73 Notable alumni of University of Silesia in Katowice
Updated: June 01, 2026 EliteDegrees
University of Silesia in Katowice is ranked #812 in the world and #17 in Poland by aggregated alumni prominence. Below is the list of 73 notable alumni from University of Silesia in Katowice sorted by their wiki pages popularity. The directory includes famous graduates and former students along with research and academic staff. Many individuals affiliated with University of Silesia in Katowice won Nobel Prizes for Peace, in Physics, Chemistry, Physiology or Medicine, and Economics.
1. Paweł Czarnota
1988-. (aged 38)
chess player
Paweł Czarnota is a Polish chess grandmaster.
2. Ataullah Bogdan Kopański
1948-. (aged 78)
historian
trade unionist
Ataullah Bogdan Kopański is a Polish historian of Central and Eastern Europe, especially of Muslims in the region, today based in Malaysia.
3. Małgorzata Tkacz-Janik
1965-. (aged 61)
teacher
politician
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.
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4. Krzysztof Mikuła
1974-. (aged 52)
politician
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.
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5. Jan Drabina
1939-. (aged 87)
pedagogue
medievalist
professor
university teacher
religious studies scholar
Jan Drabina is a Polish historian, professor at the Jagiellonian University.
6. Janusz Spyra
1958-. (aged 68)
historian
Dr Hab. Janusz Jan Spyra is a Polish historian. He is specializing in history of Cieszyn Silesia.
7. Michał Cholewa
1980-. (aged 46)
writer
science fiction writer
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.
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8. Tadeusz Jacek Zieliński
1966-. (aged 60)
lawyer
politician
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.
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9. Karol Sabath
1963-2007 (aged 44)
paleontologist
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...
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10. Henryka Mościcka-Dendys
1976-. (aged 50)
diplomat
jurist
politician
Henryka Joanna Mościcka-Dendys is a Polish diplomat who served an ambassador of Poland to Denmark (2015–2020).
11. Halina Bieda
1962-. (aged 64)
politician
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.
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12. Marek Wesoły
1972-. (aged 54)
restaurateur
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.
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13. Maciej Szymański
1957-. (aged 69)
researcher
librarian
civil servant
photographer
slavist
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).
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14. Małgorzata Handzlik
1965-. (aged 61)
Esperantist
politician
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.
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15. Danuta Pietraszewska
1947-. (aged 79)
politician
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.
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16. Tadeusz Lubelski
1949-. (aged 77)
film historian
film critic
film theorist
translator
film scholar
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.
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17. Dorota Tobiszowska
1966-. (aged 60)
politician
Dorota Jolanta Tobiszowska is a Polish politician. She was elected to the Senate of Poland (10th term) representing the constituency of Katowice.
18. Weronika Murek
1989-. (aged 37)
playwright
jurist
writer
Weronika Murek is a Polish playwright, short story writer and essayist.
19. Dariusz Rekosz
1970-. (aged 56)
writer
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...”.
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20. Marek Wójcik
1980-. (aged 46)
politician
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.
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21. Wojciech Szarama
1955-. (aged 71)
athlete
lawyer
politician
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.
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22. Przemysław Koperski
1974-. (aged 52)
politician
Przemysław Koperski is a Polish politician and lawyer. Former deputy mayor of Częstochowa (2010–2014).
23. Tomasz Głogowski
1974-. (aged 52)
man of letters
literary scholar
polonist
politician
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.
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24. Szymon Giżyński
1956-. (aged 70)
politician
Szymon Stanisław Giżyński is a Polish politician.
25. Mirosława Nykiel
1953-. (aged 73)
politician
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.
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26. Magdalena Piekorz
1974-. (aged 52)
screenwriter
film director
director
theatrical director
Magdalena Piekorz is a Polish film director, screenwriter as well as film and theatre actress.
27. Gabriela Lenartowicz
1960-. (aged 66)
politician
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).
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28. Damian Bartyla
1973-. (aged 53)
lawyer
politician
Damian Bartyla is a Polish lawyer and local politician who was the Mayor of Bytom 2012 to 2018.
29. Urszula Antoniak
1968-. (aged 58)
film director
screenwriter
Urszula Antoniak is a Polish-Dutch film director. She is best known for her film Nothing Personal which won four Golden calves.
30. Konrad Szołajski
1956-. (aged 70)
screenwriter
film director
director
film producer
Konrad Szołajski, pseudonym Piotr Kaczorowski, is a Polish film director and screenwriter.
31. Marek Plura
1970-2023 (aged 53)
social activist
psychotherapist
politician
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.
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32. Krystyna Szumilas
1956-. (aged 70)
politician
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.
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33. Maciej Szpunar
1971-. (aged 55)
university teacher
legal scholar
lawyer
jurist
politician
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.
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34. Krzysztof Janik
1950-. (aged 76)
political scientist
jurist
politician
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.
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35. Piotr Wilczek
1962-. (aged 64)
linguist
translator
university teacher
literary scholar
historian
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).
