The American Board revives its missionary work in Izmir, leading Miss Maria West to establish a small day school in the city's Armenian quarter. Teaching English and moral instruction, she laid the foundation for what would become The American College of Greece.

Marcellus Bowen succeeds Maria West, expanding the mission by establishing separate educational institutions for boys and girls.

The institution grows to 27 boarders and 57 day students, including 69 Armenian, 11 Greek, and four English pupils.

Under the leadership of Agnes McCartney Lord and Emily M. McCallum, the institute is restructured into primary, preparatory, and collegiate departments, adopting the title American Collegiate Institute for Girls (ACI) to reflect its college preparatory focus.

The American Collegiate Institute had grown to 302 students across five departments—kindergarten, primary, intermediate, collegiate, and teacher training. Plans for new facilities were underway but were tragically disrupted...

September 1922: As Turkish forces advanced, 1,200 refugees—800 Armenians and 400 Greeks—sought shelter in the American Collegiate Institute. Amid the chaos, Miss Mills refused to leave without her students. When American soldiers, under strict orders, carried her away, she called out: “Girls, follow me!” Thousands of orphans were evacuated to Athens, where Miss Mills made a vow—their education would not end. The American Collegiate Institute would rise again, not in Turkey, but in Greece.

On October 15, 1923, the American Collegiate Institute was reborn. Its goal—as set out in the prospectus-—was to be “tolerant, truly Christian and thoroughly constructive in developing in its students the desire for united service to humanity.” Behind these words, one can hear the refrain of the school’s motto: Non ministrari sed ministrare.

A record 190 students enrolled at the new Helleniko campus—the largest intake since the institute’s relocation to Greece. More than half were war refugees from Asia Minor, seeking a fresh start and a path to education.

The college received a donation from Dr. Willis Pierce, a Southern California benefactor, on the condition it be renamed Orlinda Childs Pierce College to honor his wife through a lasting institution. Construction began, and within two years, the new building and McCallum Hall, partially funded by alumnae, were completed. With these milestones, the college secured its future, standing strong for generations to come.

The transition from bucolic Helleniko to the modern Aghia Paraskevi campus designed by architect Constantine Doxiadis was a revelation. As one alumna noted: "It felt as if we had passed from a world of romanticism to one of realism. There were windows everywhere. It was as if we had all become transparent." Students quickly grew to love their new school—a place of open-minded thinking within a framework of strict discipline. "My parents chose it for a simple reason—it was the best school in Athens."

Optimism grew as Greek-American benefactor William S. Deree secured the college’s future with a major donation, leading to the renaming of its undergraduate division as Deree College in his honor.

Alba Graduate Business School and ACG officially join forces, marking a new era in business education.

Pierce Pre-K, Kindergarten, and Elementary School officially launch at the new East Campus in Spata, marking a new chapter in innovative early education.

Launch of AUG Global Campus offering innovative online undergraduate and graduate programs that blend American academic excellence with Greek intellectual tradition.