The Board of Trustees of Hellenic American University has announced the appointment of Dr. Themis P. Kaniklidou as the institution’s new President. The announcement was made by the Board’s Chair, Jimmy Athanasopoulos, on February 26, 2026, and takes effect immediately.
“Dr. Kaniklidou assumes this role with the full confidence of the Board of Trustees,” said Mr. Athanasopoulos. “As we navigate a period of heightened global uncertainty and evolving challenges in higher education, she brings the administrative acumen and visionary leadership needed to guide the University forward, together with an unswerving commitment to our mission and to the enduring value of a liberal arts education.”
Among the new President’s immediate priorities are initiatives outlined in the University’s Five-Year Strategic Plan, including strengthening enrollment, enhancing educational effectiveness and student outcomes, and developing new academic partnerships.
Prior to her appointment, Dr. Kaniklidou—who earned her Ph.D. in Language and Communication from the University of Athens—served as the University’s Chief Academic Officer and Provost from 2020 to 2026. During her tenure, she led the institution’s successful interim accreditation in 2022, oversaw the expansion of its study-abroad programs, and helped lay the groundwork for greater academic and operational cohesion between the Athens and Nashua campuses. Earlier, she served as Associate Director of the University’s Ph.D. in Applied Linguistics program, which she helped establish and for which she assembled an internationally distinguished faculty of visiting scholars.
Reflecting on the appointment, Mr. Athanasopoulos noted that the Board sees Dr. Kaniklidou’s leadership as central to the University’s next phase of development. “We are moving forward with purpose,” he said. “By strengthening our governance structures and supporting President Kaniklidou’s leadership, we are positioning the University to serve its students and the broader academic community with distinction in the years ahead.”