All Our People

In this section we provide an overview of all people who have contributed in various ways to the Unit for Rehabilitation of Victims of Torture since its establishment. The Future Worlds Center Board and Staff are thankful to all for their valuable input, ideas and work.

Dr. Yiannis Laouris

Dr. Yiannis Laouris is a Senior Scientist and President of CNTI. Heads the “New Media in Learning,” and the Neuroscience Lab. Neuroscientist (MD, PhD) and Systems engineer (MS) trained in Germany and the US. Publishes in the area of learning through computers, the web and mobile phones and about the potential role of IT to bridge the gaps (economic, gender, disabilities etc.) in our society. Participates in Cost219: Accessibility for All, and Cost276: Knowledge Management. Laouris was a co-founder of a chain of computer learning centers for children (www.cyber-kids.com). The curriculum (a new learning theory based on an educationally relevant and socially responsible approach) developed by members of the applicant organization under his supervision received 7 international awards for innovation and social responsibility. He is the Executive Director for the CyberEthics project.

Ms. Elia Petridou

Ms. Elia Petridou has been working with the Future Worlds Center since 2004. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree from New Jersey City University with a double major in Economics and Political Science, and a Masters in International Relations from McGill University. In the organization she served as coordinator for the Media literacy project between 2003-2004. She has also coordinated projects on social issues like Media Literacy, EU Citizenship and Human Rights. She was the first Coordinator of the Unit for the Rehabilitation of Victims of Torture and her work interests continue to concentrate on Humanitarian and Development activities. Ms. Petridou is a trained facilitator for the Structured Dialogic Design Process and serves as the Secretary of the Cyprus Intercultural Training Initiative.

Ms. Corina Drousiotou

Ms. Corina Drousiotou has a degree in law from the Aristotelio University of Thessaloniki, Greece and a Master’s degree in European and International Trade Law, University of Leicester, UK. She has been with C.N.T.I. since May 2006 and is a legal consultant for asylum seekers and refugees on the UNHCR funded project 'Strengthening Asylum in Cyprus.’ Ms. Drousiotou was instrumental in setting up the URVT Unit, where she also has donated her services as a legal advisor.

Ms. Tonia Loizidou

Ms. Tonia Loizidou started with FWC in 2006 holding the position of administrator. She was involved in EU Citizenship and Human Rights Program and the CyberEthics projects; she also coordinated the Peaceful Europe project and was one of the first psychologists for the Unit for the Rehabilitation of Victims of Torture. Ms. Tonia Loizidou holds a BSc in Psychology from Central Michigan University, USA and an MSc in Applied Psychology from Brunel University, UK. She is also in the process of receiving her qualification in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy from Beck Institute of 43 Cognitive Therapy and Research, USA.

Ms. Vipar Uthenpong

Ms. Vipar Uthenpong has a undergraduate degree from the University of Texas at Austin and a Masters in Business Administration from Texas State University in San Marcos. She began working with CNTI in May 2006. Her activities included creating the first version of the URVT website, moving websites to the Mambo Content Management System, creating surveys to be taken over the Internet, and providing general computer support to the office. She has been involved in the technical side of the Talk of the Island, EU Citizenship website and call center, Cyprus NGDO Platform, Hibernation, and Taxonomy projects.

Larry Fergeson

Larry began with FWC in 2005 as a graduate student intern from Portland State University. From 2006-2008 he performed the duties of Project Coordinator and Program Developer. In 2009 Larry became the Head of the Humanitarian Affairs Unit which implements the projects "Unit for the Rehabilitation of Victims of Torture" and the "“Strengthening Asylum for Refugees and Asylum-seekers in Cyprus” as the implementing partner of UNHCR in Cyprus. Larry also acts as media consultant/expert for FWC because of his long history working in media related matters.

Ms. Jennifer L. Baldassari

Mrs. Jennifer L. Baldassari was the first Administrator of the Unit for the Rehabilitation of Victims of Torture. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Public Communication and a Master’s degree in Psychology, both from American University in Washington, DC. She has worked in the fields of marketing, media relations, public relations and psychology. Jennifer worked for more than three years as Media and Marketing Coordinator at the National Center for Victims of Crime, a national non-profit organization in Washington DC. Before moving to Cyprus, Jennifer was a Research Associate at Capital Clinical Research Associates, where she conducted pharmaceutical clinical trial research for psychiatric medications.

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Ms. Anda Argyropoulou

Ms. Anda Argyropoulou, with her background in Sociology was the first social worker of the Unit for the Rehabilitation of Victims of Torture. She has extensive research experience with Post Traumatic Stress Disorders especially in the environment of interviews and descriptions of traumatic experiences. She worked with the Unit after receiving special training with the URVT team in the Medical Rehabilitation Center for Torture Victims in Athens.

Anthony DeLeo

Anthony joined FWC as a volunteer in 2007. He helped research and collect information on refugees and asylum seekers for the Unit for the Rehabilitation of Victims of Torture. Anthony lives in Portland, Oregon where he continues to work towards positive social improvement. He strives towards an understanding of social values and ideals and their dissemination, which constitute the foundation for all progressive social movements. He holds a BA in History from Binghamton University in New York (USA).

Dr. Isabelle Ioannides

Isabelle was Head of the Humanitarian Affairs Unit and the Unit for the Rehabilitation of Victims of Torture at Future Worlds Center in 2008. She also supported the organisation’s fundraising efforts and organisational reform in her capacity as Policy and Fundraising Advisor. Dr Ioannides holds a PhD in International Relations and International Security from the Department of Peace Studies, University of Bradford (UK), Masters Degrees from the UK and France and a BA from the United States. She has consulted extensively for the EU, UNDP, the UK government, and numerous NGOs. She has also worked in research, advocacy, project management and journalism in the United States, the UK, Germany, Belgium, France, Macedonia and Cyprus. She has lived and worked in the Western Balkans and the Palestinian Territories. Isabelle has published widely on international police missions, security sector reform, critical discourses in peacebuilding, EU crisis management, EU security policy, and complex organisational learning in international organisations.

Stefani Solomonidou

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Markos Markides

Markos Markides was the Clinical Psychologist of the Unit for the Rehabilitation of Victims of Torture in 2008. Mr. Markides holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece, and a Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology (MA-CP) from the University of Indianapolis, Indianapolis, US. He is a licensed psychologist in Greece and certified as Drug Prevention Coordinator after being trained by ‘Kenthea’ (a centre for drug abuse information and treatment in Cyprus). He has previously worked at Fairbanks Hospital in Indiana, US, with adults with addiction problems, as well as at Lutheran Child and Family Services in Indiana providing therapy to children and adolescents with various psychiatric problems. Mr. Markides is currently volunteering at the Unit.

Mr. Andreas Drakos

Mr. Drakos Andreas has a BSc in Computer Science and Finance Management from the University of Mesologgi. He has a special interest in web design with Joomlaand, HTML-PHP and database with Microsoft Access (My SQL). He is the it manager of the cnti and he upgraded and extended our website.