During the 2007-2008 fall and winter quarters PEN-International is supporting a visiting scholar, Dr. Venetta Lampropoulou, Professor of Deaf Education, Department of Primary Education, University of Patras, Greece. Dr. Lampropoulou received her Ph.D. in Deaf Education from New York University. She is in the United States for the 2007-2008 academic year to work on two books on current issues in deaf education and Greek sign language. Venetta has been involved with various grant projects on Greek sign language, deaf education, vocational development, and technologies involving individuals who are deaf.

This is not the first time Dr. Lampropoulou has collaborated with NTID. In 1999, Dr. Lampropoulou was a member of the project team for Project Inclusion a grant administered by NTID (1999-2002) to assist people who are deaf to realize equality of opportunity in education and society. The University of Patras, directed by Dr. Lampropoulou, hosted a 3 day conference as the final capping experience in March of 2003. She has also published many international articles and edited/co-edited books addressing deaf education and Greek education.