Alumni corner: Iliyan Iliev

I was an International Relations major at the American College of Thessaloniki from 2013 to 2017. Since my first semester at ACT I was involved at the Dukakis Center, first as a volunteer, and then as an intern. It was a life-changing experience for me because it allowed me to participate in multiple activities that I had never done before.

Initially, I started as part of the Honors program at ACT, through which I did an internship at the Navarino Network in Thessaloniki. Then, I was involved in shooting a documentary for the Dukakis Center, which allowed me to develop new skills and learn new things about filmmaking with the help of producer Christos Nikoleris.

During my second and third year at ACT, I participated in multiple projects organized by the Dukakis Center, primarily as a photographer, which contributed to the development of my self-discipline and my time management skills. Finally, during my fourth year of studies, I was nominated senior intern at the Dukakis Center, working simultaneously on four different projects, coordinating the rest of the interns of the organization, and producing and co-starring on an in-house radio program with Dr. Wisner. 

All this contributed to the positive development of my personality and played an important role in the process of becoming the person, who I am today. For this reason, I believe that the Dukakis Center is place where students learn that public service is a “must” for all of us to live in a better society and, hence, in a better world.