Summer 2012 Staff

One of the keys to the success of Ionian Village is its remarkable staff of talented and dedicated Orthodox Christian adults.

Our staff is selected from hundreds of applicants from across America, that undergo a rigorous application and interview process, and a thorough background investigation. Once hired, each staff member contributes his/her own expertise to IV's program during extensive planning sessions, and takes part in an intensive orientation and training program prior to camp.

With an average staff-to-camper ratio of 1:7, Ionian Village adheres to the American Camping Association's staff ratio standards, and is one of the most well supervised youth programs in existence.

To ensure the health and safety of all participants at Ionian Village, our staff includes Registered Nurses and/or Medical Doctors, and an experienced aquatics staff of certified lifeguards and water safety instructors

The spiritual life and religious instruction of the camp is led and coordinated by priests who participate from throughout the Archdiocese of America.

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Meet the 2012 Summer Staff!

 

Sofia Berberis

Sofia is a senior at San Jose State University where she studies biology with a minor in chemistry. She attends St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church in San Jose, California, where she took classes at the Greek school and was a part of a dance group. Currently, she is a dance director at St. Nicholas of a group called "Axios", which perfectly combines her passions for Greek dancing and working with children. Sofia also volunteers her time as a docent at the Hellenic Heritage Institute in San Jose, assisting whenever students from a school come for a field trip to learn about Greek history and culture. She enjoys exercising, whether it be playing sports, cycling, or hiking outdoors in the California sun! Sofia loves traveling to different countries and enjoys visiting art and history museums. She has spent a lot of time in Greece visiting her Yiayia and Papou every other year, and is very excited to have the opportunity to visit the country as a staff member at IV 2012!

 

Calli Copoulos

Calli is a Wisconsin native (Go Packers!) but lives in West Des Moines, Iowa teaching early childhood special education. She enjoys running, reading on her kindle, indulging in 49 cent cones from McDonalds, and spending time with family and friends. Calli looks forward to an amazing summer at Ionian Village!!!

 

 

 

Katina Doulis

Katina is from good ol’ South Jersey-but it’s not like any of the reality shows, she promises! This year has been a great transition and an exciting time for her. Katina graduated from Rowan University last spring, and is now teaching Art in an elementary school. Her job is very rewarding, and she enjoys working with children. The Arts are Katina's passion in life- she loves painting, cooking, playing music, and dancing. She performs with a semi-professional Pan-Macedonian dance troupe in the Philadelphia area. Aside from the arts, she enjoy being outdoors, especially the beach, and travelling. St. Anthony in Vineland, NJ is the parish Katina belongs to, which has practically been her second home growing up.  She's looking forward to being a part of the Ionian Village family this summer!

 

Sevaste Filosofos

Sevie a senior majoring in Health Services Administration at the University of Central Florida. She attends church at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church in sunny Orlando, Florida. Sevie attended Ionian Village as a camper in 2006, and Spiritual Odyssey in 2011 and is anxiously waiting to return again this summer. She’s also spent six summers as a camper or counselor at the Diakonia center in South Carolina. When Sevie’s not working or in class she’s busy managing the UCF wrestling team or playing with her Basenji, Zoey.

 

Vasiliki Fkiaras

Vasiliki Fkiaras, or Kiki (Keeks for short) is originally from San Jose, California and attended the St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church. She is a senior at Sonoma State University and attending the Ascension Cathedral in Oakland, California. Kiki is half Greek and half Panamanian! Fluent in spanish and proficient in greek, she is majoring in Kinesiology to one day become a Physical Therapist with a minor in Spanish. Kiki is obsessed with greek dancing and sports, and loves playing them and use to play in high school and college. She ran track and cross-country, played soccer, basketball and volleyball. She loves to sing and dance. She loves the outdoors and hiking, travelling, making new friends and getting to know people. Her goal is to one day read the bible from cover to cover, and it's on her bucket list! She is looking forward to having a great experience at IV this year and can't wait to create memories that will last a lifetime!

 

Alex Fornaciari

Alex is from Stamford, CT and is graduating in May from Saint Michael's College with a degree in Business Administration and a Minor in Finance, but only because they didn't have a degree in camp counseling!  He is half Italian and half Greek, and loves working with people. He loves the outdoors, food, to sing, dance, and have fun.  Alex has been lifeguarding since he was 16. As a camper in 2005 and 2006, he knew he would be coming back as a counselor one day. Alex can't wait to meet everyone soon!

