Kyriakos Tsakopoulos
Member, Board of Trustees (2001-2009)
The California State University
Kyriakos Tsakopoulos is a Principal of AKT Development Corporation and its various affiliated entities (AKT). AKT is a diversified, family-owned, land development company headquartered in Sacramento, California, operating real estate, farming, ranching, water and minerals, building, and land development projects throughout North/Central California.
A Sacramento, California native, Mr. Tsakopoulos has been active in AKT his whole life, spearheading projects, negotiations and related matters at the direction of AKT’s visionary founder and Chairman, Angelo K. Tsakopoulos. Kyriakos most recently reorganized all AKT holdings, projects and operations in Placer County, California including the donation of land and coordination of entitlements to attract and fund the building of the first major private four-year university in California in 100 years – Drexel West University.
Mr. Tsakopoulos is also active in regional, national and international civic affairs and educational policy. He is a Member of the Board of Trustees of Columbia University, and also sits on the Board of Visitors of Columbia College. He is a Trustee of the California State University System, the largest university system in the world, and sits on the Board of the University of California, Davis M.I.N.D. Research Institute, the American Hellenic Institute Advisory Committee, the Crocker Museum of Art, and various other public service Boards and Commissions. He was/is a California Elector in the Electoral College of the United States in 2004 and 2008.
Mr. Tsakopoulos is a Member of the Forum of Young Global Leaders of the World Economic Forum/Davos, Switzerland, and is an Archon/Knight Commander of the Holy Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople. He founded the “Aristotle and the Moderns Chair” in Hellenic Studies at Columbia University.
Mr. Tsakopoulos holds a Baccalaureate from Columbia University (Political Science), and a Juris Doctorate from the University of the Pacific/McGeorge School of Law (environmental, water and real estate law). He is a member of the California and U.S. Supreme Court Bars, and “sat 3rd Chair” in the landmark Tsakopoulos case before the United States Supreme Court (4-4 decision).
Mr. Tsakopoulos rowed Varsity Eights for his beloved Columbia University Crew, both as a heavyweight and as lightweight. He still rows and is an avid sportsman and outdoorsman. He travels extensively domestically and abroad.