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Grazyna GesickaPolish sociologist and politician
Date of Birth: 13.12.1951
Country:  Poland |
Content:
- Jolanta Szymanek-Deresz - Polish Sociologist and Politician
- Political Activities
- Tragedy and Legacy
- Honors and Recognition
Jolanta Szymanek-Deresz - Polish Sociologist and Politician
Education and Academic CareerBorn on December 13, 1951, in Warsaw, Jolanta Szymanek-Deresz graduated from the Institute of Sociology at the University of Warsaw in 1974. She went on to earn her doctorate in humanities in sociology in 1985, under the supervision of Włodzimierz Wesołowski. From 1985 to 1993, she served as an assistant professor at the Institute of Sociology, Warsaw University. A member of the Polish Sociological Association, she authored approximately 30 articles in Polish and international scholarly journals.
Political Activities
Szymanek-Deresz joined the "Solidarity" movement in 1980. She later served as the Minister of Regional Development in the governments of Kazimierz Marcinkiewicz and Jarosław Kaczyński. She also represented the Sejm (Polish parliament) in its fourth term.
Tragedy and Legacy
On April 10, 2010, Szymanek-Deresz was part of the Polish delegation led by President Lech Kaczyński on a visit to Russia for the 70th anniversary of the Katyn Massacre. The plane crashed upon landing at Smolensk-Severny Airport, killing everyone on board. Szymanek-Deresz was posthumously buried at the Powązki Military Cemetery in Warsaw on April 25, 2010.
Honors and Recognition
In recognition of her contributions, Szymanek-Deresz was posthumously awarded the Commander's Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta and the Honorary Award for Merits for the Subcarpathian Voivodeship on April 16, 2010.
