La Trobe University announced that Professor Chris Mackie from Melbourne University will head the new Research Centre for Greek Studies.

The new Centre will replace the former National Centre for Hellenic Studies and Research also known from its Greek acronym EKEME, that was closed down at the end of 2008.

Professor Mackie is currently the Director of the Centre for Classics and Archaelogy in Melbourne University.

Professor Mackie talked exclusively to Neos Kosmos English Edition (NKEE) about his initial priorities as the new Director.

“The first thing to do is to pull together all the different strands of Greek studies at La Trobe and begin engaging with the Greek community and restoring those links,” Professor Mackie said.

His impressive research credentials include among other things the Homeric Epics, Greek mythology and the reception of Classical antiquity in modern times with particular reference to the attitude towards the Classics before, during, and after the Great War, focusing on the Gallipoli campaign of 1915.

When asked if the new Centre will concentrate more on his research interests in Ancient Greek studies as opposed to Modern Greek, Professor Mackie was emphatic that both disciplines will be given equal footing.

“The Greek language and Greek culture has a continuity from antiquity all the way through contemporary Greek and I think that the best model for Greek studies is to try to bring this continuity to the full,” he underscored.

Professor Mackie further argued that there are programs in other renowned universities around the world such as Kings College in London and Princeton University in the U.S. that do exactly this.

The Vice-Chancellor of La Trobe, Professor reiterated the University’s dedication to the success of the new Centre.

“The establishment of the Research Centre affirms La Trobe University’s long-standing strong commitment to this key area of research. The integration of the Centre within the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences will promote multidisciplinary research in topics related to Greece, its modern history and the study of Greek Diaspora around the world, and will link the teaching of the Greek language to wider Greek study programs and research.”

La Trobe’s Vice-Chancellor stressed that the appointment of Professor Mackie will facilitate the initiation of programs to extend Greek studies at the University that will also increase higher education access for students from the Greek community.

Professor Johnson acknowledged that volunteers and donors from the Greek community contributed enormously with their time and money to the establishment of La Trobe’s Hellenic programs and expressed the hope of continuing this relationship.

“We look forward to continuing to engage the Greek community in developing these programs, in enhancing international student mobility programs with Greece, and in the furthering of research into Greek issues of importance to the community.”