Executive Board

President: Georgios Araujo

Georgios Araujo was born and raised in Manhasset Hills, New York. His cultural background shares the rich customs of both Greek and Portuguese traditions. Georgios attended Adelphi University in Garden City, NY, where he graduated with a BS in Molecular Neuroscience. While earning his degree, Georgios founded the Hellenic Society at Adelphi University and served as president for two consecutive terms. This position allowed him to collaborate with a variety of student organizations on campus, as well as at other universities, all to help promote Hellenism. 

While looking to expand his club’s overall membership and obtain national recognition, he explored NHSA’s mission and values, and gained membership. Georgios was invited to apply for a board position after his continued communication and efforts to get involved. Georgios was appointed as the Northeast Regional Director in his first year, and elected as Vice President in his second year with NHSA. It is with great enthusiasm to share that Georgios has been elected as President for the 2022 calendar year. He eagerly awaits to apply his past experiences towards his presidential position! He is confident to make lasting positive impacts with the communities that NHSA is connected with, all while helping to uphold a strong Greek community, and guiding the executive board and young adults across North America.

Vice President: Irene Coritsidis

​Irene is a third-year student at the Florida State University College of Law. She is the President of FSU Law’s Trafficking in America Task Force and serves as class representative of the Student Bar Association. After interning with the Office of the Suffolk County District Attorney, Irene discovered her interest in public service. She has interned with the Florida House of Representatives and currently clerks with Florida’s Department of Business and Professional Regulation. 

Born and raised in New York, Irene was heavily involved in the Hellenic community from a young age. Her Hellenic roots are based in Kalymnos (maternal) and Nisyros (paternal). In her first semester of college, Irene studied in Thessaloniki through American University’s Mentorship Program in Greece. She continued her Hellenic involvement in law school as NHSA’s Director of Communications last year. 
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Irene earned her undergraduate degree from American University in Washington, D.C., where she studied Public Relations and Strategic Communications. As Vice President, she hopes to continue supporting NHSA’s initiatives in both undergraduate and graduate institutions. She looks forward to working alongside the board: organizing philanthropic and cultural events, preparing network opportunities, and fostering an environment where Greek-Americans can grow.  

Director Of Operations: Stephanie Papoutsakis

Stephanie Papoustakis was born and raised in New York! Her Hellenic roots stem from Crete, on her Father’s side, and from Nisyros and Evia, on her Mother’s side. In the spring of 2021, she graduated with a Bachelors of Science in Business at St. John’s University in New York. She is now attending St. John’s as a graduate student working towards her Master’s of Business Administration Degree with a Concentration in Risk and Financial Advisory. Stephanie is currently working as a Staff Internal Auditor at Atlas Air!

As an undergrad at St. John’s University, she participated in on campus events and was actively engaged with the Hellenic Society. As President of the HSA, she recruited members and grew the club’s overall roster to 100 active members. She inspired members to become more active during meetings, fundraisers, and events. While President, her outgoing personality helped her to coordinate events on campus with other university organizations as well as with other universities within the Tri-state area!

Last year, Stephanie held the position of Northeast Regional Director and was the Co-Convention Chair for our New York City Fall Convention! Her attention to detail, determination, and networking skills have prepared her for her exciting new role this year as the Director of Operations. Stephanie is excited to continue promoting and advocating for the values that NHSA stands by!

Treasurer: Nia Drimonis

Nia was born and raised in Montreal, Quebec and is currently living in Toronto. Her Hellenic roots are from Monemvasia on her father’s side and her Spanish roots are from Cuba and Tenerife, Spain from her mother’s side. Growing up she would spend her summers living in Athens and all over in Lakonia.

Nia is a fourth-year student at Ryerson University and is studying International Relations, minoring in Psychology and is in the process of obtaining a Human Resource Management certificate. During her second year of University, she interned at Bisha Hotel and had the opportunity to work alongside the Human Resource Manager and Finance Director. Once graduated, she hopes to work in the field of Organizational Behaviour/HR.

