Washington, D.C. -- Former President of Poland (1995-2005) Aleksander Kwasniewski was today appointed Distinguished Scholar in the Practice of Global Leadership at Georgetown University where he will teach students in the Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service about contemporary European politics, the trans-Atlantic relationship, and democratization in Central and Eastern Europe.

"President Kwasniewski's presence on campus will be an invaluable contribution to the work of our students and faculty here," said Georgetown University President John J. DeGioia. "Having such a distinguished statesman as part of our university community will help us in our mission of intellectual engagement in important global issues."

President Kwasniewski's presence on campus will begin this spring when he will conduct seminars and other programmatic activities for students in the School of Foreign Service and the broader University community. He will help to foster a University conversation on important issues facing the international community today.

"I welcomed the invitation to join the Georgetown community with great interest and enthusiasm," said President Kwasniewski. "The University has been a center of renowned faculty, famous graduates and great achievements for many decades. I am honored to be here and follow the path of Jan Karski, a great Pole and a hero of the second World War as well as a Professor at Georgetown for 40 years."

"I hope that my academic activities will help the students and researchers at Georgetown to better understand Central and Eastern European politics and security issues," he added.

Aleksander Kwasniewski was a founding member of the New Social Democratic Party of Poland and served as its chairman before winning the 1995 presidential election. He was re-elected in 2000 and left office late last year. In office, President Kwasniewski supported economic liberalization and close relations with the West. His priorities included constitutional reform, securing Polish membership in NATO and the European Union, and advocating eastern expansion of European institutions. During his Presidency and under his leadership, Poland joined the United States-led coalition to remove Saddam Hussein from power. Since then, Poland remains a close ally of the United States in the stabilization mission in Iraq. President Kwasniewski has also played a leadership role in the politics of Eastern Europe, negotiating a resolution to the disputed 2004 Ukrainian election and helping the pro-democratic "Orange Revolution" to prevail. In addition, his 2001 apology on behalf of the Polish people for crimes committed during the Holocaust played a crucial role in rebuilding relations between Poland and the worldwide Jewish community. Aleksander Kwasniewski has been mentioned recently as one of the most serious candidates to become the next Secretary General of the United Nations.

President Kwasniewski joins other distinguished Georgetown faculty who help students bridge the policy and academic world, including former National Security Advisor Anthony Lake, former Secretary of State Madeleine K. Albright, former Spanish Prime Minister José María Aznar, and Dean of the School of Foreign Service and former Ambassador at Large Robert L. Gallucci.

About the Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service    

Founded in 1919 to educate students and prepare them for leadership roles in international affairs, the School of Foreign Service remains committed to intercultural understanding and service in the global arena, ideals held by its founder and first dean, the Rev. Edmund A. Walsh, S.J. For more information about the School of Foreign Service, visit http://www.georgetown.edu/sfs.

About Georgetown University

Georgetown University is the oldest Catholic and Jesuit university in America, founded in 1789 by Archbishop John Carroll. Georgetown today is a major student-centered, international, research university offering respected undergraduate, graduate and professional programs on its three campuses in Washington, DC. For more information about Georgetown University, visit www.georgetown.edu.