Meet the YAL Chicago Executive Board
Kyriaki (Kiki) Gormanos
Kiki was born in Houston, TX and raised in Marietta, GA where she attended Holy Transfiguration Greek Orthodox Church. Kiki graduated from the University of South Carolina in 2022 with a degree in Hospitality Management. During her time in college, she served on the OCF Student Leadership Board as the Southeast Student Regional Leader. Upon graduation, Kiki moved to Seattle, WA where she began her career in Event Management. While she was a steward of St. Demetrios Church for three years, Kiki was the President of the YAL Chapter in Seattle, participated in the church choir, competed at FDF with the St. D's young adult dance and choir groups, and was involved in the planning of the YAL Conferences within the SF Metropolis including YAL Phoenix, YAL Orange County, and YAL Seattle. After closing her chapter in Seattle, she went on to serve on staff at Ionian Village in the summer of 2025. That fall, Kiki finally had the opportunity to move to Chicago (which has been a life-long dream of hers), and since then has been so graciously embraced by the community. She now attends St. George in Lincoln Park and is thrilled to have the opportunity to serve on the YAL Chicago board!
Anastasia Fafoutis
Anastasia grew up in Severn, Maryland, a suburb of Baltimore where she was a member of St. George in Bethesda. For years, she was an active GOYA/YAL member at her parish, becoming GOYA President during high school, and YAL President in 2021. She has competed in FDF since she was a kid, and has always loved Greek dancing! Following her graduation in 2018 from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County with a degree in Financial Economics, Anastasia continued her education at LSU obtaining two MBAs, one in Finance and one in Marketing. She moved to Chicago in 2022 for a change of scenery from the East Coast to use her degrees and become a part of a new Orthodox community. Here, she is a member of Ladies Ed, and a YAL leader of St. George in Lincoln Park where she plans social, outreach, and fundraising events for all members. She works downtown as a budget manager for New York and Midwest based clients on their brand campaigns. In her free time, Anastasia crochets (a lot!), likes to go on runs, thrifts, bakes, and is constantly trying new coffee shops around the city. She’s honored to be on the YAL Chicago board and she hopes to make everyone in the community feel as welcome as she has been. Chicago is a place that she hopes to call home for her future!
Eleni Sakas
Eleni is from Antioch, IL, and grew up at St. Demetrios in Libertyville. She currently attends Ascension of our Lord in Lincolnshire, IL. She served on the YAL Chicago conference board for two years, and is looking forward to helping plan events year around. Eleni graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, majoring in Media Arts and Cinema Studies with a minor in Recreation, Sports, and Tourism. Eleni also has certificates in Film Production and Sports Media. At U of I, Eleni was involved with her OCF chapter as the Vice President of Media, Good Morning Illini, and Illini Sports Night, and she was an intern for the Fighting Illini Sports Productions. Eleni was a camp counselor for three summer camps in the Greek community: Fanari, Metropolis of Boston Camp, and Saint Stephens. Of course, she was a participant in the Junior Olympics, as well as the Oratorical Festival. Eleni currently freelances her media skills and works for the Metropolis of Chicago as a Media Specialist. In her free time, Eleni loves to create media, watch college sports, or travel anywhere (especially National Parks).
Fr. Anastasios Theodoropoulos
Fr. Anastasios grew up in the north suburbs of Chicago. Though raised in the Orthodox Faith, it was not until his college years at the University of Illinois that he developed a passion for the Church and deep desire to know Christ. Upon graduation, Fr. Anastasios enrolled at Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Seminary, where he was able to indulge his desire to enrich and enliven his life in the Orthodox faith. Upon graduation in 2014, he married his wife Presvytera Elizabeth, and they moved to St. Louis, Missouri to serve Assumption Greek Orthodox Church, where he was ordained to the Holy Priesthood in May of 2015. He served in St. Louis for 5 years as an associate pastor before being transferred to Peoria in September of 2019. Fr. Anastasios is the spiritual advisor of the YAL Chicago Board. He has a deep passion for sharing the Orthodox faith, and works to inspire the faithful Orthodox Christians of Joliet to live their faith, and share it with our friends and neighbors. He welcomes all who seek God to come and see how Orthodox Christians have encountered Christ for centuries.
Christian Vouris
Christian grew up in Palos Park, IL where he is an advisor for GOYA and helps organize YAL events for his parish, Sts. Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church in Palos Hills. This summer he served as a counselor at Ionian Village where he spent two months helping campers in strengthening their relationship with Christ. Currently, he is working as a NCAA soccer official in the Midwest. Christian is planning on studying Business at Hellenic College in Boston with further plans to go to seminary and become a priest. He loves focusing on teaching and making sure the youth prioritize the traditions of the church and Greek culture. Outside of the church, he enjoys paintballing during the warmer months and skiing during the colder ones. Christian is excited to work on the YAL board and is eager to help make this our best year yet!
Andrew Callas
Andrew is originally from the Chicagoland area and is passionate about staying involved in his community. He earned his Bachelor of Science from Purdue University (Go BOILERS!) and his Juris Doctor from the University of Illinois College of Law, where he was active in student organizations and served as an Adjunct Professor. Andrew currently works as an Associate at Fox Rothschild LLP, focusing on corporate law. He is also a proud member of the YAL Chicago Executive Board and loves contributing to the organization’s events and initiatives. Outside of work, Andrew enjoys hosting dinner parties, exploring Chicago’s food scene, and hanging out with his beagles, Mackey and Leo!
Tia Kotsiopoulos
Tia grew up in the northwest suburbs of Chicago attending St. Nectarios Greek Orthodox Church in Palatine, IL. She has her BBA in Marketing from Loyola University Chicago, and just recently graduated with her MBA from Loyola as well. Tia currently serves as the Treasurer for the National Hellenic Student Association of America (NHSA), and is involved in her parish’s YAL organization. She has enjoyed being involved within the Metropolis, and looks forward to bringing her leadership skills to the YAL Chicago Executive Board. Tia is eager to grow in her faith and play a role in bringing the young adult community together.
Yanni Motter
Yanni Motter grew up in Des Plaines, Illinois. He is a second-generation Greek American, with roots stemming from Tripoli and Nestani. Most recently he graduated Southern Illinois University, majoring in Automotive Technology and minoring in Workforce Education & Advanced Vehicle Systems/ Diagnostics. Most recently he began his career with Toyota Motors North America (TMNA) as a Management Trainee. Yanni has been involved in various organizations and activities within the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Chicago such as being a counselor since 2019 for Fanari Summer Camp and his involvement with the Young Adult League of Chicago's conference board. He is also currently the Regional Director for the Great Lakes of the National Hellenic Student Association (NHSA). Yanni is thrilled to be able to participate and help grow the YAL Board along with bringing people together through the faith.
Mia Anagnos
Mia grew up in the western suburbs of Chicago and is a member of St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church in Elmhurst. She graduated from Butler University in 2025 with a degree in Marketing and currently works in marketing for a luxury jewelry and watch retailer. From a young age, Mia has been actively involved in the Orthodox community, beginning as a camper at both Fanari and Lighthouse and as a member of her parish’s GOYA. She later returned to Fanari as a counselor, where she served for several years. During her time at Butler, Mia remained deeply involved in the Greek community through the university’s OCF and Hellenic Student Association chapters, holding executive leadership positions in both organizations. Mia is excited to continue her involvement in the Greek community through YAL and looks forward to serving on the Board, fostering meaningful connections, and creating opportunities that bring the next generation of young adults together.
Dean Paganis
