President's Speaker Series: A Conversation with Andrzej Duda, Former President of Poland

The President's Speaker Series welcomes distinguished scholars and thought leaders from differing points of view to examine topics and issues facing our communities and the world today. Driven by a desire to connect deeply with our community and inspire meaningful dialogue in the pursuit of truth, the series provides opportunities to cultivate an engaged and impassioned collective through civil discourse.

On November 18th we welcome Andrzej Duda, Former President of Poland.

Andrzej Sebastian Duda was born on May 16, 1972, in Kraków, Poland. He is a Polish politician, lawyer, doctor of law, and served as the president of the Republic of Poland from August 6, 2015, to August 6, 2025. He graduated from Jan III Sobieski Secondary School No. 2 in Kraków and later earned his law degree from the Faculty of Law and Administration at the Jagiellonian University, where he also obtained a PhD in legal studies. After completing his studies, he pursued an academic and teaching career at the Department of Administrative Law at the Jagiellonian University and also ran his own law office.

Duda began his public career in the state administration. From 2006 to 2007 he served as undersecretary of state at the Ministry of Justice and from 2008 to 2010 he held the position of undersecretary of state in the Chancellery of the President of Poland under Lech Kaczyński. In 2011 he was elected as a member of the Polish parliament (Sejm) representing the Law and Justice Party (PiS), and in 2014 he became a member of the European parliament. In the 2015 presidential elections, he ran as the Law and Justice candidate, won the second round, and assumed office on August 6, 2015. In 2020 he was re-elected for a second term.

During his presidency, Duda placed particular emphasis on national security, strengthening cooperation within NATO, transatlantic relations, and the development of infrastructure and energy security. In domestic policy, his administration focused on judicial reforms, family-oriented social programs, and supporting regional and infrastructural investments. His presidency was also marked by intense debate concerning Poland’s relations with the European Union and the role of the state in social and political life.

Duda is known for his active international engagement. He has represented Poland at NATO summits, the United Nations, and the European Union and has been a strong advocate of the Three Seas Initiative promoting cooperation among Central and Eastern European countries. In foreign policy, he consistently highlights the importance of the transatlantic partnership and regional solidarity within Europe.

Duda remains one of the most recognizable contemporary Polish politicians, combining academic experience with political practice, and continues to play a significant role in shaping the direction of Poland’s development in the 21st century. Privately, he is married to Agata Kornhauser-Duda, a German language teacher. The couple has a daughter, Kinga, born in 1995. His parents, Janina Milewska-Duda and Jan Tadeusz Duda, are both academics associated with universities in Kraków.


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