On the side, Nia has had the opportunity to work on the Marketing team at one of Toronto’s popular summer lounges, Lavelle and has also worked on the events team at a Greek fine-dining restaurant. This will be Nia’s second year as Treasurer for NHSA and she is thrilled to continue working with amazing, hard working hellenic individuals. She cannot wait to see what this year holds for NHSA!

Director of Communications: Petroula Thomas

Petroula Thomas was born in Athens, Greece. At a young age her family immigrated to New York where she was raised, but ultimately decided to move back and get in touch with her roots.  While back in Greece she studied and obtained a Law Degree from Democritus University of Thrace Law School.  After completing her degree, she pursued an LL.M Degree at Cardozo School of Law, the West Village of NYC.  During her year as an LL.M, Petroula was the Senator of her class on the Student Bar Association, a Staff Editor on the Cardozo International & Comparative Law Review., Ambassador of the Fashion Law Society as well as a member of various student associations. 

One of the many reasons Petroula joined the Board of the National Hellenic Student Association as the Director of Communications, is to continue the legacy of the Greek diaspora by raising awareness of the Greek Filotimo. A  goal of hers as the Director of Communications  is to create the first ‘Hellenic Association Society’ at Cardozo School of Law. 

Petroula enjoys volunteering, philanthropy, art, cooking at home, traveling  and being in nature.

Director of Special Projects & Initiatives:
​Maria Mamouzelos

Maria is a third-year student at University of Illinois at Chicago. She was born and raised in Valparaiso, Indiana yet spent her summers in Greece with her family. Her Hellenic roots stem entirely from Kalymnos, Greece as a first-generation Greek American. She is studying nutrition while on the pre-med path to fulfill her love of cooking and dream of becoming a Pediatrician.

As a Thea to 2 toddler boys and a baby girl, she spends most of her free time with family. Outside of her textbooks and nephews and niece, you can find her creating new things in the kitchen, brushing up on her favorite Greek dances, volunteering, or watching true crime.

As the Secretary of the UIC Hellenic Student Association, member of the Orpheus Hellenic Folklore Society, and member of the Kalymnian Society of Northwest Indiana, she loves to balance her time with giving back to her community and a good party.

Maria can’t wait to meet new people through NHSA and work together on new ideas and projects while growing the organization. She takes her frappe glyko me gala and can’t wait to learn how you like yours.

Director of Marketing: Anastasia Vonortas

Anastasia Vonortas is a first-generation Greek American, born and raised in Canton, Ohio. Her hellenic roots stem from Chios (maternal) and Nafpaktos (paternal). Anastasia is a graduate of The University of Akron, where she obtained her Bachelor of Business Administration in Integrated Marketing Communications. She currently works as a social media and digital marketing specialist at LUMIS- a strategic marketing firm located in downtown Akron.

Outside of work, you can find Anastasia surrounding herself with friends and family, staying active, taking sporadic weekend road trips, or sipping on a frappe. Anastasia is excited to continue her third year with NHSA by integrating her passion for marketing with her love for her Hellenic heritage!

Finance Director: Tia Kotsiopoulos

Tia is originally from Barrington, Illinois and is a current senior at Loyola University Chicago. Majoring in Marketing, she is working towards pursuing a career in Intellectual Property Law, and hoping to attend law school this coming fall. Her experience with NHSA started last year as the Regional Director of the Great Lakes and this year, Tia is the Finance Director for NHSA and is excited to be in this position on the executive board. On campus, Tia is involved in Orthodox Christian Fellowship, pre-law society, and serves as the President of Loyola’s Hellenic Student Association. Her Greek roots stem from Kalamata on her paternal side, and Athens on her maternal side of the family. Tia loves traveling to different places, enjoying time with family and friends, and Greek dancing whenever the opportunity arises. She is excited to support Hellenic initiatives, and continuous promotion of Hellenism while being involved with NHSA!