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36. Jan P. Matuszyński
1984-. (aged 42)
screenwriter
director
film director
Jan Paweł Matuszyński is a Polish film director and a producer of documentary films.
37. Jerzy Polaczek
1961-. (aged 65)
politician
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.
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38. Waldemar Krzystek
1953-. (aged 73)
screenwriter
director
film director
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.
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39. Jacek Bednarz
1967-. (aged 59)
association football player
Jacek Bednarz is a Polish football executive and former player.
40. Wojciech Kuczok
1972-. (aged 54)
screenwriter
writer
film critic
Wojciech Kuczok is a Polish novelist, poet, screenwriter, film critic and speleologist.
41. Krystyna Bochenek
1953-2010 (aged 57)
politician
writer
journalist
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.
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42. Łukasz Kohut
1982-. (aged 44)
photographer
politician
Łukasz Marcin Kohut is a Silesian politician who has been serving as a Member of the European Parliament since the 2019 elections.
43. Maciej Ślesicki
1966-. (aged 60)
film producer
screenwriter
film director
Maciej Wojciech Slesicki is a Polish film director and screenwriter, co-founder and lecturer at the Warsaw Film School.
44. Jakub Ćwiek
1982-. (aged 44)
writer
Jakub Ćwiek is a Polish fantasy writer.
45. Michał Gramatyka
1971-. (aged 55)
jurist
politician
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.
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46. Agnieszka Smoczyńska
1978-. (aged 48)
theatrical director
screenwriter
film director
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...
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47. Maciej Konieczny
1980-. (aged 46)
politician
Maciej Konieczny [ˈmat͡ɕɛj ˈkɔɲɛt͡ʂnɨ] is a Polish culture expert, left-wing politician, member of the Board of the Partia Razem party.
48. Łukasz Litewka
1989-. (aged 37)
politician
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.
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49. Gertruda Uścińska
1958-. (aged 68)
university teacher
political scientist
jurist
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...
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50. Michał Wójcik
1971-. (aged 55)
jurist
politician
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.
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51. Magdalena Mazur
1976-. (aged 50)
model
actor
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.
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52. Renata Przemyk
1966-. (aged 60)
singer
Renata Janina Przemyk is a Polish singer and songwriter.
53. Magdalena Łazarkiewicz
1954-. (aged 72)
actor
screenwriter
film director
Magdalena Łazarkiewicz, née Holland is a Polish film director and screenwriter.
54. Barbara Dolniak
1960-. (aged 66)
deputy
jurist
judge
politician
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...
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55. Stepan Putilo
1998-. (aged 28)
television presenter
musician
vlogger
YouTuber
journalist
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.
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56. Kamil Durczok
1968-2021 (aged 53)
journalist
Kamil Sebastian Durczok was a Polish journalist, Editor-in-Chief, and presenter of TVN newscast Fakty TVN.
57. Szczepan Twardoch
1979-. (aged 47)
writer
philosopher
sociologist
opinion journalist
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).
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58. Marek Czyż
1968-. (aged 58)
journalist
opinion journalist
Marek Czyż is a Polish journalist and news presenter.
59. Jarosław Szymczyk
1970-. (aged 56)
linguist
police officer
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.
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60. Grzegorz Braun
1967-. (aged 59)
screenwriter
director
opinion journalist
politician
film director
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.
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61. Borys Budka
1978-. (aged 48)
politician
economist
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...
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62. Marzena Czarnecka
1969-. (aged 57)
minister
university teacher
jurist
legal counselor
economist
Marzena Czarnecka is a Polish professor at the University of Economics in Katowice, where she heads the Department of Energy Transformation.
63. Marcin Wrona
1973-2015 (aged 42)
basketball player
film director
director
screenwriter
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.
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64. Maciej Klich
1958-. (aged 68)
historian
dissident
graphic artist
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...
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65. Jan Rzymełka
1952-. (aged 74)
geologist
politician
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.
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66. Bożena Borys-Szopa
1954-. (aged 72)
trade unionist
politician
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).
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67. Agnieszka Ścigaj
1975-. (aged 51)
sociologist
politician
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.
68. Sławomir Skrzypek
1963-2010 (aged 47)
economist
engineer
banker
politician
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.
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69. Maciej Dejczer
1953-. (aged 73)
screenwriter
director
film director
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.
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70. Anna Pieńkosz
1976-. (aged 50)
diplomat
civil servant
Anna Pieńkosz is a Polish civil servant and diplomat, she served as an ambassador to Cuba (2015–2020) and Peru (since 2025).
71. Izabela Kloc
1963-. (aged 63)
politician
economist
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.
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72. Maciej Ganczar
1976-. (aged 50)
university teacher
philologist
translator
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.
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73. Tomasz Kamusella
1967-. (aged 59)
historian
political scientist
university teacher
Tomasz Kamusella FRHistS is a Polish scholar pursuing interdisciplinary research in language politics, nationalism, and ethnicity.