President Lech Wałęsa
President Lech Wałęsa, the first Polish President elected by popular vote and Nobel Peace Prize winner, delivering a speech to the Polish Club and co-sponsors entitled “Russia’s War on Ukraine and Its Global Impact” on May 5, 2022. The event took place in-person in Austin. Mr. Paweł Hardej translated for the President.
Ambassador Mark Brzezinski
Honorable Mark Brzezinski, current U.S. Ambassador to Poland and former U.S. Ambassador to Sweden, delivering a brief speech and moderated Q&A about "U.S. Diplomacy in Poland" on February 17, 2023.
President Aleksander Kwaśniewski
President Aleksander Kwaśniewski, former two-term President of Poland (term: 1995-2005), delivering a speech to the Polish Club and co-sponsors entitled “Russia’s War on Ukraine” on October 15, 2022.
President Bronisław Komoroski
President Bronisław Komorowski, former President of Poland (term: 2010-2015), Speaker of the Polish House, and Minister of National Defense, delivering a speech to the Polish Club and co-sponsors entitled "Russia's Use of Energy as a Weapon of War Against Europe" on November 4, 2022. Dr. Teresa Silverstein translated for the President.
Ambassador Stephen Mull
Ambassador Stephen Mull, former U.S. Ambassador to Poland, former U.S. Ambassador to Lithuania, and former Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs, delivering a speech to the Polish Club and co-sponsors entitled "The U.S.-Poland Special Friendship" on February 16, 2024.
Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur
Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (D-OH), the longest serving Congresswoman in history, Co-Founder and Co-Chair of the House Poland Caucus, and Co-Founder and Co-Chair of the House Ukraine Caucus, delivering brief remarks entitled "Freedom Means Never Surrender" and taking moderated Q&A on January 25, 2024.
Professor Leszek Balcerowicz
Professor Leszek Balcerowicz, former Polish Minister of Finance, Chairman of Poland's National Bank, two-time Deputy Prime Minister of Poland, and current Professor at the Warsaw School of Economics, delivering a speech to the Polish Club at UT and co-sponsors entitled "'Shock Therapy': Poland's Transition from Communism to Capitalism" on September 1, 2023.
Minister Radosław Sikorski
Minister Radosław Sikorski, former Speaker of the Polish House, National Defense Minister, Foreign Affairs Minister; and current member of the European Union parliament, delivering a speech to the Polish Club and co-sponsors on "The Making of a European Union Military" on September 17, 2022.
Mr. Władysław Frasyniuk
Mr. Władysław Frasyniuk, former Solidarity leader, political prisoner, Member of the Polish Parliament (1991-2001), and current democratic activist, delivering a speech to the Polish Club and co-sponsors entitled “The State of Democracy in Poland Today” on December 3, 2022. Dr. Teresa Silverstein translated for Mr. Frasyniuk.
Professor Hanna Suchocka
Professor Hanna Suchocka, the first female Prime Minister of Poland, former Polish Ambassador to the Holy See, former Polish Minister of Justice and Prosecutor General, and current Honorary President of the Venice Commission and Chair of the Constitutional Law Department at the Adam Mickiewicz University, delivering a speech to the Polish Club at UT and co-sponsors entitled "Evolution of Constitutionalism in Poland" on November 3, 2023.
Mr. Adam Michnik
Mr. Adam Michnik, current editor-in-chief of Gazeta Wyborcza newspaper, author of tens of books, and former Solidarity leader, political prisoner, and Member of the Polish Parliament (1989-1991), participating in a moderated conversation with the Polish Club and co-sponsors about “Anti-Semitism, Freedom of the Press, and the Russian Regime” on January 27, 2023. Dr. Teresa Silverstein translated for Mr. Michnik.
Dr. Norman Davies
Dr. Norman Davies, preeminent historian of Poland, delivering a speech to the Polish Club and co-sponsors about Ukrainian history, the history of Polish-Ukrainian relations, and assimilation in historic Poland on March 19, 2022.
Mr. Jerzy Owsiak
Mr. Jerzy Owsiak, Founder and Director of the Grand Orchestra of Christmas Charity—Poland's largest non-profit for children's healthcare—delivering a speech to the Polish Club at UT and co-sponsors entitled "Leading Poland's Largest Non-Profit for Children's Healthcare" on October 13, 2023.
Dr. Adam Bodnar
Professor Adam Bodnar, Poland's Ombudsman for Citizen Rights from 2015-2021 and current Professor at the University of Warsaw, delivering a speech to the Polish Club at UT and co-sponsors entitled "Rule of Law and Human Rights in Poland Today" on September 26, 2023.
Dr. Wojciech Sadurski
Professor Wojciech Sadurski, Poland's leading constitutional scholar, former Visiting Professor at Yale and NYU, author, and political activist, delivering a speech entitled "A Pandemic of Populists" on April 1, 2023.
Mr. Jonathan Ornstein
Mr. Jonathan Ornstein, CEO of the Jewish Community Center (JCC) in Krakow, delivering a speech and moderated Q&A about "The Rebirth of Jewish Life in Poland" on March 3, 2023.
Mr. Nathan Silverstein
Nathan Silverstein, the Founder and President of the Polish Club at UT Austin, delivering his farewell address on April 19, 2024. Nathan founded the Club in January 2021 and served as Club President for 3+ years. Under Nathan’s leadership, the Club became the leading Polish American student organization with over 500 members. During Nathan’s time as Club President, he organized speaking events with top America and Polish officials, including three former presidents of Poland and three U.S. Ambassadors to Poland.
Ms. Shana Penn
Ms. Shana Penn, Executive Director of Taube Philanthropies and author of “Solidarity’s Secret: The Women Who Defeated Communism in Poland,” delivering a speech to the Polish Club and co-sponsors entitled “Wild Card: Gender’s Tactical Uses and Misuses in Poland’s Anti-Communist Opposition Movement Solidarność” on April 6, 2022.
Dr. Jim Mazurkiewicz
Dr. Jim Mazurkiewicz, Professor at Texas A&M and President of the Polish American Council of Texas (PACT), speaking to the Polish Club about Texas Polonia on November 30, 2021.
Mr. Eric Opiela
Mr. Eric Opiela, attorney and Second Vice President of the Polish American Council of Texas (PACT), speaking to the Polish Club about Texas Polonia on November 2, 2021.
Ms. Margaret Meub
Ms. Margaret Meub speaking to the Polish Club about her life story and experience as President of the Austin Polish Society (APS) on October 26, 2021.
Dr. Witold Łukaszewski
Dr. Witold Łukaszewski, long time Professor at Sam Houston State University, speaking to the Polish Club about his experience during World War II on April 28, 2021.
Dr. Teresa Silverstein
Dr. Teresa Silverstein speaking to the Polish Club about her and her father's experience on the night before and during the imposition of martial law. The speech took place on March 31, 2021.
Mr. Paweł Hardej
Mr. Paweł Hardej, prominent Austin architect, speaking to the Polish Club about the beautiful architecture of his hometown of Warsaw on February 3, 2021.