We’re excited to announce the appointment of Ohio native Steven Nikolakis as the Greek America Foundation’s new Director of Membership. He will focus on implementing a new membership initiative that is crucial to the long term sustainability of the organization.
From Steven:
“I am excited to serve as Director of Membership for the Greek America Foundation, bringing a professional focus on strategic engagement and community-building shaped by my work at Stonewall Columbus. In my role at Stonewall, I lead efforts to grow and steward a diverse membership base, designing initiatives that deepen engagement, strengthen retention, and connect individuals more meaningfully to mission-driven work.
My commitment to this work is deeply rooted in my Greek heritage. Raised in a proud Greek-American household, I am the son of parents from Crete and Samos, whose stories, traditions, and values instilled in me a lasting sense of identity and responsibility to community.
I grew up actively engaged in Greek cultural life, participating in the Cretan Dance Group in Cleveland, attending Greek School, and remaining involved in church. These experiences fostered a strong foundation in our language, history, and shared traditions. Being awarded a scholarship from the Pancretan Association of America further connected me to the broader Greek-American community and reinforced the importance of investing in future generations.
My experiences traveling to Greece have deepened my connection to my heritage and reinforced my belief that cultural engagement should be accessible and inclusive, which is what ultimately inspired me to get involved and help create pathways for those with intersectional identities to connect with our community.
Today, I bring both personal passion and professional expertise to my work, with a focus on building meaningful pathways for engagement and ensuring that individuals feel connected to something larger than themselves. Through my role with the Greek America Foundation, I am committed to advancing opportunities that celebrate, sustain, and grow our community for generations to come.”