Where did you spend your early years?
I was born in Athens, and my family moved to New York when I was three. Then we moved to Puerto Rico, then back to Greece, and then to Spain, where I attended the American School of Madrid.
How did you choose the Dual BA Program Between Columbia University and Sciences Po?
Sciences Po seemed like a good fit because of my international upbringing. And I was drawn to GS because I had a nontraditional background. The combination that the Dual BA offered allowed me to explore my many interests.
Why was your experience in the program so valuable?
After two years studying economics at I loved being exposed to students from different backgrounds. I was in classes with people who had lived all over, who had been in war zones, or who had been doctors, and I appreciated that. And the first two years at Sciences Po’s Reims campus really set me up for success—it allowed me to ease into being a college student (and by extension, an adult) and was incredibly rigorous academically.
Why did you decide to attend Columbia’s School of International and Public Affairs for your master’s degree?
I have core interests in international relations, policy, and economics, but I wanted to deepen two areas of interest: sustainability and data science. I decided to pursue a master’s degree because I had gaps I needed to fill. And it felt right to return to Columbia to do it.
What have you been doing since earning your masters?
I am currently at 10a Labs, an applied research company specializing in AI. I also recently worked with Deon Policy Institute, a think tank focused on Greece. I coauthored a report on reforming Greece’s military service and was lucky to have an article published in Kathimerini, Greece’s largest newspaper.
How do you stay involved with Columbia?
I attend campus events, and I am an alumni ambassador. Whenever the alumni office needs someone to offer advice to students, I am happy to help.
What are your plans for the future?
I would love to earn a PhD one day, perhaps at Columbia again. In my free time, my interests include tennis and traveling—I want to hit my seventh continent, which will be Antarctica. I would love to live in a couple more countries before settling down, and I think living in Asia is my next target.
What advice would you give to students interested in the Dual BA?
Don’t worry too much about what comes after the Dual; just enjoy it while you’re there. I think it is very rare to have access to the breadth of options you have at Sciences Po and Columbia, so use them. Explore things, don’t be afraid to ask questions, and don’t just focus on academics. Soak up the social aspect and meet interesting people. Get out there and live.
