Zana Litos, PH.D.
Education and Professional Development
Professional Development Seminars: “Teaching Modern Greek as Second/Foreign Language”Department of Philology, University of Crete, Greece 2003, 2006 and 2008
EDIAMME Diploma Level 1, 2 and 3
Michigan Virtual University, Lansing, Michigan, 2003
Distance Learning /ONLINE Teaching Certification
Developing curriculum and teaching humanity courses ONLINE since 2003
University of Athens, Greece, University of Istanbul, Turkey, and University of Tirana, Albania, 1999
Doctor of Philosophy in Balkan History
Dissertation: Albania and Tanzimat Reforms during 19th century Ottoman Empire
Bachelor of Science in History & Turkish linguistics with minor in Muslim studies.
Professional Experience
Associate Professor at Michigan State University
Department of Religious Studies 01/2014 – Present
Department of Integrative Arts and Humanities, 09/2007- Present
Teaching courses: IAH 221 C Modern Balkan Culture; REL 205 Myth, Self and Religion
Department of French Classics and Italian 09/2006 - 05/2011
Taught Modern Greek language courses: GRK 103/104 (Beginning Level) and GRK 203/204 ( Intermediate Level)
CERES 2000-2007
Proficiency testing and tutorials on Albanian and Modern Greek languages for MSU students.
Associate Professor at Lansing Community College
Department of Social Science and Humanities 09/2001 – Present
Expanded existing curriculum and developed humanity courses as core courses: HUMS160“Mythology”, HUMS 213, "World Civilization I”, HUMS 214 “World Civilization II”
Director of Odyssey Greek Language & Cultural Program
Established and administered the program as a MSU community outreach for K-12 students of Lansing area
09/2001 – Present
Teaching Modern Greek as Independent Study to MSU students with special interest to pursue Modern Greek studies
Language Specialist (Translator/Interpreter) in USA
Michigan Weightwatchers 09/2007 - 2010
Defense Language Institute, USA …2011- Present
Review and edit Albanian and Greek Language Proficiency Test
7C Lingo Michigan 2016 – Present
Language Specialist (Teaching/Translator/Interpreter) Abroad
Department of Linguistics, National & Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece 09/1992-06/1997
Teaching Albanian and Turkish Languages
Translation Office, Ministry of Foreign Affair, Greece 1993-1997
Archive of Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Turkey, 1988-1989
Student Advisor and Cultural Outreach Activities
Albanian American Students Association, MSU
Faculty advisor since 2009
Modern Greek Student Club, MSU
Faculty adviser since 2007
Annual Global Festival, MSU
Faculty organizer of the Albanian and Greek Culture showcase
University Seminar with guest lecturer Prof. Christos Doumas, Emeritus Professor of Archeology, University of Athens:
Part I: The Cradle of Civilization, at James Madison College, Wednesday, April, 25th 2007 3:00-5:30 pm
Part II: Akrotiri Thera: A Cosmopolitan Harbor Town of the Second Millennium BC in the East Mediterranean, at Center of European & Russian/Eurasian Studies, International Study Program, MSU, Thursday, April 26th 2007 12:30-2:00 pm
Event organizer with sponsorship by Onassis Foundation and Hellenic Foundation
Annual World Language/Poetry Day at MSU campus
Mentored student showcase of Albanian culture and history
Off campus annually Greek-American culture outreach activities such as Balkan night, Bouzouki Night, Albanian-Greek night promoting the culture of the region.
Event organizer
Professional Memberships
American Historical Association (AHA).
American Hellenic Education Association (AHEPA)
American Hellenic Congress, USA
Computer Skills
Certified ONLINE Instructor
ONLINE Course Design
Multi-media and computer-aided language teaching
Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, Access, Angel, DesireToLearn, Blackboard, PowerPoint, and Web Design.
Languages
Greek, Albanian, Turkish, Italian, French, English.
Publications and Books
“History of World Civilizations. From antiquity to mid XVth century” First Edition, Tirana, Elve, November 2013. ISBN: 9 789995 612528 (based on a contract with the Department of Education of Albania, as university textbook)
“Albania and the Tanzimat”. March 2002, ISBN 99927-1-529-4.
“Albanians in Greece”, “Botimpex”, Albania, April 1999. ISBN 99927-628-3-7.
Oral Presentations in Conferences and Congresses.
Abdyl Frasheri - the leader of Albanian National Movement for Independence, according to unknown documents. Paper in Albanian delivered at the Conference “The Role of the community of Frasheri in Albanian history”, organized by the Frasheri Foundation in Tirana, Albania, May 4, 2014
The position of Greek Women of Albania as a minority in a challenging world. Paper in English delivered at the Panel “MightyAphrodites. Greek Women in the 20th century” organized by Department of Modern Greek Studies, U0M, Ann Arbor, MI. March 30, 2002
Nationalism and Democracy in the Balkans: The case of Albania, an historical perspective. Paper in English at the Conference on Progress and Challenges in Democratization and Economic Liberalization organized by CEERS, MSU & Uppsala University, June 8-10, 2001. Babes-Bolyai University Cluj, Romania.
The Academy of Moschopolis- an advanced Greek cultural teaching center of Enlightenment in the Balkans during the 18th century. Presentation at CEERS, MSU. March 26, 2000.
The impact of Greek Culture in the Balkan region during the 18th century. Presentation during “Greek Week at MSU” organized by Odyssey Greek Language & Cultural Program and CYGRA , April 9, 2001.
Greek Minority of Southern Albania according to Turkish Documents. Paper delivered in French at the “The Medieval Albanians” International Symposium, organized by the Institute for Byzantine Research of the National Hellenic Research Foundation. May 3-5, 1996. Athens, Greece.
The religious, cultural and social thoughts at the editions of Moschopolis’s Academy during 18th century. Paper delivered in French at the Seventh Congress of Southeast Europe. August 29-September 3, 1994.Thessaloniki, Greece.
The editions of Moschopolis’s Academy- a cultural Balkan phenomenon. Paper delivered in Albanian at the “The European Heritage Days” International Symposium, organized by the Council of Europe. October 23-25, 1998.Tirana, Albania.
A demographic analysis of the unpublished Ottoman Register of 1583 regarding the Greek minority of Delvinas region). Paper delivered in French at the “The Medieval Albanians” International Symposium, organized by the Institute for Byzantine Research of the National Hellenic Research Foundation. May 3-5, 1996. Athens, Greece.
The Albanian historiography and the origin of Albanians. Presentation in Greek to scholars and students at the MNIMON Center, April 1994. Athens, Greece.
A etymological research about Albanian toponyms in Greece. Presentation in Greek at the Center of Neohellenic Researchers of the National Hellenic Research Foundation. December 1993. Athens, Greece.