73 Notable Alumni of the University of Silesia in Katowice

Grzegorz Braun

Born in: Poland
Years: 1967-.. (age 59)
Occupations: screenwriterdirectoropinion journalistpoliticianfilm director
Biography: Grzegorz Michał Braun is a Polish far-right politician and filmmaker. He was a member of the Sejm for Rzeszów from 2019 to 2024 and has been a member of the European Parliament (MEP) for Lesser Poland and Świętokrzyskie since 2024. He has been the chairman of the Confederation of the Polish Crown (abbreviated in Polish as KKP) since 2019.

Borys Budka

Born in: Poland
Years: 1978-.. (age 48)
Enrolled in the University of Silesia in Katowice: Studied in 2002
Occupations: politicianeconomist
Biography: Borys Piotr Budka is a Polish politician, member of Sejm of the 7th, 8th and 9th legislature, Minister of Justice in 2015, vice-president of the Civic Platform political party in the 2016–2020 period, leader of the parliamentary political group of Civic Coalition since 2019, leader of the Civic Platform from 2020 to 2021. Elected as a Member of the European Parliament in 2024.

Kamil Durczok

Born in: Poland
Years: 1968-2021 (aged 53)
Occupations: journalist
Biography: Kamil Sebastian Durczok was a Polish journalist, Editor-in-Chief, and presenter of TVN newscast Fakty TVN.

Szczepan Twardoch

Born in: Poland
Years: 1979-.. (age 47)
Enrolled in the University of Silesia in Katowice: Studied sociology
Occupations: writerphilosophersociologistopinion journalist
Biography: Szczepan Lech Twardoch is a Polish-Silesian writer. He has written a series of best-selling novels such as Morphine (2012), Drach (2014), The King (2016), The Kingdom (2018), Pokora (2020) and Null (2025).

Marek Czyż

Born in: Poland
Years: 1968-.. (age 58)
Occupations: journalistopinion journalist
Biography: Marek Czyż is a Polish journalist and news presenter.

Jarosław Szymczyk

Born in: Poland
Years: 1970-.. (age 56)
Occupations: linguistpolice officer
Biography: Jarosław Jakub Szymczyk is a Polish police officer in rank of Inspector General, who served as the Commander-in-Chief of Police between 2016 and 2023.

Michał Wójcik

Born in: Poland
Years: 1971-.. (age 55)
Occupations: juristpolitician
Biography: Michał Marek Wójcik is a Polish politician. He was elected to Sejm on 25 September 2005, getting 7428 votes in 30 Rybnik district as a candidate from the Law and Justice list.

Magdalena Mazur

Born in: Poland
Years: 1976-.. (age 50)
Occupations: modelactor
Biography: Magdalena Matysiewicz better known as Magdalena Mazur is a Polish television presenter and model. She has acted in the comedy series Daleko od noszy. She has also hosted the erotic show Różowa landrynka on TV Polsat and the show Szał ciał on MTV Poland.

Agnieszka Ścigaj

Born in: Poland
Years: 1975-.. (age 51)
Enrolled in the University of Silesia in Katowice: Studied in 2001
Occupations: sociologistpolitician
Biography: Agnieszka Ścigaj is a Polish politician serving as a member of the Sejm since 2015. From 2022 to 2023, she served as minister without portfolio.

Marcin Wrona

Born in: Poland
Years: 1973-2015 (aged 42)
Occupations: basketball playerfilm directordirectorscreenwriter
Biography: Marcin Wrona was a Polish film director. His film Demon was shown at the 2015 Toronto International Film Festival. He debuted at the TIFF in 2010, with The Christening, and was also director of the Polish television series Medics.

Renata Przemyk

Born in: Poland
Years: 1966-.. (age 60)
Occupations: singer
Biography: Renata Janina Przemyk is a Polish singer and songwriter.

Magdalena Łazarkiewicz

Born in: Poland
Years: 1954-.. (age 72)
Occupations: actorscreenwriterfilm director
Biography: Magdalena Łazarkiewicz, née Holland is a Polish film director and screenwriter.

