palestinian people in the West Bank and before that, at the American embassies in Egypt and Mauritania. He earned a bachelor’s degree in history from Boston College and a master’s degree in international relations from The Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies.
Thursday, April 15th, 2021 at 7:00 pm via Zoom
Running a Successful Marathon
Alpha Omega Council is honored and pleased to have Meb Keflezighi as our keynote speaker. Opening remarks will be offered by Tim Kilduff, President and Founder of 26.2 Foundation (2018 Philhellene Award recipient).
Meb will share his thoughts on winning Boston (2014), wearing the golden wreath and on achieving America’s premiere marathon runner status. (see video links and background below)
This year marks the 125th running of the Boston Marathon, the world’s oldest annual marathon, and the 75th anniversary of Stylianos Kyriakides’ win in Boston.
Click here to access Zoom Meeting.
Speakers:
Meb Keflezighi
Meb Keflezighi retired as America’s premiere marathon runner upon the completion of his 26th competitive marathon in 2017. In October 2015, Runner’s World Magazine named Meb “The Most Influential Person in Running” noting that his “universal appeal only begins with his racing.” The 2014 Boston Marathon champion and 2014 USA Track & Field Male Athlete of Year participated in 4 Olympic Games and 3 World Championships, while also accumulating 23 USA Track & Field individual titles. In February 2016, Meb qualified for his 4th Olympic Games and became the oldest marathon runner in American Olympic history. Meb is the only person to have won the New York City Marathon, the Boston Marathon, and an Olympic medal.
Meb witnessed the ravages of conflict at an early age while also enduring famine and drought. When Meb was only five years old, his father made the courageous decision to leave their native Eritrea in search of a better future for his family abroad. Meb’s mother had the foresight and wisdom to support this choice. Five years later, with the help of a generous Italian benefactor, the entire Keflezighi family immigrated first to Italy and then subsequently to the United States – the land of opportunity.
Meb received an athletic scholarship to UCLA earning a Communication degree with a Business specialization. Meb’s collegiate experience formed the framework for his future charitable entity, The MEB Foundation (Maintaining Excellent Balance). Meb is not the only Keflezighi sibling to enjoy academic success. Nine of his siblings have earned bachelor degrees at institutions such as Cal-Berkeley, Stanford, UCLA, and San Diego State. They are doctors, lawyers, MBA’s, educators, and engineers. They are the American Dream.
Meb is a husband, father, best-selling author, and highly sought-after speaker. Meb has appeared in television commercials for Skechers, Sony, MasterCard, and Citibank; in 2014 he was nominated for Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year; in 2017 he was honored by the United States Citizen and Immigration Services with the “Outstanding American by Choice” award; he has also been awarded the Abebe Bekila Award by the New York Road Runner’s and the Patriot’s Award from the B.A.A.; and the UCLA alumni award for Outstanding Professional Achievement. Throughout his life, Meb has overcome extraordinary barriers and continuously emerged a champion. His themes of perseverance, discipline, graciousness, inclusiveness, teamwork, support, and acceptance resonate with all audiences. His personable and approachable nature relate to all ages and backgrounds. Most importantly, Meb embraces the honor of being called a role model and being called to serve as an ambassador of sport. He draws energy and inspiration from his public interactions and believes that his life story and message can change lives for the better. Today, Meb lives in Tampa with his wife Yordanos and his three daughters. He can often be seen driving from one youth soccer practice to another.
Tim Kilduff
Tim is the Founder and President of the 26.2 Foundation, a non-profit 501(c) 3 organization he founded in 1996. Its mission is to promote and support the sport of marathoning, as well as health, wellness and economic development initiatives through strategic investments in innovative, multi-generational programs on local, regional, national and global levels.
As Race Director for the Boston Marathon from 1983-84, he organized and led a small team that steered the Marathon through a period of serious operational and financial challenges, and helped set in motion the success the Marathon enjoys today. His contributions to the Marathon have continued for 30 years in creative ways, including broadcasting, fundraising, and non-profit development, with each effort enhancing the Boston Marathon.
Tim and the 26.2 Foundation have been instrumental in helping the Council, through its critical participation in the annual Wreath Ceremony conducted by the Consulate General of Greece in Boston and on the Marathon Education Committee, to educate the greater Boston community, and beyond, on the Hellenic roots of the Boston Marathon, the defense of democracy by the Athenians at the Battle of Marathon, and on the value of that history in promoting civic education in the U.S. today.
Tim has worked tirelessly in the U.S. and in Greece to honor and promote the legacy of the 1948 Boston Marathon winner and hero Stylianos Kyriakides, who created the concept of the charity run, that has provided the framework for some of the noblest of all human activities that we all associate with marathoning today. Tim, along with Dimitri Kyriakides, introduced the golden olive wreaths from Marathon, Greece to the U.S. Marine Corps to crown the winners of its annual Marathon in Washington D.C. And the 26.2 Foundation has partnered with the Council in supporting The Examined Life-Teaching Greece Program by providing scholarships for teachers to receive special concentrated education and training to effectively teach the Ancient Greek Classics to middle and high school students.
Tim’s professional experience includes corporate affairs, organization management, and internal and external communications, corporate philanthropy and community relations while working with technology companies, banking, small business, and community organizations. His experience includes developing crisis communications, promotional, media, philanthropic, governmental, and marketing programs to effectively and strategically position clients with internal and external audiences.
