Psychotherapist and co-founder of the internationally recognized Seleni Institute, Nitzia Embiricos-Logothetis, has been awarded an Honorary Doctorate by the Department of Early Childhood Care and Education at the University of West Attica (PADA), in recognition of her significant contribution to women’s mental health and her extensive philanthropic work.
The conferment ceremony took place at the historic venue of the Society of the Athenians, hosted by its President and PADA Honorary Doctor, Eleftherios G. Skiadas, and attended by the President of the Hellenic Parliament, Nikitas Kaklamanis. Distinguished guests included PADA Rector Professor, Panagiotis Kaldis, Department Chair Professor, Konstantinos Petrogiannis, MP and doctor, Athina Linou, and Mrs. Logothetis’ husband, co-founder of the Seleni Institute, Executive Chairman of the Libra Group, and Chairman of Libra Philanthropies, George Logothetis.
The honorary distinction celebrates Mrs. Logothetis’ scientific work in mental health and her social impact supporting women, mothers, families, and children through the Seleni Institute and her extensive philanthropic work.
The Seleni Institute, founded in 2011 by Nitzia and George Logothetis, is a leading non profit organization based in New York City. It supports the mental and emotional health of women and their families during the family-building years. As one of ten philanthropic initiatives of Libra Philanthropies, Seleni has impacted over 10 million lives globally, including the training of more than 6,200 care professionals such as doctors, nurses, and social workers.
Embiricos-Logothetis shares vision for raising awareness about mental health
In her speech, the honoree shared her vision for raising awareness about mental health and her dedication to families, women, and children. She explained that the inspiration to establish the Seleni Institute came from the lack of organizations focusing on women’s mental health during the perinatal period.
“The burden of parenting while suffering from depression and anxiety has a profound impact on society,” Mrs. Embiricos-Logothetis stated, adding “children of parents with depression are 12 times more likely to experience learning difficulties by age five, are more prone to depression and anxiety, and face a higher risk of substance use by adolescence.
“The Seleni Institute is built on the belief that addressing critical gaps in maternal mental health is foundational to building healthier communities.”
PADA Rector Professor Kaldis welcomed Mrs. Logothetis into the academic community, emphasizing that her work aligns with the university’s mission to support family mental health during early childhood.
He highlighted the honor of including in the university a distinguished figure of the Greek-American community whose active scientific and clinical work has contributed significantly to the field, particularly in perinatal mood and anxiety disorders, eating and personality disorders, and postpartum depression.
Visibly moved, George Logothetis praised his wife’s contributions and character as a mother and visionary leader, expressing his deep admiration. Regarding PADA, he noted its growing academic prominence and commitment to student support, including offering to create a scholarship program.
Additionally, he extended an invitation to five scholars from the university to Concordia, a leading convener of the world’s most prominent business, government, and nonprofit leaders, and of which Libra Group is its founding sponsor.
During the ceremony, Mrs. Logothetis also received the Silver Medal of the Society of the Athenians from its President, Eleftherios G. Skiadas, continuing her family’s long standing legacy—her grandfather, Alexandros Embiricos Koumoundouros, was a member of the Society for fifty years.
About the Seleni Institute
Since its founding in 2011, the Seleni Institute has directly supported the mental health of over 2.3 million individuals and contributed to improving the well-being of more than 10 million people.
Its New York clinic has treated over 4,100 patients, positively impacting 21,000 families. More than 6,200 mental health professionals have been trained through Seleni’s programs, while its global awareness campaigns have reached over 8 million people, promoting women’s mental health worldwide.
About Nitzia Embiricos-Logothetis
Nitzia Logothetis is a qualified psychotherapist with a degree in Psychology from Brown University, a Master’s in Child Development from the University of London, and a Master’s in Counseling for Mental Health and Wellness from the Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development at New York University (NYU). She is also the mother of four young children.