Barbara Dolniak

Born in: Poland
Years: 1960-.. (age 66)
Occupations: deputyjuristjudgepolitician
Biography: Barbara Dolniak is a Polish politician who currently serves as the Deputy Marshal of the Sejm of the Republic of Poland, a position she has held since 2015. She graduated with a law degree from the University of Silesia in Katowice. In her postgraduate studies, she graduated with a focus in European Union Law and Judicial Application. After graduating, Dolniak became a lawyer and a judge in the District Court of Katowice, and served in that role for 30 years.

Stepan Putilo

Born in: Belarus
Years: 1998-.. (age 28)
Occupations: television presentermusicianvloggerYouTuberjournalist
Biography: Stsiapan Aliaksandravich Putsila is a Belarusian journalist, blogger, film director, TV presenter, and opposition figure, mostly known as founder of the media outlet Nexta. The Telegram channel NEXTA Live he founded was at times the biggest Russian speaking channel in the world.

Wojciech Kuczok

Born in: Poland
Years: 1972-.. (age 54)
Enrolled in the University of Silesia in Katowice: Studied film studies
Occupations: screenwriterwriterfilm critic
Biography: Wojciech Kuczok is a Polish novelist, poet, screenwriter, film critic and speleologist.

Krystyna Bochenek

Born in: Poland
Years: 1953-2010 (aged 57)
Occupations: politicianwriterjournalist
Biography: Krystyna Maria Bochenek was a Polish journalist, politician and Vice-Marshal of the Senate of the Republic of Poland representing Civic Platform (Platforma Obywatelska). She died in office on board the Polish presidential jet in the April 2010 Smolensk air disaster, along with the President of Poland.

Łukasz Kohut

Born in: Poland
Years: 1982-.. (age 44)
Occupations: photographerpolitician
Biography: Łukasz Marcin Kohut is a Silesian politician who has been serving as a Member of the European Parliament since the 2019 elections.

Maciej Ślesicki

Born in: Poland
Years: 1966-.. (age 60)
Occupations: film producerscreenwriterfilm director
Biography: Maciej Wojciech Slesicki is a Polish film director and screenwriter, co-founder and lecturer at the Warsaw Film School.

Sławomir Skrzypek

Born in: Poland
Years: 1963-2010 (aged 47)
Occupations: economistengineerbankerpolitician
Biography: Sławomir Stanisław Skrzypek was the President of the National Bank of Poland (NBP) from 2007 until his death in 2010. He died in the 2010 Polish Air Force Tu-154 crash, when a plane transporting a number of Polish notables, including the President of Poland Lech Kaczyński, crashed en route to a ceremony commemorating the 70th anniversary of the Katyń massacre.

Jakub Ćwiek

Born in: Poland
Years: 1982-.. (age 44)
Occupations: writer
Biography: Jakub Ćwiek is a Polish fantasy writer.

Michał Gramatyka

Born in: Poland
Years: 1971-.. (age 55)
Occupations: juristpolitician
Biography: Michał Sebastian Gramatyka is a Polish lawyer, musician, and politician of Poland 2050. He has been a member of the Sejm since 2019, and has served as deputy minister of digital affairs since 2023. In the 2024 European Parliament election, he was the lead candidate of the Third Way in Silesia.

Agnieszka Smoczyńska

Born in: Poland
Years: 1978-.. (age 48)
Occupations: theatrical directorscreenwriterfilm director
Biography: Agnieszka Smoczyńska is a Polish film and television writer and director. She is an alumnus of the Krzysztof Kieślowski Film School in Katowice. Her debut feature film, The Lure (2015), was re-released by The Criterion Collection in 2017, also including the short films Aria Diva (2007) and Viva Maria! (2010). In 2022, she won Golden Lions Award at the Gdynia Film Festival for her 4th feature, The Silent Twins.

Maciej Konieczny

Born in: Poland
Years: 1980-.. (age 46)
Occupations: politician
Biography: Maciej Konieczny [ˈmat͡ɕɛj ˈkɔɲɛt͡ʂnɨ] is a Polish culture expert, left-wing politician, member of the Board of the Partia Razem party.