 

James Heracklis

Jimmy is extremely excited about being a counselor for the Ionian Village Program. Jimmy was an active member of the St Nektarios Church GOYA program, attending the Winter Youth Rally as well as Saint Stephen’s Orthodox Youth Camp and serving as a counselor for St. Stephens.  Prior to college, Jimmy attended the CrossRoad Institute, a ten-day seminar held at Holy Cross which helps Orthodox young adults in discovering their true “vocation.”  Ask him about vocation and his experience at CrossRoad!

Jimmy attends North Carolina State University (Go Pack!) and is a senior majoring in Textile Engineering-Product Development. Jimmy has also worked with the College of Engineering’s Student Government to help improve the quality of student life while at NC State. Some of Jimmy’s interests and hobbies are participating in any sort of athletic and/or outdoor activity, learning about various cultures and their history, reading and learning about the church, watching the Wolfpack play, and photographing Orthodox churches. He hopes that with this program, the campers will be able to grow in their Faith, while having a meaningful once-in-a-lifetime experience in Greece!

 

Michelle Ioannou

  Michelle is absolutely in LOVE with camp! This love started when she was a camper herself at Ionian Village in 2008 (IV BV Ela Pella!). This life changing summer got her involved at Camp Saint Paul, where she has been a counselor for the past three summers. She has loved working with youth from the Direct Archdiocesan District and cannot wait to share her excitement for camp with youth from all over the country! Michelle is originally from Queens, New York where St. Nicholas in Flushing is her (much loved!) parish. She attends Fordham University where she is studying Communications & Media Studies on track to receiving her degree in May of 2013. She is currently interning at the American Cancer Society, working on campus in admissions, and on the executive boards of both Fordham’s Tour Guide Associate and Fordham’s Relay For Life. Most importantly, Michelle is a huge sports fan – Let’s Go New York Mets and New England Patriots!! She cannot imagine her life without camp, and is excited to put her ten years of Greek School to use this summer!

 

Irene Katradis

 Irene is very excited to return to Ionian Village as a staff member this summer. Having been a camper in 2007, she had an amazing experience and is looking forward to making new memories and friends. Irene is currently a junior at Salisbury University and is studying Conflict Analysis and Dispute Resolution with an International Track and a minor in History and Art.  When she is not busy volunteering at the Conflict Center as a mediator, or being active in the SGA, the TOMS Shoes Club, and her sorority “Zeta Tau Alpha”, she is spending time with her family and friends. Irene loves to dance (especially Greek dancing), watching movies, reading, photography, running, playing basketball, and traveling. She has a passion for her Greek heritage and helping others! She is looking forward to a fun-filled summer in beautiful, sunny, Greece!

 

 

Demetrios Klonaris

Demetrios, also known as Demi, is from Knoxville, Tennessee. Having been a camper himself at Ionian Village in 2008, he is so excited to share the experience of a life time with young Orthodox Christians.

 

 

 

 

Nonda Kozas

There are two things Nonda is passionate about, the water and his faith.  He has competed in swimming and waterpolo since he was young and still enjoys doing them in his spare time. He currently attends Santa Clara University where he is getting his degree in Civil Engineering.  His home parish, St. Nicholas, in San Jose where he has grown up, is conveniently down the street from Santa Clara. This close proximity has allowed him to take a more active role in the church while still maintaining a full class load.  This will be Nonda’s first experience with IV, and he couldn’t be more excited to start creating epic memories.

 

 

 

Anne Lenrow

Anne is from Washington, DC. and will be graduating in May from Gettysburg College where she majored in Political Science and French and minored in Spanish. She loves languages, traveling, and politics! She spent the summer of 2009 studying in Spain, her junior year of college in France, and last summer on the Hill working for Congress. During the summer of 2005, she was lucky enough to be a camper at IV and is so excited to be a counselor this upcoming summer!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Christina Loridas

Christina has always shared an extreme passion for the Greek culture and faith, cultivated throughout the years during many summers spent in the beautiful country itself. Growing up as a camper herself at the Metropolis of Boston camp, she then came to serve as a staff member over various summers. She developed a further love and appreciation for youth work through camp life as well as various internships at Teen Voices magazine in Boston.

Christina is a graduate from Suffolk University in Boston, Massachusetts and holds a Bachelor of Arts in communications with a concentration in print journalism. She enjoys nothing more than an ice-cold frappe in one hand and a notebook in the other, as well as imitating Greek men’s singing voices (Vassilis Karras anyone?) and the breathless, heart-stopping sensation one feels during a night of live Greek music!