Recruitment Director: Maria Euripides

Maria Euripides was born and raised in Northern Virginia. She is a third-year student at Virginia Tech pursuing a degree in Biology and Human Nutrition with the hopes of becoming a Physicians Associate. She currently serves as the President of the Hellenic Student Association at Virginia Tech, which she created two years ago and has since built to include approximately 200 registered members. She also serves as the Virginia District Student Leader for the Orthodox Christian Fellowship, frequently reaching out to and connecting with the OCF Chapters at each university around the commonwealth. 
 
Maria has Cypriot roots stemming from her fathers side, and Corinthian roots from her mothers side. She loves attempting to make "yiayias recipes'', Greek dancing, and going on spontaneous trips! Maria is so excited to meet and serve with everyone through NHSA as Recruitment Director and to make this a productive and memorable year!  

Logistics Director: Alexandra Patzakis

Alexandra is originally from Pasadena, California, and is a senior at the University of Chicago. She is majoring in Sociology and Global Studies and hopes to pursue a career in public interest law and public service. Last year, Alexandra was NHSA’s Director of Operations and was previously their Regional Director of Chicago and the Great Lakes. She is a 2021 Panhellenic Scholarship Recipient and currently serves as Co-President for the UChicago Hellenic Student Association. On campus, Alexandra interns for the UChicago Institute of Politics, serves on the board of Women+ in Law, and tutors incarcerated youth. She has interned for the Senate Foreign Relations Committee for the Majority Staff, UnCommon Law, Orleans Public Defenders, Bet Tzedek Legal Services, and the League of Women Voters of Los Angeles. In her free time, Alexandra loves to try new restaurants, bake, read, sing, go on long walks, keep up with politics and current events, and listen to Greek music. She is thrilled to continue to promote Hellenism while serving in this new role on NHSA’s Executive Board! ​

IT Director: Agis Diamantis

Agis Diamantis a second-generation Greek-American from Detroit, MI and his Hellenic roots stem from Filiatra  on his mother’s side, and Nafpaktos on his father’s side. He is graduate from the University of Michigan-Dearborn having studied Computer and Information Science, he is now a software engineer at INFOR with one their offices located in Ann Arbor, MI. 

In May of last year, he was nominated and elected to be the AHEPA District #10 Secretary where he has also updated and is currently helping maintain their website. Agis wishes to help continue the sense of community that the Greeks have established by going to local events and inviting as many people as he can in the process.

Regional Directors

Great Lakes: Georgia Tsakos

Georgia Tsakos is a first-generation Greek-American and sophomore at the college of Lake Forest in Illinois. On her paternal side, her Hellenic roots come from Chalkida, Evia, while her maternal side come from Kastri, Arcadia. She is currently double majoring in History and Global  Politics and minoring in Classical Studies. During her freshman year at Lake Forest College, she founded the college’s first Hellenic Student Association and has been serving as the co-president along with her twin sister. She gained the position of the Great Lakes Regional Director for NHSA starting of January 2022. 

Georgia attends Saint Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church in Libertyville, Illinois. There, you will find her leading liturgical services as the head female chanter. Byzantine music has been an integral part of her life as she was proposed with the opportunity to chant at the age of 14. In her free time, you will find her spending most of it with family or reading about the history of Ancient Greece, Byzantium, or Greek Independence. 

She is very excited to be a part of the NHSA executive board and looks forward to meeting you all!

Canada - Toronto: Thomas Psarianos

​Having been heavily involved in the Greek Community of Toronto from a young age, Thomas took his passion for community involvement one step further after being elected President of the University of Toronto Greek Student Association. During his tenure, the Organization experienced unprecedented membership growth and expanded its network across Canada. His leadership was instrumental in forming a unified network of Greek student organizations across Ontario, while also contributing to local events and initiatives within his own community. 