Łukasz Litewka

Born in: Poland
Years: 1989-.. (age 37)
Enrolled in the University of Silesia in Katowice: Studied sociology
Occupations: politician
Biography: Łukasz Karol Litewka is a Polish sociologist and social democratic politician. He was elected in the 2023 parliamentary election to become a member of the Sejm of Poland, from the constituency no. 32, which is centered on the city of Sosnowiec.

Gertruda Uścińska

Born in: Poland
Years: 1958-.. (age 68)
Enrolled in the University of Silesia in Katowice: In 1981 graduated with magister degree in jurisprudence
Occupations: university teacherpolitical scientistjurist
Biography: Gertruda Uścińska is a Polish lawyer and political scientist. She is a Professor of Social Sciences at The University of Warsaw and the Polish Institute of Labor and Social Affairs in Warsaw (pl). Since 2016, Uścińska has been the President of Poland's Social Insurance Institution, which is the Polish state organization responsible for social insurance. She has also been an elected Chairwoman at the International Social Security Association.

Maciej Dejczer

Born in: Poland
Years: 1953-.. (age 73)
Occupations: screenwriterdirectorfilm director
Biography: Maciej Dejczer is a Polish film director, best known for his film 300 Miles to Heaven, which won the second European Film Award for European Discovery of the Year. He is an alumnus of the Krzysztof Kieślowski Film School in Katowice.

Marek Plura

Born in: Poland
Years: 1970-2023 (aged 53)
Occupations: social activistpsychotherapistpolitician
Biography: Marek Mirosław Plura was a Polish politician, social activist, and psychotherapist. He was a two-time member of the Polish Parliament and served as Member of the European Parliament (MEP) from 2014 until 2019.

Krystyna Szumilas

Born in: Poland
Years: 1956-.. (age 70)
Occupations: politician
Biography: Krystyna Maria Szumilas is a Polish politician. She was elected to the Sejm on 25 September 2005 getting 16,105 votes in 29 Gliwice district as a candidate from the Civic Platform list. From 2011 to 2012 she served as the Minister of National Education.

Bożena Borys-Szopa

Born in: Poland
Years: 1954-.. (age 72)
Occupations: trade unionistpolitician
Biography: Bożena Teresa Borys-Szopa is a Polish trade union activist and politician. She was the chief labour inspector (2006–2008), minister in the Chancellery of the President (2009–2010), and minister of family, labour and social policy (2009).

Maciej Szpunar

Born in: Poland
Years: 1971-.. (age 55)
Enrolled in the University of Silesia in Katowice: 1990-1995 graduated with magister degree in law
Occupations: university teacherlegal scholarlawyerjuristpolitician
Biography: Maciej Aleksander Szpunar is a Polish lawyer, attorney at law, professor of legal sciences, university professor at the University of Silesia, in 2008–2009 undersecretary of state in the Office of the Committee for European Integration, in 2010–2013 undersecretary state in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, from 2013 advocate general in the European Court of Justice.

Krzysztof Janik

Born in: Poland
Years: 1950-.. (age 76)
Occupations: political scientistjuristpolitician
Biography: Krzysztof Jan Janik is a Polish left-wing politician. He is a member of the Democratic Left Alliance and from 6 March 2004 to 18 December 2004 was the leader of this party.

Piotr Wilczek

Born in: Poland
Years: 1962-.. (age 64)
Enrolled in the University of Silesia in Katowice: 1981-1986 graduated with magister degree
Occupations: linguisttranslatoruniversity teacherliterary scholarhistorian
Biography: Piotr Antoni Wilczek is a Polish intellectual historian, a specialist in comparative literature and a literary translator. He served as the Ambassador of Poland to the United States (2016–2021) and the United Kingdom (2022-2025).

Jan P. Matuszyński

Born in: Poland
Years: 1984-.. (age 42)
Occupations: screenwriterdirectorfilm director
Biography: Jan Paweł Matuszyński is a Polish film director and a producer of documentary films.

Izabela Kloc

Born in: Poland
Years: 1963-.. (age 63)
Occupations: politicianeconomist
Biography: Izabela Helena Kloc, née Lazar is a Polish politician. She was elected to the Sejm on 25 September 2005, getting 5,185 votes in 30 Rybnik district as a candidate from the Law and Justice list.