 

 

Alyssa Loutsion

Alyssa is a recent University of Connecticut graduate where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Human Development and Family Studies. She is currently attending Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology to obtain a Master of Divinity, enabling her to follow her passion in Youth Ministry. She’s a camp obsessed Pittsburgh native with a huge soft spot for Troy Polamalu! Alyssa was a camper at Ionian Village in 2005 (Shout out to Delphi!) and has been a staff member at Camp Nazareth and the Metropolis of Boston Camp for various retreats and summer camps over the past 5 years. She enjoys singing camp songs wherever she goes, owns the first 2 seasons of Spongebob Squarepants on DVD, and still believes in her heart that the Spice Girls will reunite. But most of all, Alyssa is looking forward to the best summer EVER at Ionian Village!

 

Elias Mavromatis

Elias is from Damascus, Maryland and attends The Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University; better known as Virginia Tech. He is currently a junior working towards a degree in Business Information Technology. Elias was fortunate enough to attend Ionian Village as a camper and really just wants to give back to other people and help them experience what he was able to experience. He loves sports; any and all sports! Lacrosse and basketball are his favorites but if it’s a sport, he’ll play it. If you want to see him on the dance floor for some one-on-one Zimbekiko action then you better be ready for the big leagues, because he doesn’t mess around! You want a feta or halloumi eating competition? Bring it on, because he can eat so much tiri, they’ll have to start heading to the goats to make more before he sits down to start! Elias loves any kind of game, and is a bit competitive, so come to camp with games to play him, and make this the most memorable summer of your life!

 

Joeseph C. Mayes IV

Joe is thrilled to be a part of the 2012 Ionian Village Staff. He was a camper in 2005 and the love inspiring experience he had changed his life. Since then Joe has graduated from high school and is currently taking classes at Northern Virginia Community College. He is also a swim instructor and has been a lifeguard since he was 16. Despite having two jobs, school, and an active social life, he attends Sts. Constantine and Helen’s Greek Orthodox Church every Sunday as the alter boy supervisor. He enjoys all sports, playing guitar, and tries to stay physically active. Joe understands the importance of his Greek Orthodox faith and has seen the power of the love and connection had by all who participate in Ionian Village.

 

Gabrielle Nemchik

Gabrielle, "Gabby" is so excited to be going back to Ionian Village this summer. A natural nurturer, she will be going to Nursing School this fall. Gabby loves to sing, dance, and act, but she thinks it is most important to spread Hellenism and her faith with everyone she encounters. She is especially skilled in the art of Greek Dance and turning into a cheetah. She cannot wait to meet all the happy campers this year and get them fired up for their faith, Greek culture, and friendships that last a lifetime.

 

Christopher Palamara

Christopher is from Queens, New York, and a student at Hellenic College studying Business Management.  He has been working in youth ministry for the past four years as a camp counselor at the Direct Archdiocesan District camp, Camp Saint Paul, and as a GOYA adviser at his home parish, St. Nicholas in Flushing, NY.  As someone who has never been to Ionian Village as a camper or staff member, he is both nervous and excited.  Despite the fact that he has never attended, he is familiar with the stellar reputation that Ionian Village has, and promises to do his absolute best to meet those high expectations!

 

 

Yianno Pantazelos

Yianno Pantazelos has a Bachelor of Arts from UMass Boston- College of Public and Community Service. He is currently pursuing a Master of Divinity from Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology. Apparently he likes to go to schools with long names! He loves participating and being part of youth ministry! Yianno has been involved with several different youth ministries; a counselor at the Metropolis of Boston Camp  as well as mission trips to Tanzania, Guatemala, Mexico and New Mexico.  He is excited to see Greece from a whole new perspective and sharing the experience with the staff and campers! Pame, gia na fame!

 

Sara Pessimisis

Sara is absolutely thrilled to be serving the Orthodox Church as a Staff Member of IV! Having spent 3 summers as a Fanari Camp counselor in Chicago, she is ecstatic to take her counseling skills to a whole new level at Ionian Village! Sara has been devoted to working with the youth as a Sunday School teacher and Youth Ministries coordinator during her college years.

Sara will graduate in May 2012 with a double major in Communication and Spanish from the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana. Sara is a free spirited, nature loving, optimistic individual who enjoys running, yoga, and scrapbooking. She is looking forward to the wonderful experiences that await her and everyone else this summer! 

 

Georgea Polizos

Georgea will be joining the Ionian Village staff for the first time this summer! She attended IV as a camper and still remembers the amazing impact that the program had on her life as she prepared to leave home for college. After finishing her bachelor's degree in Education, Georgea spent two years working with international college students in Thessaloniki, Greece. Her experiences in Greece and travelling around the region led her to pursue a master's degree in International Affairs at Florida State University where she focused on Eastern Europe and education in areas of conflict. While completing her program at Florida State University, Georgea spent eight months studying and interning in London, UK and in Washington, DC. Georgea currently lives in Atlanta, her hometown, and her hobbies include visiting sketchy countries, drinking lots of coffee, playing tavli with her grandfather, and Greek dancing around the living room with her family.

