BOSTON – George Cantonis, the newly elected president of Hellenic College and Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology granted his first exclusive interview to The National Herald. He spoke about his vision for the School and explained why he decided to assume the presidency knowing the dire situation of the School under the previous administration of the Archdiocese and of the School.
The entire interview follows:
The National Herald: How do you feel about your recent election to the presidency of HCHC?
George Cantonis: I am honored and humbled to have been chosen to assume this position. It is an awesome responsibility given the critical role HCHC plays in our faith in this country.
TNH: What motivated you to accept the presidency knowing firsthand the difficult condition of the School these past few years?
GC: As a board member and then vice chair, I became very aware of the challenges our School faces, and they are serious and profound. However, I also saw other things that convinced me that the situation could be significantly improved, allowing it to secure and advance the future of Orthodoxy in America through its educational mission.
I believe that many of the circumstances being faced currently can be addressed by the application of disciplined management. Further, once that was in place, there existed significant opportunities in enhanced financial controls, fundraising, academic improvement, and then outreach and service to the greater Orthodox community beyond our campus.
I attended classes, and sitting in the back of the room, I watched the dynamics of the classroom and the performance of both students and faculty. I was very impressed, by both the focus of the students, and by the teaching skills of the faculty. I saw that the education being delivered at our School was something of which to be proud. And with the broadening of programs, deepening of areas of expertise, and the application of advanced educational technology, realizing our academic potential was realistically within reach.
I am living on campus, and have come to know many of the student body from contacts in chapel, the library, the classroom, and in eating together and talking in the cafeteria. One can only be motivated by this interaction. Our students are young Orthodox Christians who have come to HCHC to learn in an environment that is infused with an Orthodox ethos. They are here to receive the knowledge, training, and a faith experience that will result in their becoming clergy or serving the faith in other ways when they graduate. It is exciting to speak to them about both their intellectual and spiritual journeys here. There is little that can be more motivating than that.
TNH: How is the School of Theology unique?
GC: Holy Cross is unique because it is the sole Greek Orthodox graduate school of theology in the United States, and as such carries the special responsibility of both preparing priests for our communities by making them as highly trained as possible but also in providing profound study and advancement in Orthodox theology. That is accomplished with fine faculty, a rigorous chapel schedule, and both pastoral and parish experiences. Relationships with the Boston Theological Institute allow for expanded educational opportunities, and Holy Cross trips to Greece are available to further broaden the experiences and faith development of future priests.
TNH: Tell us some of key priorities that you will execute the next few months?
GC: Continuing the implementation of management and financial systems, maintaining cost controls, and instituting a zero based budget process; working with our new interim deans to evaluate what opportunities can be implemented in both the short and long term to enhance our students’ educational experience, including program reviews; facilitate and implement more frequent communication with all of the constituencies of HCHC: students, faculty, board, alumni, other major Orthodox-based entities. And HCHC must be transparent in that communication and not just timely.
In the immediate Boston area, we will reach out to the academic community and the Greek orthodox organizations to develop more frequent interactions of both an academic and cultural focus. We will also reach out to donors to advise them of the changes taking place at our School with the hope of redeveloping confidence in the institution’s ability to professionally manage itself.
Obviously the above list is not complete but gives a sense of direction. But all must be done while not losing focus on the spiritual experience and religious education of our students.
TNH: If you had a message for the hierarchs, the priests, the parish council presidents and members, the businessmen, the congregants of the parishes of the Greek American Community, what would that message be?
GC: That HCHC is confronting its challenges and has made significant progress in a short period of time. That short and long term financial plans are being developed and executed to assure sustainability and growth. That faculty and staff have been cooperative and supportive, and that there is unity of purpose from His Eminence Archbishop Elpidoforos as chair and from the board of trustees.
That these challenges have not impacted the academic offerings or educational quality of the school, and that our constant focus is on improving them to the highest degree possible.
And that for the school to be successful, we need the support of all of our faithful.
TNH: How is the economic situation of the School at this moment? Is there any money left in the Endowment Funds?
GC: With the increase in support from the Archdiocese, and the implementation of cost controls, we are on track to achieve a balanced budget at the end of our fiscal year, which was our goal.
However, past losses have left the School with significant debt that needs to be repaid in full over time. The borrowing from the endowment has been recently audited and a plan has been implemented to repay it over time. Our budgets take into account that annual repayment. Our endowment is approximately $28 million. Our borrowing against that balance is $7.7 million. Our bank debt carrying costs are also being covered in our budgets. A plan is being implemented to retire that debt within several years.
TNH: How are you going to use the annual grants of $2 million from Greece?
CG: The options as to how those funds are used will be initially developed by our finance committee. Those options will then be presented to the board of trustees, which will make the final decision. The evaluations will commence once the funds are received.
TNH: Where do you envision the School to be in five years from now?
GC: With a culture defined by a combination of faith in action, management discipline, and a never satisfied striving for excellence; all debt repaid; a budget that allows for income in excess of expenses to allow funding for growth while not requiring any further debt; an endowment of $50,000,000; three additional endowed chairs; a student body over 300; a reputation among our faithful that we are graduating seminarians who are up to the demands of our Church in the challenging future in which they will serve; an academic reputation that generates such great interest among Orthodox theologians that there is great demand to be here.
TNH: What is your opinion of Archbishop Elpidophoros?
GC: HCHC has been most blessed with the elevation of Archbishop Eplidophoros as the head of our Church in the United States. As chairman of the board and as Archbishop, he has been accessible, supportive, and has provided exceptional leadership. The progress we have made in the last seven months would not have been possible without him. As president, I am personally thankful for his thoughtful input and advice, and his understanding that occasions arise, both problems and opportunities, where well-considered but prompt decisions must be made or actions taken. It is my pleasure and honor to be working with him.
The post New President of HCHC George Cantonis Speaks Exclusively to TNH appeared first on The National Herald.