Michael Janakis, MLIS

Michael Janakis, MLIS was born and raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and has always been interested in reading, writing, and learning.

Michael attended St. John’s College in Annapolis, Maryland, where he studied the classical Liberal Arts through “the” rigorous Great Books program. St. John’s College’s Annapolis campus was rated the 8th most rigorous college in the nation in 2011. St. John’s students study the Western canon through its original texts, even learning Ancient Greek and French to read the original texts better. Michael’s BA is a double major in Philosophy and History of Mathematics & Science, with double minors in Classics and Comparative Literature. His senior essay was entitled “Why Are Flowers Beautiful? An Examination of Beauty through Goethe’s Metamorphosis of Plants.”

Michael then attended the University of Pittsburgh’s iSchool for his Master of Library & Information Science (MLIS), where he completed such work as a semester-long independent research paper entitled “Deep Roots, Long Memories: Pittsburgh African-American Libraries and Their Environments.”

After working at Duquesne University’s Gumberg Library for several years, including a stints as the University’s Electronic Thesis & Dissertation (ETD) Coordinator and a Research & Instruction Librarian, Michael chose create his own businesses, including Pittsburgh Proofreading & Information Consulting Company, and his local history/genealogy business Steel City Heritage Services.

Michael has also completed a Certificate in Applied Orthodox Theology through the St. Stephen’s Program from the Antiochian House of Studies. It is a rigorous 3 year self-directed distance program which requires a large amount of independent reading and writing.

Michael is currently working on completing his Master of Theology (Th.M) in Applied Orthodox Theology through the St. Stephen’s Program from the Antiochian House of Studies in cooperation with Balamand University in Lebanon (anticipated 2021). He is working on his thesis on the practical spiritual aspects of loving one’s enemies.