The Center for Byzantine and Modern Greek Studies (CBMGS) secured $300,000 in renewed state funding.
Photo courtesy of Queens College
The Center for Byzantine and Modern Greek Studies (CBMGS) at Queens College announced on Tuesday, Aug. 11, that it has secured $300,000 in renewed funding.
The state grant was backed by state Sen. Michael Gianaris, the organization’s advisory board and the college’s administration.
Established in 1974, the Center for Byzantine and Modern Greek Studies promotes the study of Greek civilization through interdisciplinary teaching, research, and public programming initiatives.
The grant provides numerous benefits, including scholarships for undergraduate students majoring or minoring in Byzantine and Modern Greek studies; travel grants for City University of New York (CUNY) students applying to the Study Abroad in Greece program for the winter and summer 2027 sessions; travel grants for CUNY graduate students engaged in Byzantine and Modern Greek studies; funding for program conferences and lectures; and support for CBMGS administrative functions.
“The funding secured by Sen. Gianaris marks a transformative milestone for our center and the broader Queens College community,” said Fevronia Soumakis, director of the Center for Byzantine and Modern Greek Studies. “By investing directly in our students’ educational experience, this grant enables us to expand academic programming and research opportunities.”
Gianaris has previously secured funding for the Center for Byzantine and Modern Greek Studies, which allowed Soumakis to lead a college delegation to Greece this past June. The delegation resulted in stronger academic and cultural partnerships with universities and government representatives. In addition, last year’s funding allocations assisted the organization’s administrative functions and equipment needs.
“Queens College’s Center for Byzantine and Modern Greek Studies has been a mainstay of the Greek American community for decades, and I am proud to have secured funding so its mission can continue,” said Gianaris. “I look forward to many more years of success educating future generations about the importance of this history.”