 

George Sarraf

George was born and raised in Peoria, IL. His parents came to the US from a small town in Northern Lebanon, which is very unique and mostly populated by Orthodox Christians. George finished his ThM at Holy Cross a few years ago and currently lives in Thessaloniki, Greece, where he has been working on his doctoral studies. So, naturally, George speaks English, Arabic and Greek. His close connection and exposure to Orthodox Christianity around the world, in addition to his extensive experiences in educating our young people through programs like CrossRoad, means that George hopes to bring a great depth to IV this summer.

 

Nicholas Savas

Nicholas currently lives in Boston, MA and is a seminarian at Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology. On the campus of Holy Cross, Nicholas serves as an ambassador for the school, leading youth retreats and living out his passion for youth work. There is nothing he enjoys more than watching his Chicago Cubs lose on a consistent basis and sipping down an iced coffee from Dunkin Donuts. He has a soft spot for Nsync and Backstreet Boys, and is looking forward to his wardrobe consisting of soccer jerseys, cut off tee shirts, and flip-flops this summer.

 

Christian Stamates

The Greece! Who can't wait to spend a summer in The Greece? This guy! Christan served as a staff member in 2008 and 2009 and can't wait to assist Father Evagoras and his truly amazing and dedicated team over the summer at Ionian Village. Christian is once again blessed to have the opportunity to share the Ionian Village experience and will treasure the spiritual impact it provides.

Christian graduated from the University of California at Davis with a dual Pschology and Exercise Science degree. He is now the Athletic Trainer at Notre Dame de Namur University where he works closely with student-athletes in their recovery of athletic injuries. Also, Christian attends and is involved with various apsects at the Church of the Holy Cross in Belmont California. He cant wait for the Ionian Summer!

 

Anastasia Themelis

Anastasia is full of fun! She was born and raised in Seattle, WA and now resides in Orange County, CA. She graduated from Thurston County Fire Department and is now a full time EMT playing on an ambulance all day long! In her spare time, she soaks up the sun and the sandy beaches...only in preparation for IV 2012 of course!  She can't wait for this summer and to meet everyone! She is an IV alumni of 2005 and if it's anything like that year, it's going to be the best time ever! Counting down the days!!

 

Maria Tiches

Maria Tiches is a small-town girl with a city heart. She grew up in Smithsburg, Maryland and literally travel over the river and through the woods to Washington DC for church on Sundays. She graduated from James Madison University, in Virginia, with a Degree in Philosophy and Religion and work as a Banquet Assistant Manager at a Country French Restaurant. Maria is a Long-boarding chick who is obsessed with tie dying and dancing on sidewalks. She has been blessed with the opportunity of experiencing Ionian Village three times in her life; twice as a camper in 2003 and 2005, and last year as a member of the 2011 Staff! I'm super excited for another magical summer in Greece...Elllllla IV2012! 

 

Ariadne Tzoumas

Ariadne is incredibly excited to embark upon the Ionian Village journey! She loves working with children. She is a New York State certified French teacher. Having majored in French language, literature & culture with a minor in European Studies, Ariadne graduated from Stony Brook University in 2011. Her passions include all things French, although she cherishes and never forgets her Greek roots and heritage. She worked for 4 years as a Fitness & Wellness Coordinator at school and maintains a healthy and active lifestyle. Ariadne is involved in her home parish, serving as a GOYA advisor, Sunday School Teacher, Judge in the Oratorical Festival and Volleyball coach. Having served as a camp counselor at Camp Saint Paul, she understands the importance of camping ministries.

 

Despina Vastakis

After participating as a camper in this amazing program, Despina is very excited to be a part of the staff for Ionian Village this summer!  Despina graduated from Georgia Tech this past December with a degree in International Affairs and German.  While at school, she had the opportunity to both study and work abroad in Germany.  Currently living in her home town of Atlanta, Despina loves drinking frappes, playing tavli, Greek dancing, and all things Eurovision.  She is very excited to spend the summer in Greece celebrating her culture and faith with fellow staffers and campers!

 

Helen Williams

Helen was born and raised in central Virginia. With a degree in Psychology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, she plans on pursuing her Masters in Occupational Therapy. In her free time, she loves to play tennis, travel, watch Carolina basketball, and count the days until camp. Helen has been a summer camp addict for 14 summers and enjoys sharing her enthusiasm and love for camp with others. Helen is excited to serve on the Ionian Village staff and is looking forward to meeting “y’all.”