Thomas looks forward to using his leadership experience to expand NHSA's presence in Canada and to continue growing the thriving network of Greek students and young professionals across North America.

Mideast: Theodora Walton

Theodora Walton is a third-year undergraduate majoring in International Affairs and minoring in Arabic at The George Washington University where she also serves as the Vice President of the Hellenic Student Association and works for the Institute for International Economic Policy.

Theodora was born in New York, NY. As such, she is a die-hard Rangers fan! Her father is Irish-American and her mother is Greek-Romanian. Her Hellenic heritage hails from Lafkos, South Pelion and Rethymno, Crete.

Having grown up in Croatia, Denmark, and Bahrain, Theodora always looked forward to spending her summers in Greece. From 2015 to 2019, she was the Assistant Coordinator and Translator for the Fampeion Museum of Art Annual Children’s Art Workshop. This past summer, she served on the Greek America Corps teaching English to unaccompanied refugee minors on the island of Chios.

This is her first term as Regional Director of the Mideast. She is elated to build community with a purpose and celebrate Hellenism across the United States!

Northeast: Daphne Asteriadis

Daphne is a proud lifelong New Yorker. She holds a Bachelor’s degree from Davidson College with a major in Political Science and is now pursuing her Master of Health Administration at Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health. She is also a Senior Associate at CAQH where her work centers on addressing operational challenges in healthcare. She is passionate about healthcare digital innovation policy and health equity issues. Daphne grew up going to Greek school at the Cathedral School in Manhattan, visiting her family in Thessaloniki every summer, and watching old Greek films -- with her all time favorite movie being “Μερικοί το προτιμούν κρύο.” She also briefly lived in Greece and is bilingual. Daphne looks forward to serving on the board and to helping NHSA grow as a vibrant forum for young Greeks and Greek Americans.

Southeast: Stephanie Owens

​Stephanie Owens was born in Athens, Greece. At the age of 14, she moved with her family to Tampa, Florida and she now resides in Tallahassee, Florida. Her Hellenic Roots stem from Agrinion on her Mother’s side. She spends her summers visiting family and exploring Greece as much as she can.  

In April of 2021, Stephanie graduated Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science in Criminology and Criminal Justice at Florida State University in Tallahassee, Florida. While working on her major, she simultaneously pursued minors in psychology, sociology, and public administration while also completing a certfication in Emergency Management and Homeland Security. While pursuing her degree at Florida State University, Stephanie held various leadership roles including positions on Dance Marathon at Florida State University and Homecoming. She was actively engaged with the Greek community in Tallahassee as well. Through her leadership positions and her involvement in the Hellenic community in Tallahassee, Stephanie has been able to network and is working on establishing a Hellenic Society organization on campus. After graduation, Stephanie remained in Tallahassee and is now pursuing her Master of Science degree in Criminology. 

In her free time, Stephanie enjoys traveling and making new connections with those that share similar interests and share the same cultural characteristics. These are reasons why Stephanie decided to join the NHSA as the Southeast Regional Director. Stephanie hopes to bring together more college students and allow for them to find a community within their universities that they relate to. Stephanie has developed communication and networking skills that she hopes to use in order to strengthen her goals and connect with various schools on a larger scale. Stephanie is excited to be joining NHSA and cannot wait for an amazing year! 

Digital Marketing Strategist: Antonia Macris

​​Antonia Macris is a first-generation Greek Canadian born and raised in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, with Hellenic roots from Zakynthos and Samos, Greece. She is currently completing her MA in Educational Technology at Concordia University with an interdisciplinary background, having previously completed a Master of Environment at Concordia and a Graduate Diploma in Public Relations and Communications Management at McGill University. She has been involved with NHSA since 2014, has attended six conventions and has been appointed this year in the role of Digital Marketing Strategist, while having previously served on the board as Regional Director for Montreal and Ottawa in 2016 and in 2020.

