On February 2, Ambassador Marek Magierowski, Poland Ambassador to the United States, spoke at The Catholic University America Columbus School of Law (Catholic Law) as part of the University's Global Connections Series. The audience was welcomed by Stephen Payne, Dean and Knights of Columbus Professor of Law at Catholic Law. Following his welcome, Dean Payne then introduced Lydia Korostelova (3L), who introduced Ambassador Magierowski.

The Ambassador's talk, Poland at the border of Putin’s war against Ukraine and the West, began with some background on Vladimir Putin and Russia. Magierowski discussed Poland's separation from Russia in 1989, joining NATO in 1999, and becoming a European Union member in 2004. He highlighted Poland’s welcome to Ukrainians crossing the Polish border with more than two million currently remaining as the war continues within Ukraine. Ninety-five percent are women and children, with at least 200,000 Ukrainian children now in Polish schools. He pointed out the importance of the western aid coming into Ukraine and how that aid is essential for the survival of Ukraine. Magierowski touched on the Russian war crimes, what is necessary to end the war, and more.

Following the Ambassador's talk, Dean Payne guided a question and answer session with members of the audience and Ambassador Magierowski. After the Q&A session, Ambassador Magierowski joined the reception in the law school’s atrium and talked with law students and others in attendance. The reception included a photo display of the 30+ year history of Catholic Law's cooperation with Jagiellonian University’s law faculty. The event was co-sponsored by the Student Bar Association, International Law Students Association, International Human Rights Summer Law Program in Rome, International Business & Trade Summer Law Program in Kraków, Law & Public Policy Program, Military & National Security Law Students Association, and Comparative & International Law Institute. A recording of Ambassador Magierowski's talk is below.

Marek Magierowski was born in 1971. He graduated from the Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznan with a degree in Hispanic Studies. He worked as a reporter, editor and columnist for over 20 years. He was, among others, the deputy head of the economic desk at “Gazeta Wyborcza,” the head of the foreign affairs desk and the business section at the “Newsweek Polska” weekly, and the deputy editor-in-chief of “Forum.” From 2006-2011, he was the deputy editor-in-chief of “Rzeczpospolita.” He regularly wrote columns on foreign policy for the “Uważam Rze” and “Do Rzeczy” weeklies. In October 2015, he left journalism to work for the Chancellery of the President of the Republic of Poland as an expert on public diplomacy, and was subsequently appointed Head of the Press Office of the Chancellery of the President. From June 2017 to May 2018, he served as Undersecretary of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Marek Magierowski served as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Poland to the State of Israel from June 25, 2018, to November of 2021.

The Catholic University of America’s Global Connections Series brings together experts from around the world to address the challenges of our times. These conversations feature the foremost experts on global challenges facing humanity, including Ambassadors and representatives of countries such as Australia, Portugal, and Italy. Through Global Connections, students, faculty and interested members of the community will have a better understanding of world events that impact us all.