The American Farm School hosted a dinner in the courtyard of the Aliki Perroti Educational Center in honor of Dr. Dan Robison, Dean Emeritus of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Iowa State University. The evening brought together senior leaders of the School, Trustees Thymis Efthymiadis, Kostas Kravvas, and Antonis Chatzigiannakis, elected officials from local and regional government, American Farm School alumni, partners, and media representatives.

The dinner was held just days before Greece’s Ministry of Education approved the establishment and operation of the AFS University of Science and Technology – University Legal Entity (AFSU-U.L.E.), a milestone resulting from the strategic partnership between the American Farm School and Iowa State University, one of the world’s leading Institutions in agriculture and life sciences.

In his remarks, Dr. Dan Robison emphasized that the relationship between the two Institutions is not a one-way collaboration but an equal partnership built on a shared commitment to addressing today’s most pressing environmental challenges. “This is not a partnership in which the American Farm School University turns to Iowa State University simply for assistance,” he said. “We are equally looking to you to help us. Together, we have the opportunity to make a meaningful contribution toward creating a better world.” Dr. Robison noted that the world faces increasingly complex global challenges and stressed that excellence, innovation, and meaningful societal impact will serve as the guiding principles of the new university. He added that the partnership will extend across education, research, entrepreneurship, mobility programs, and community engagement, helping to build more sustainable communities both in Greece and internationally.

Dr. Jeff Lansdale, President of the American Farm School and the AFSU-U.L.E., described the collaboration with Iowa State University as a defining milestone in the Institution’s next chapter. “Iowa State University is here today because of the American Farm School” he said. “At the same time, Iowa State University is open to building partnerships with other Greek universities, industry, the Greek government, and local authorities.”

Concluding the event, Dr. Kiki Zinoviadou, AFSU Provost, spoke about the strong sense of optimism surrounding the launch of the new university. She highlighted its vision to become an internationally oriented hub for education, research, and innovation, while further strengthening Thessaloniki’s role as a center of academic excellence and international engagement in Southeast Europe.