Dominik Wolacewicz

PIASA Latest News about us MEMBERSHIP CONFERENCES AWARDS PUBLICATIONS current events CONTACT Newsletter Vol. 4, No. 4 October 2024 A Word From the President A Word From the President Warmest greetings to all our readers from balmy Michigan.   Earlier today, I read a message from a friend on Facebook that reminded me of my childhood in Poland: The summer is ending, and fall begins. The accompanying image shows dried mushrooms and jars of fruits and vegetables covering kitchen counters. This time of year, the rhythm of the day shifts from wandering paths to hearthside plans. Yet, the focus on community and planning remains as important as ever.   With the arrival of fall, PIASA also transitions into a new rhythm. What better symbolizes this than this newsletter generously edited by Jim Pula, who regularly reaches out to many of us, asking for updates, reminding us of deadlines, and holding us accountable for the projects and plans we’ve undertaken. At the same time, Jim gives us the space to celebrate our accomplishments and reflect on where we’ve been and where we are going. Similarly to him, Renata Vickrey, our institutional historian, makes sure our meetings are recorded.   We return to some of our long-standing commitments, most notably our annual conference, which is set to thrive under the outstanding leadership of Patrice Dabrowski, Neal Pease, and Bożena Leven. The conference will be held at Columbia University in New York City from June 6–8, 2025. Anna Frajlich, Eve Krzyzanowski, and Alicja Brzyska are working to ensure that all participants feel welcomed to the city with a rich history of Polish involvement. This year’s theme, Democracy and Its Discontents, keeps us grounded in the past while signaling the potential changes that the fundamental right of democracy— elections—will bring, both in the United States and in Poland, within the coming year.   Since research is at the heart of our work, we remain committed to several core initiatives that highlight excellence in Polish studies across disciplines. One of these is the PIASA awards, which bring outstanding scholarship to the attention of our members, affiliates, and friends—a task Bob Blobaum continues to lead with dedication and the help of the Board members. Another key commitment is The Polish Review, which, under the stellar leadership of Halina Filipowicz, continues to grow. Thanks to the wonderful contributions of the PIASA community and scholars from around the world, the journal thrives, reflecting the collective dedication and intellectual strength of our network. Bob Blobaum, Włodek Mandecki, and I are also working on widening the spaces of involvement by planning new webinars, including a series on PIASA scientists, which we hope to inaugurate this fall.   We continue publishing books that highlight the voices of distinguished scholars, offer new perspectives on Polish culture, and present important translations. Most recently, PIASA published The Short Story in a Polish Context: Classic Short Fiction from the Seventeenth to Twentieth Centuries, edited by Oscar E. Swan. This anthology contains selections from the Polish short-story canon, showcasing how the genre evolved in Poland throughout the ages.   Steady work continues at our PIASA headquarters in New York, where Bożena Leven (with the help of Krzysztof Blendowski), and a dedicated team—including Mariusz Bargielski, Joanna Mróz, and archivists from Poland—carry out a wide range of tasks. They care for, preserve, and organize the building and the treasures it holds, handling both the most mundane and the most important duties. From addressing the roof that needs repair, to ensuring we receive communication from PIASA, to restoring documents and artwork, and organizing events that bring many of us together for lectures and gatherings. They ensure that the place that for decades has represented for many their home remains stable, protected, and loved. This is where we return, regardless of the seasons.   ― Anna Müller, PIASA President

PIASA Latest News about us MEMBERSHIP CONFERENCES AWARDS PUBLICATIONS current events CONTACT Newsletter Vol. 4, No. 3 July 2024 A Word From the President A Word From the President The 9th Polish Institute of Arts and Sciences of America’s World Congress has just concluded. This time we met at the Collegium Civitas in the Palace of Cul- ture in Warsaw under the patronage of the Minister of Science and Higher Education and with the presence of many important guests, including War- saw Mayor Rafał Trzaskowski. On Saturday, June 8, Robert Kostro host- ed our banquet at the Polish History Museum. With 54 panels and over 180 participants from 17 countries, the Congress was another testament to the dedication and hard work of all board members, especially outgoing PIASA president Robert Blobaum, executive director Bożena Leven, and program conference coordinator Patrice Dabrowski.   Let me then begin by saying a big thank you to all who participated in the Congress, but especially to Robert Blobaum, whose second term as PIASA’s president has just ended. Bob, under your unwavering leadership, PIASA organized one of its most successful Congresses. Thank you!   I am tremendously honored to be the next president of PIASA. I am grateful for the trust of the PIASA Board and for Bob’s guidance over the last year, which has helped me to prepare for this new role. Bob’s leadership over the last six years has transformed PIASA into a robust organi- zation with growing recognition worldwide. I am stepping into big shoes.   Growing up in Communist Poland, I could have never imagined that this honor—the opportunity to head a major Polish/Polish American organization—would be part of my experience as well. I was born and raised in Gdańsk, Poland. For the past 20 years, I have lived in the United States, moving from Indiana, through Florida, to Michi- 1 Polish Institute of Arts & Sciences of America Vol. 4, No. 3 July 2024 gan. I completed my Ph.D. dissertation in Eastern Europe- an history at Indiana University. In 2007, I moved back to Gdańsk, where I had the chance to work at the Second World War Museum. In 2011, I returned to the United States, first to work at the University of Florida in Gaines- ville, and then at the University of Michigan-Dearborn, where I am Frank and Mary Padzieski Endowed Professor in Polish/Polish American/Eastern European Studies. Be- fore becoming involved with PIASA, I served as the president of the Polish American Historical Association (PAHA) from 2018-2020. I am the author of If the Walls Could Speak: Inside a Women’s Prison in Communist Poland (Oxford University Press, 2018) and An Ordinary Life? The Journeys of Tonia Lechtman, 1918-1996 (Ohio University Press, 2022). Despite being firmly entrenched in American academia and my local De- troit community, I have always kept one foot in Poland, returning there on grants, participating in various projects and con- ferences, and publishing in Polish. I be- lieve not only in the importance of main- taining these contacts but also in building bridges for col- leagues and students from both continents to meet, share, and grow together. And I firmly believe that PIASA is be- coming one of the most important spaces for collaboration and recognition of people whose work is connected with Poland and/or American Polonia.   PIASA stands strong: It includes participants from many countries, continues attracting new people (including junior scholars from both Poland and the United States), contributes to academic discussions by organizing confer- ences and running The Polish Review. It is an important platform for recognizing the work of Polish scientists and scholars. It is inclusive, open, and forward-looking. As the incoming president, I am eager to continue building on this strong foundation. ― Anna Müller, PIASA President