When: Wednesday, June 19, 2024, 11:30-13:00
Where: Events Hall – The American College of Greece

Organized by: The ACG Office of Public Affairs in collaboration with Kathimerini

Moderated by: Athanasios Ellis, Editor-in-Chief, Kathimerini English Edition

About the event:

The ACG Distinguished Speakers Series 2024 presents United States Congressman John Sarbanes for an interactive discussion with Deree students on strengthening civil society, securing democratic engagement and anchoring politics in service. As chair of the Task Force on Strengthening Democracy, a senior member of the Energy and Commerce Committee and a leader within the Hellenic Caucus, Congressman Sarbanes will also address his work on health, environment and energy issues and comment on US – Greece relations.

The event is open to the public. Parking upon availability.

About the speaker

Congressman Sarbanes has represented the 3rd Congressional District of Maryland since 2007. His time in Congress has been anchored by service on the Energy and Commerce Committee where he has focused on health care, clean energy and environmental issues, particularly protecting and preserving the Chesapeake Bay. Appointed by Speaker Nancy Pelosi to chair the Democracy Reform Taskforce, Congressman Sarbanes led efforts to assemble HR1, the Freedom to Vote Act, a historic suite of reforms to protect the right to vote, clean up corruption in Washington and restore trust, transparency and integrity in government. He is also the proud author of the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program which has forgiven a combined amount of $62.8 billion for almost 876,000 student borrowers who made the decision to pursue careers as teachers, first responders, non-profit advocates and other pursuits in the public service arena. But above all, his number one priority has always been serving his constituents with timely and efficient case work, along with thoughtful and informative communication. He is keenly aware that the true movers and shakers in the world are the many unsung heroes —individuals and organizations— who commit every day to making a difference in their local communities.

Congressman Sarbanes is deeply connected to his Greek heritage and its emphasis on hard work, pursuit of excellence and commitment to family and community. His grandparents, Spyros and Matina Sarbanes immigrated in the early 1900s from small villages in the Southern Peloponnese and opened a restaurant in Salisbury, Maryland. Their emphasis on service and volunteerism is embodied in Congressman Sarbanes’ career and in that of his late father, Senator Paul Sarbanes. A champion of issues affecting Greece and Cyprus, Congressman Sarbanes serves on the Hellenic Caucus and, for more than a decade, has hosted the annual St. Andrews Freedom Forum reception on Capitol Hill to bring awareness to the plight of the Ecumenical Patriarchate. Born and raised in Baltimore, Congressman Sarbanes graduated from Princeton University and earned a Fulbright Scholarship to Greece before attending Harvard Law School. Before coming to Congress, he worked for nearly two decades in the public, private and nonprofit sectors.