Dr. Panos Kanellis is named the 8th president of the American Farm School
(1/12/2009)

Dear Members of the American Farm School Community:

I am pleased to announce that Panos Kanellis has been named the 8th president of the American Farm School following his appointment by the School’s Board of Trustees. He succeeds William McGrew, after his distinguished and deeply appreciated service to the institution.

Dr. Kanellis is superbly qualified to provide the outstanding leadership that celebrates and builds on the American Farm School’s distinctive strengths and core values, and advances its mission of preparing future leaders in agriculture, food systems, and life sciences. In a rapidly changing environment, and under increasingly challenging economic conditions for nonprofit educational organizations, Dr. Kanellis also brings valuable strengths in business management and entrepreneurship to those he has honed as a scientist and a seasoned senior academic and administrative leader.

For the past eight years, Dr. Kanellis has served as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer for Anatolia College, a U.S. nonprofit educational institution in Thessaloniki operating a four-year business and liberal arts college with a graduate MBA program, K-12 schools, and a two-year International Baccalaureate program. He also held the post of Provost of Anatolia’s tertiary division, the American College of Thessaloniki. Prior to becoming Executive Vice President, Dr. Kanellis served Anatolia as Senior Vice President for Administration and Finance, and was a member of the college’s teaching faculty.

A Thessaloniki native, Dr. Kanellis was graduated from Anatolia College and went on to complete undergraduate and graduate studies in the U.S., earning his Ph.D. in Bio-Organic Chemistry from the University of Houston. After several years of teaching and research in the field of bio-organic chemistry during academic appointments at U.S. universities, Dr. Kanellis returned to Greece, where he held several top managerial positions in private industry before electing to serve his alma mater.

We believe that Dr. Kanellis’ background in academe, capped by his deep administrative experience at Anatolia, his executive positions in private industry, thorough understanding of the educational systems and culture of both Greece and the U.S., proven leadership skills and, finally, energizing vision of the future of the American Farm School rooted in a recognition of its unique history and mission, will ensure an inspiring and successful presidency. We invite everyone associated with the School to join in welcoming Dr. Kanellis to our community.

Sincerely,
 

Charlotte P. Armstrong

Chairman of the Board of Trustees

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