Tim’s work in a variety of public service campaigns has been recognized by the Reagan Administration, Vice President Al Gore, and Massachusetts governors Dukakis, King, and Weld, as well as Lt. Governor Healy (Romney/Healy Administration). Tim was named by the MetroWest Daily News as a “Person of the Year” in 2001.
Meb will share his thoughts on winning Boston (2014), wearing the golden wreath and on achieving America’s premiere marathon runner status. (see video links and background below)
This year marks the 125th running of the Boston Marathon, the world’s oldest annual marathon, and the 75th anniversary of Stylianos Kyriakides’ win in Boston.
Click here to access Zoom Meeting.Speakers:
Meb Keflezighi
Meb Keflezighi retired as America’s premiere marathon runner upon the completion of his 26th competitive marathon in 2017. In October 2015, Runner’s World Magazine named Meb “The Most Influential Person in Running” noting that his “universal appeal only begins with his racing.” The 2014 Boston Marathon champion and 2014 USA Track & Field Male Athlete of Year participated in 4 Olympic Games and 3 World Championships, while also accumulating 23 USA Track & Field individual titles. In February 2016, Meb qualified for his 4th Olympic Games and became the oldest marathon runner in American Olympic history. Meb is the only person to have won the New York City Marathon, the Boston Marathon, and an Olympic medal.
Meb witnessed the ravages of conflict at an early age while also enduring famine and drought. When Meb was only five years old, his father made the courageous decision to leave their native Eritrea in search of a better future for his family abroad. Meb’s mother had the foresight and wisdom to support this choice. Five years later, with the help of a generous Italian benefactor, the entire Keflezighi family immigrated first to Italy and then subsequently to the United States – the land of opportunity.
Meb received an athletic scholarship to UCLA earning a Communication degree with a Business specialization. Meb’s collegiate experience formed the framework for his future charitable entity, The MEB Foundation (Maintaining Excellent Balance). Meb is not the only Keflezighi sibling to enjoy academic success. Nine of his siblings have earned bachelor degrees at institutions such as Cal-Berkeley, Stanford, UCLA, and San Diego State. They are doctors, lawyers, MBA’s, educators, and engineers. They are the American Dream.
Meb is a husband, father, best-selling author, and highly sought-after speaker. Meb has appeared in television commercials for Skechers, Sony, MasterCard, and Citibank; in 2014 he was nominated for Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year; in 2017 he was honored by the United States Citizen and Immigration Services with the “Outstanding American by Choice” award; he has also been awarded the Abebe Bekila Award by the New York Road Runner’s and the Patriot’s Award from the B.A.A.; and the UCLA alumni award for Outstanding Professional Achievement. Throughout his life, Meb has overcome extraordinary barriers and continuously emerged a champion. His themes of perseverance, discipline, graciousness, inclusiveness, teamwork, support, and acceptance resonate with all audiences. His personable and approachable nature relate to all ages and backgrounds. Most importantly, Meb embraces the honor of being called a role model and being called to serve as an ambassador of sport. He draws energy and inspiration from his public interactions and believes that his life story and message can change lives for the better. Today, Meb lives in Tampa with his wife Yordanos and his three daughters. He can often be seen driving from one youth soccer practice to another.
Tim Kilduff
Tim is the Founder and President of the 26.2 Foundation, a non-profit 501(c) 3 organization he founded in 1996. Its mission is to promote and support the sport of marathoning, as well as health, wellness and economic development initiatives through strategic investments in innovative, multi-generational programs on local, regional, national and global levels.
As Race Director for the Boston Marathon from 1983-84, he organized and led a small team that steered the Marathon through a period of serious operational and financial challenges, and helped set in motion the success the Marathon enjoys today. His contributions to the Marathon have continued for 30 years in creative ways, including broadcasting, fundraising, and non-profit development, with each effort enhancing the Boston Marathon.
Tim and the 26.2 Foundation have been instrumental in helping the Council, through its critical participation in the annual Wreath Ceremony conducted by the Consulate General of Greece in Boston and on the Marathon Education Committee, to educate the greater Boston community, and beyond, on the Hellenic roots of the Boston Marathon, the defense of democracy by the Athenians at the Battle of Marathon, and on the value of that history in promoting civic education in the U.S. today.
Tim has worked tirelessly in the U.S. and in Greece to honor and promote the legacy of the 1948 Boston Marathon winner and hero Stylianos Kyriakides, who created the concept of the charity run, that has provided the framework for some of the noblest of all human activities that we all associate with marathoning today. Tim, along with Dimitri Kyriakides, introduced the golden olive wreaths from Marathon, Greece to the U.S. Marine Corps to crown the winners of its annual Marathon in Washington D.C. And the 26.2 Foundation has partnered with the Council in supporting The Examined Life-Teaching Greece Program by providing scholarships for teachers to receive special concentrated education and training to effectively teach the Ancient Greek Classics to middle and high school students.
Tim’s professional experience includes corporate affairs, organization management, and internal and external communications, corporate philanthropy and community relations while working with technology companies, banking, small business, and community organizations. His experience includes developing crisis communications, promotional, media, philanthropic, governmental, and marketing programs to effectively and strategically position clients with internal and external audiences.
Tim’s work in a variety of public service campaigns has been recognized by the Reagan Administration, Vice President Al Gore, and Massachusetts governors Dukakis, King, and Weld, as well as Lt. Governor Healy (Romney/Healy Administration). Tim was named by the MetroWest Daily News as a “Person of the Year” in 2001.