Jerzy Polaczek

Born in: Poland
Years: 1961-.. (age 65)
Occupations: politician
Biography: Jerzy Jan Polaczek is a Polish politician. He was elected to the Sejm on 25 September 2005 getting 39,335 votes in the 31st Katowice district as a candidate for the Law and Justice list. In 2005-2007 he served as a Minister of Transport.

Marzena Czarnecka

Born in: Poland
Years: 1969-.. (age 57)
Enrolled in the University of Silesia in Katowice: In 1994 graduated with Master of Arts in law
Occupations: ministeruniversity teacherjuristlegal counseloreconomist
Biography: Marzena Czarnecka is a Polish professor at the University of Economics in Katowice, where she heads the Department of Energy Transformation.

Waldemar Krzystek

Born in: Poland
Years: 1953-.. (age 73)
Occupations: screenwriterdirectorfilm director
Biography: Waldemar Krzystek is a Polish film director and screenwriter. His film Ostatni prom was screened in the Un Certain Regard section at the 1990 Cannes Film Festival.

Jacek Bednarz

Born in: Poland
Years: 1967-.. (age 59)
Occupations: association football player
Biography: Jacek Bednarz is a Polish football executive and former player.

Szymon Giżyński

Born in: Poland
Years: 1956-.. (age 70)
Occupations: politician
Biography: Szymon Stanisław Giżyński is a Polish politician.

Mirosława Nykiel

Born in: Poland
Years: 1953-.. (age 73)
Occupations: politician
Biography: Mirosława Nykiel, née Bulwan, is a Polish politician, manager, and teacher. She served as a senator in the 6th term and as a member of the Sejm in the 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, and 10th terms. She is also a member of the European Parliament in the 10th term.

Magdalena Piekorz

Born in: Poland
Years: 1974-.. (age 52)
Occupations: screenwriterfilm directordirectortheatrical director
Biography: Magdalena Piekorz is a Polish film director, screenwriter as well as film and theatre actress.

Gabriela Lenartowicz

Born in: Poland
Years: 1960-.. (age 66)
Occupations: politician
Biography: Gabriela Teresa Lenartowicz is a Polish politician. She was elected to the Sejm (9th term) representing the Bielsko-Biała II constituency. She previously also served in the 8th term of the Sejm (2015–2019).

Damian Bartyla

Born in: Poland
Years: 1973-.. (age 53)
Occupations: lawyerpolitician
Biography: Damian Bartyla is a Polish lawyer and local politician who was the Mayor of Bytom 2012 to 2018.

Urszula Antoniak

Born in: Poland
Years: 1968-.. (age 58)
Occupations: film directorscreenwriter
Biography: Urszula Antoniak is a Polish-Dutch film director. She is best known for her film Nothing Personal which won four Golden calves.

Konrad Szołajski

Born in: Poland
Years: 1956-.. (age 70)
Occupations: screenwriterfilm directordirectorfilm producer
Biography: Konrad Szołajski, pseudonym Piotr Kaczorowski, is a Polish film director and screenwriter.

Marek Wójcik

Born in: Poland
Years: 1980-.. (age 46)
Occupations: politician
Biography: Marek Krzysztof Wójcik is a Polish politician. He was elected to the Sejm on 25 September 2005, getting 4408 votes in 31 Katowice district as a candidate from the Civic Platform list. In December 2023 he was appointed the Voivode of Silesian Voivodeship.

Tomasz Kamusella

Born in: Poland
Years: 1967-.. (age 59)
Occupations: historianpolitical scientistuniversity teacher
Biography: Tomasz Kamusella FRHistS is a Polish scholar pursuing interdisciplinary research in language politics, nationalism, and ethnicity.

Wojciech Szarama

Born in: Poland
Years: 1955-.. (age 71)
Occupations: athletelawyerpolitician
Biography: Wojciech Piotr Szarama is a Polish politician. He was elected to Sejm on 25 September 2005, getting 9280 votes in 29 Gliwice district as a candidate from the Law and Justice list.