 

John Zecy

John first came to Ionian Village as a camper in 2006 in cabin Epiros (the best cabin) and feels honored and blessed to come back as a staff member this year! For the past four years, he has enjoyed serving as a camp counselor at Eastern Orthodox Youth Camp and as a GOYA advisor at Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church in Kansas City.

He will graduate in May of 2012 with a degree in Finance from the University of Kansas where he was president of the university’s OCF and works part time as a business statistics teaching assistant. He loves swimming, soccer, his Frisbee, and going to Greece to survive on gyros and olive oil. He has the same initials as Jay-Z but contrary to popular belief, they are not related.

 

Camp Office

Fr. Evagoras Constantinides, Director

Fr. Evagoras is very conscious of the remarkable spiritual impact Ionian Village has on our Greek Orthodox youth and young adults, having participated in the program multiple times as a camper and serving as a staff member for three years. He has extensive experience in the fields of youth and camping ministries, having served camps and conducting retreats across the country. Prior to entering the seminary, Fr. Evagoras served as a counselor at Fanari Camp in Chicago. He also served Camp Saint Paul, the camping ministry of the Direct Archdiocesan District, as both Boys Director and Program Director. Additionally, Fr. Evagoras served as Program Director at Summer Fenn Day Camp, a day camp for children in Concord, Massachusetts.

Fr. Evagoras holds a degree in Communication Studies from Monmouth College in Monmouth, Illinois and a Master of Divinity from Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology.

 

Konstantine Salmas, Assistant Director

Konstantine has been involved with Ionian Village since the late nineties. During his time at camp, Konstantine has participated in every aspect of being a staff member; he has led several cabins, served on the office staff, led Orthodox Life sessions, and was the Program Coordinator. Konstantine has been an active part of the continual development of the Ionian Village program over the past decade or so, contributing to the adding of fun and exciting activites as well as new excursions for campers.

He is a graduate of the University of California at San Diego (B.A. in Creative Writing), Notre Dame de Namur, and Holy Cross School of Theology (M.Div). Currently, he teaches at the Graduate Theological Union. Konstantine is the director of education and youth at the Church of the Holy Cross in Belmont, California.

 

Anastasia Kaloyanides, Program Coordinator

Anastasia first came to love Ionian Village as a camper in 1996 and was blessed to come back to the camp as a staff member in 2006, 2007 and 2008. She was involved in camping ministries at the Boston Diocese Camp through the 1990’s and served as administrative staff at Camp Saint Paul of the DAD in 2009.

She received her undergraduate degree in developmental psychology from Northeastern University in 2003  and graduate degrees in educational psychology and counseling at Arizona State University in 2008. She is currently the triathlon coach at Northeastern University and is studying Sports Psychology at Boston University. Anastasia is happy to be back to serve Ionian Village and is looking forward to an amazing summer filled with faith and fun.

 

Maria Madonna Constantinides, Camp Office

Maria is ecstatic to be working with her husband Fr. Evagoras to continue the mission of Ionian Village. Having served on staff for four summers and having been a camper herself, Maria appreciates the miracle that takes place each summer at IV and cannot wait to share her enthusiasm with the 2012 campers. With art history degrees from the University of Virginia and Boston University, Maria loves museums, exploring New York City, playing with her dog Elli, and all things Greek. She is modeling her amateur cooking career after her Yiayia and Kyria Sophia and is looking forward to a fun-filled summer encountering the beauty and inspiration of Greece!

 

Donna Balaouras, Camp Office

Donna is a very passionate and dedicated youth worker! She was part of the fantastic 2008 Ionian Village Staff (Forever on the Dance Floor!) where she enjoyed an amazing and life altering experience. She understands and lived the transformation that Ionian Village can have to any who encounters it and its remarkable experiences. She holds that summer to the highest regard and is grateful to be able to return to a place she loves in a new role!

Donna has experience working with diverse staffs in many different settings. She served as a Resident Assistant for two years at Brandeis University, was a camper and staff member of the Metropolis of Boston Camps, and is a 2010 Corps Member of the Teach for America Corps. She works as a 5th grade special education teacher in a low-income community of Lawrence, Massachusetts and she LOVES IT!

Donna holds a degree in Politics from Brandeis University in Waltham, Massachusetts and will hold a Masters of Education in Curriculum & Teaching from Boston University before Summer 2012! She is also planning a 2013 wedding with her fiancé Yianno Pantazelos who is a second year Seminarian and youth advisor!