Vicky Kynourgiopoulou
Center Director-
Locations
- Athens, Greece
Biography
Dr. Vicky Kynourgiopoulou is a distinguished scholar, cultural heritage specialist, and academic leader with over three decades of experience in higher education, cultural diplomacy, and sustainable development. Educated in archaeology, architectural history, and neuroscience in the UK, she has held senior leadership roles as Academic Dean at Georgetown University in Qatar, Loyola University Chicago’s Rome Center, and CEA/CAPA Academic Programs, where she developed innovative experiential learning models and intercultural curricula across Europe and the Middle East.
Dr. Kynourgiopoulou bridges academia and heritage leadership, transforming lessons from the field into living classrooms. Her work across universities, UNESCO initiatives, and government collaborations reflects her belief that education extends beyond the classroom; it is built, restored, and reimagined across cultures with the same care and purpose as a monument.
She has designed and led immersive global education and heritage programs with Yale, Columbia, Oxford, the Bartlett School of Architecture, and UN-Habitat, among others, advancing field-based learning, sustainability, and cross-continental collaboration in transformative, place-based education.
Before joining CIEE, she served as Chief Development Officer and Senior Advisor for UNESCO projects in the MENA region, leading multi-billion-euro programs in heritage conservation, cultural policy, and destination development. Her leadership has been recognized with UNESCO distinctions for excellence in sustainable heritage management and educational innovation.
A published scholar, her research explores cultural heritage governance, museology, heritage trafficking, and sustainable development. She also advises National Geographic and the History Channel, contributing expertise to global dialogues on cultural heritage and public history. A certified EQ coach and Governor of St. Catherine’s British School in Athens, she fosters empathetic leadership, educational excellence, and global citizenship.