 Her research interests aim to intersect her fields around the topic of global environmental education and sustainable behaviour change communication across corporate, national and international sectors. Antonia has previous work experience with the United Nations Environment Programme, environmental non-profits, youth organizations and at McGill and Concordia Universities, where she developed student-alumni engagement events programming for professional development and experiential learning opportunities. She is currently working as a Courseware Developer in Corporate Learning Strategies with the Government of Canada.

Antonia’s passion for preserving Hellenic cultural traditions has led to her volunteering with multiple local and international Hellenic non-profit and philanthropic organizations. She is currently serving her second term as President of Maids of Athena Montreal Chapter Electra 52 and is a current Board of Directors Member with the AHEPA Family Charitable Foundation of Canada (AFCFC). Previously held executive positions include President of the McGill Hellenic Student Association, Vice-President of the Hellenic Student Association of Concordia and Vice-President External of La Troupe Folklorique Grecque Syrtaki Dance Group, with whom she is currently the Co-Chair of their 40th Anniversary Committee. She has also participated in the Pan-Messinian Kalamata University Program and represented Canada in the Vouli Ton Efivwn Greek Parliamentary Program. Antonia is very excited to be able to bring her experiences in communications and public relations to her role as Digital Marketing Strategist and to continue her support in promoting the Hellenistic ideals and mission of NHSA.

Consultant: Fotis Karantonis

Fotis was born and raised in the heart of Toronto’s Greektown. His Greek roots are from Karditsa on his father’s side and Sparti from his mother’s side. Fotis received his Bachelor of Commerce from the Ted Rogers School of Management at Ryerson University, majoring in hospitality and tourism management. His education at Ryerson consisted of a theoretical knowledge base and practical skill set, preparing him for the hospitality & tourism industry. In 2015, Fotis attended the Pan-Messinian Kalamata University Program where he participated in Greek language, history and music classes. He also toured all over the Peloponnese with students of Greek descent from all over the world. During this trip, Fotis developed a deep appreciation for the connection of the Greek Diaspora. For two years he was President of the Hellenic Students Association at Ryerson University, which allowed him to get involved with the Ryerson Student Union, collaborate with a variety of student groups and engage with the Greek student body. Most importantly, he had the chance to practice various skills that can be applied in the professional world such as leadership, team building, networking and marketing. Since 2018, Fotis has been in the food and beverage division at the Four Seasons Hotel in Toronto where he is growing his skill sets of the hospitality industry. Fotis is a member of the Hellenic Heritage Foundation’s Next Gen Committee. Fotis was the Toronto - Regional Director for his first two years in the NHSA executive board. In his third year, Fotis became Director of Operations. In 2021, Fotis became the first Canadian President of NHSA and made sure to achieve official non-profit organization status in Canada. Fotis is maintaining his role as Chair of the Toronto Convention Planning Committee and excited for the much anticipated Toronto convention in fall 2022. Fotis is very excited to apply his NHSA experience towards his position as Consultant and guide the 2022 executive board to greater success.

Chief Negotiating Officer: Zac Cotronakis

​Zac Cotronakis is a fourth-year student of economics and history at The George Washington University. He is thrilled to serve as the NHSA’s Chief Negotiator in 2022, having previously served two terms as the NHSA’s Mideast U.S. Regional Director in 2020 and 2021. At GW, he is active within the Greek community and serves on the board of the GW Hellenic Student Association.
 
Zac is passionate about celebrating and promoting Hellenism in the United States. In addition to his work with the NHSA, he currently works for the National Hellenic Society, The Washington Oxi Day Foundation, and Manatos & Manatos, a Greek-owned lobbying firm that advocates for Greek, Cypriot, and Orthodox Christian interests in Washington.
 
He is a native of Cleveland, Ohio (go Browns!) and grew up in Juno Beach, Florida. All four of his grandparents are Greek immigrants. His paternal roots hail from Chania, Crete and his maternal roots hail from villages outside of Karlovasi, Samos.