On April 4, 2023, members of the Catholic Law community gathered at the Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Washington, D.C., for an alumni & student networking reception and concert. Prior to the program, guests enjoyed a display celebrating the more than thirty-year history of The Catholic University of America Columbus School of Law-Jagiellonian Programs. The evening opened with a welcome from Ambassador Marek Magierowski, Poland’s Ambassador to the United States. Following the Ambassador remarks, Stephen C. Payne, Dean and Knights of Columbus Professor of Law, also welcomed those in attendance and thanked the Embassy for hosting the event. The Dean shared the wonderful experience he had during the summer of 2022 visiting the Jagiellonian University in Kraków, Poland.
The Dean was followed Professor Emerita Leah Wortham, who gave an update on the three CUA-JU cooperative programs from which more than 2000 US, Polish, and other international students now have benefited. She also shared updates on two upcoming events, which are listed below. Wortham noted the Summer 2023 edition of the International Business and Trade Summer Law Program (IBTSLP), will take place in Kraków from June 11th to July 12th, and that externships are available before and after the Program. Professor Wortham was followed by two participants of the Summer 2022 IBTSLP, Casey Magersupp ’23 and Andrea de la Camara ’23. Both shared the values of their experience and how program and connections acquired gave them an advantage in their job searches for summer 2023.
The formal program closed with a short concert by pianist Martin Labazevitch, Polish Ways: A Musical Journey through the Golden Age of Polish Cinema. Labazevitch played selections from several films by noted Polish directors, which he introduced with background about the films, directors, composers, and place of the music in the films. Following the recital, the group of students, alumni, faculty, staff, and embassy staff continued the celebration of the program at a networking reception.
Below are two upcoming events that celebrate Catholic Law's relationship with the Jagiellonian University in Kraków, Poland.
- United States and Central & Eastern Europe Connection Weekend: The Future of Transatlantic Investment, June 16-17, 2023, Jagiellonian University, Collegium Novum, Kraków, Poland
- Catholic Law Reunion Weekend, October 13-15, 2023 including celebration of the 20th Anniversary of the CUA-JU LL.M. in American Law. U.S. IBTSLP and other alumni interested in cross-border work are warmly welcomed to join international IBTSLP classmates in celebrating this milestone at Reunion Weekend.