Przemysław Koperski

Born in: Poland
Years: 1974-.. (age 52)
Occupations: politician
Biography: Przemysław Koperski is a Polish politician and lawyer. Former deputy mayor of Częstochowa (2010–2014).

Tomasz Głogowski

Born in: Poland
Years: 1974-.. (age 52)
Occupations: man of lettersliterary scholarpolonistpolitician
Biography: Tomasz Marian Głogowski is a Polish politician, serving as a member of the Sejm since 2005, representing Constituency no. 29. He is a member of the Civic Platform party.

Henryka Mościcka-Dendys

Born in: Poland
Years: 1976-.. (age 50)
Enrolled in the University of Silesia in Katowice: Graduated with magister degree in law
Occupations: diplomatjuristpolitician
Biography: Henryka Joanna Mościcka-Dendys is a Polish diplomat who served an ambassador of Poland to Denmark (2015–2020).

Maciej Ganczar

Born in: Poland
Years: 1976-.. (age 50)
Occupations: university teacherphilologisttranslator
Biography: Maciej Ganczar is a Polish literary scholar specializing in German literature, literary translator, author of publications for foreign language teaching, since 2024 Professor at the Medical University of Warsaw.

Halina Bieda

Born in: Poland
Years: 1962-.. (age 64)
Occupations: politician
Biography: Halina Maria Bieda is a Polish politician. She was elected to the Senate of Poland (10th term) representing the constituency of Katowice. She was also elected to the 11th term.

Marek Wesoły

Born in: Poland
Years: 1972-.. (age 54)
Occupations: restaurateur
Biography: Marek Jacek Wesoły is a Polish politician, local government official and entrepreneur. He is serving as a member of the Sejm in the IX and X terms, and as Deputy Minister of State Assets in 2023.

Maciej Szymański

Born in: Poland
Years: 1957-.. (age 69)
Enrolled in the University of Silesia in Katowice: 1976-1981 graduated with magister degree
Occupations: researcherlibrariancivil servantphotographerslavist
Biography: Maciej Grzegorz Szymański is a Polish philologist and diplomat who has served as Polish ambassador to Slovenia (1998–2002), Serbia (2005–2009), Croatia (2013–2017), and Bulgaria (2019–2025).

Małgorzata Handzlik

Born in: Poland
Years: 1965-.. (age 61)
Occupations: Esperantistpolitician
Biography: Małgorzata Maria Handzlik is a Polish politician and former Member of the European Parliament (MEP). She was elected in 2004 and 2009 for the Civic Platform (Platforma Obywatelska, PO), and chose not to run for reelection in 2014.

Danuta Pietraszewska

Born in: Poland
Years: 1947-.. (age 79)
Occupations: politician
Biography: Danuta Róża Pietraszewska, née Sitek is a Polish politician. She was elected to the Sejm on 25 September 2005, receiving 9,841 votes in 31 Katowice district, as a candidate from the Platforma Obywatelska (Civic Platform) list.

Tadeusz Lubelski

Born in: Poland
Years: 1949-.. (age 77)
Occupations: film historianfilm criticfilm theoristtranslatorfilm scholar
Biography: Tadeusz Lubelski is a Polish film historian, theorist and critic specializing in Polish and French cinema, translator, professor of the humanities, member of the European Film Academy.

Dorota Tobiszowska

Born in: Poland
Years: 1966-.. (age 60)
Occupations: politician
Biography: Dorota Jolanta Tobiszowska is a Polish politician. She was elected to the Senate of Poland (10th term) representing the constituency of Katowice.

Weronika Murek

Born in: Poland
Years: 1989-.. (age 37)
Occupations: playwrightjuristwriter
Biography: Weronika Murek is a Polish playwright, short story writer and essayist.

Dariusz Rekosz

Born in: Poland
Years: 1970-.. (age 56)
Occupations: writer
Biography: Dariusz Rekosz is a Polish author of books for children and teenagers, including Mors, Pinky, and the Secret of the Headmaster Fiszer, which began the series of “Mors, Pinky and...”.

