Dr. Sotirios Sermpos is an Associate Professor of International Politics at Democritus University of Thrace, in Greece. Born in Thessaloniki, he graduated as a full-scholarship student of Anatolia College. He studied International Relations at the University of Macedonia (BA), the London School of Economics & Political Science (MSc) and the National & Kapodistrian University of Athens (PhD). Awards for academic excellence include scholarships from the State Scholarships Foundation (ΙΚΥ). For the academic year 2014-2015, he was awarded a Fulbright Fellowship at The Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies at Johns Hopkins University and the University of Pittsburgh’s EU Center of Excellence Among others, he has served as diplomatic advisor to the leader of PASOK-KINAL, Director of Research for policy planning, Hellenic Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Before joining Democritus University, he taught Public Administration and Policy at the Hellenic Open University and International Relations at the American College of Thessaloniki. Sermpos’ research interests and publications focus on foreign policy analysis (US, Turkey, EU), European integration in SEE and transatlantic relations. He was an MEP candidate with New Democracy in June 2024 European elections.