Kelly Polychroniou

Kelly Polychroniou is the Head of the Modern Greek Language Program and a Master Lecturer at Boston University, where she has been teaching courses in Modern Greek language, literature, and film since 2006. She holds an M.A. in Applied Linguistics from the University of Massachusetts and a B.A. in German Language and Literature from the University of Athens. Her teaching portfolio includes innovative courses such as Modern Greek Culture and Film, Cavafy and History, and The Modern Greek Short Story, which combine classical texts with contemporary cultural analysis. She has also designed and led immersive study abroad programs in Greece, connecting students with Greek heritage through language, literature, and the arts.

Mrs. Polychroniou has directed Boston University’s summer programs in Athens and currently serves as Director of the Boston University Philhellenes Summer Program. She is deeply involved in curriculum development, teacher training, and academic advising, and has organized numerous events and lectures to promote Greek culture both on campus and internationally. Her scholarly work includes projects on Cavafy and modern Greek identity, and she has presented at conferences on Greek language pedagogy, translation studies, and the educational applications of AI. She also serves as an examiner for the Certification in Greek Language (Ellinomatheia). In addition to her university-level teaching, she has extensive experience instructing students at the elementary, middle, and high school levels, further demonstrating her commitment to Greek language education across generations.

In 2023, Mrs. Polychroniou received a BU Digital Learning & Innovation FLAG AI grant for her work on integrating ChatGPT into Modern Greek language instruction. Her longstanding commitment to the promotion of Greek language and culture, combined with her expertise in both traditional and emerging technologies, underscores her dedication to preserving and innovating the teaching of Hellenism in the modern world. As she often emphasizes ” Learning Greek is not just acquiring a language—it is entering a world of ideas, memory, and meaning that continues to inspire global culture and human thought.”