Brooke Cannon is a recent graduate of Lehigh University where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Industrial and Systems Engineering (ISE).  Brooke was a member of the Varsity Softball team where she started all four years in the outfield.  In addition to softball, she was the president of the Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineering Chapter at Lehigh, an outreach organization to promote ISE initiatives and engineering applications. Through this, she obtained knowledge about systems around the world, and Brooke will begin a career in sustainable tourism development.

During her Fulbright grant, she will be attending Harokopio University for a Master of Science in Sustainable Tourism Development: Heritage, Environment, Society.  She is eager to delve into innovative strategies for promoting tourism that benefits both local communities and the environment.  Learning from leading experts in the field and engaging with real-world projects will equip her with the knowledge and skills to make a positive impact in the tourism industry. This experience will enable her to contribute to a more sustainable and responsible global tourism landscape while also exploring Greece’s rich history, breathtaking landscapes, and remarkable culture.

Bliss graduated from Harvard College in 2021 with a joint A.B. in Computer Science and Classical Languages and Literatures. His senior thesis explored the use of machine learning and natural language processing (NLP) techniques to evaluate the authenticity of Plato’s Epistle VII. Building upon this undergraduate work in data analytics, he spent three years in the private sector as a product development lead at Palantir Technologies, where he managed a team of engineers developing AI software for U.S. and European government customers. Bliss's deep interest in Greece encompasses its ancient and modern history alike — from Plato to NATO — and a passion for Greek language, culture, and foreign relations has guided his academic and professional pursuits. In 2020, he studied at College Year Athens (CYA) and currently serves on its Board of Trustees.

He now returns to Greece to pursue an M.S. in Southeast European Studies: Politics, History, Economics at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, where he will join a cohort of students from Greece, the Balkans, and beyond. This program focuses on regional political, economic, and security trends, such as EU enlargement, conflict resolution in the Western Balkans, Greece’s economic resurgence, and shifting relations with Turkey. For his dissertation, Bliss plans to examine Greece's potential as a transnational hub for artificial intelligence in Southeast Europe and the East Mediterranean. He will research the economic factors driving foreign investment in Greece's tech sector and the geopolitical incentives for regional connectivity and collaboration in cyber infrastructure. Outside the classroom, Bliss is eager to engage with Athens' tech and AI scenes, improve his Modern Greek and backgammon skills, and continue his quest to find the best souvlatzidiko in the city.