Tadeusz Jacek Zieliński

Born in: Poland
Years: 1966-.. (age 60)
Occupations: lawyerpolitician
Biography: Tadeusz Jacek Zieliński is a Polish lawyer and Protestant theologian, professor of theological sciences and Juris Doctor. Member of Polish Parliament (1993-2001) and president of Polish Association of Church-State Law (2008-2016). Since 2016 deputy rector of the Christian Academy of Theology in Warsaw.

Karol Sabath

Born in: Poland
Years: 1963-2007 (aged 44)
Occupations: paleontologist
Biography: Karol Sabath was a Polish biologist, paleontologist and paleoartist. He was employed by the Instytut Paleobiologii of the Polska Akademia Nauk - Institute of Paleobiology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw. He also worked for National Geographic magazine, the Museum of the Polish Geological Institute, the European edition of Scientific American, and various other publishing houses in Poland. He authored many popular-science books for children, did translations, and wrote popular-science articles for Polish national newspapers. He was a scientific advisor for many popular-science events, including reconstructions of paleobiological environment and specimens (Baltow Jurassic Park).

Paweł Czarnota

Born in: Poland
Years: 1988-.. (age 38)
Occupations: chess player
Biography: Paweł Czarnota is a Polish chess grandmaster.

Jan Rzymełka

Born in: Poland
Years: 1952-.. (age 74)
Occupations: geologistpolitician
Biography: Jan Antoni Rzymełka is a Polish politician. He was elected to the Sejm on 25 September 2005, getting 8,878 votes in 31 Katowice district as a candidate from the Civic Platform list.

Ataullah Bogdan Kopański

Born in: Poland
Years: 1948-.. (age 78)
Occupations: historiantrade unionist
Biography: Ataullah Bogdan Kopański is a Polish historian of Central and Eastern Europe, especially of Muslims in the region, today based in Malaysia.

Małgorzata Tkacz-Janik

Born in: Poland
Years: 1965-.. (age 61)
Occupations: teacherpolitician
Biography: Małgorzata Tkacz-Janik is a Polish feminist activist and politician. Together with Dariusz Szwed she led Poland's green party Greens 2004 between 2010 and 2011. Since November 2010 she has been a member of the regional parliament of Silesia.

Krzysztof Mikuła

Born in: Poland
Years: 1974-.. (age 52)
Occupations: politician
Biography: Krzysztof Józef Mikuła is a Polish politician. He was elected to the Sejm on 25 September 2005, getting 10,208 votes in 31 Katowice district as a candidate from the Law and Justice list.

Jan Drabina

Born in: Poland
Years: 1939-.. (age 87)
Occupations: pedagoguemedievalistprofessoruniversity teacherreligious studies scholar
Biography: Jan Drabina is a Polish historian, professor at the Jagiellonian University.

Anna Pieńkosz

Born in: Poland
Years: 1976-.. (age 50)
Enrolled in the University of Silesia in Katowice: Graduated with magister degree in political science
Occupations: diplomatcivil servant
Biography: Anna Pieńkosz is a Polish civil servant and diplomat, she served as an ambassador to Cuba (2015–2020) and Peru (since 2025).

Janusz Spyra

Years: 1958-.. (age 68)
Occupations: historian
Biography: Dr Hab. Janusz Jan Spyra is a Polish historian. He is specializing in history of Cieszyn Silesia.

Maciej Klich

Born in: Poland
Years: 1958-.. (age 68)
Occupations: historiandissidentgraphic artist
Biography: Maciej Klich [ˈmat͡ɕɛj klʲix'] (born 28 February 1958) is a Polish historian, graphic artist, and former anti-communist Polish independence activist. In 1980, Klich co-founded the Independent Students' Association (Polish: Niezależne Zrzeszenie Studentów, NZS) in Silesia. Klich was interned on 24 December 1981, during the martial law set by the communist regime in Poland. In internment camps, Klich created 70+ stamps for the so-called "camp mail". Klich was released on 23 July 1982. After his release, Klich participated in the underground Solidarity, and the underground Independent Students' Association.

Michał Cholewa

Born in: Poland
Years: 1980-.. (age 46)
Occupations: writerscience fiction writer
Biography: Michał Cholewa is a Polish fantasy and science fiction writer. He is best known for his military sf series Algorytm wojny. His 2014 book Forta won the Janusz A. Zajdel Award.