Honorary Degrees and Recognition Committee

Professor Jan Strelau

In April 2016, the Senate of SWPS University granted the title doctor honoris causa to Professor Jan Strelau for outstanding achievements in research and for his innovative and lasting contribution to the development of science in the field of Psychology.

Professor Jan Strelau pioneered studies on temperament. He is an expert in psychology of individual differences and is best known for his Regulative Theory of Temperament. Professor Strelau has authored, co-authored and edited close to 300 scientific publications, including 44 books.

His many awards and recognitions include: Teofrast Superstar, a lifetime achievement award from Charaktery, popular psychology magazine (2015), Life-Time Achievement Award from The European Association of Personality Psychology (2012), Prime Minister’s Award for the lifetime contribution to science (2009), the Foundation for Polish Science Award (FNP Award), also known as Polish Nobel Prize (2000), Humboldt Research Award for foreign academics in recognition of outstanding international achievements in personality research (1990), Max Planck Research Award for international outstanding research achievements (1992), New Europe Prize 1997 for Higher Education and Research, jointly administered by six Centers for Advanced Studies, including Stanford, Princeton, North Carolina, NIAS, Uppsala and Berlin (1997).

Professor Szewach Weiss

In November 2013, the Senate of SWPS University granted the title of doctor honoris causa to Professor Shevah Weiss in recognition of his achievements in political science, research on contemporary Israel, outstanding contribution to the development of Polish-Israeli relations and mutual understanding of Polish and Israeli history and heritage.

Professor Shevah Weiss is an Israeli political scientist, academic lecturer, journalist and a former politician and diplomat. Ever since his post as the Israeli Ambassador to Poland, he has been pursuing the goal of Polish-Israeli reconciliation. Thanks to his work, the anti-Semitic and anti-Polish stereotypes are being replaced by mutual understanding and appreciation of the shared history and culture, lost during WWII. Shevah Weiss is a recipient of numerous awards, including: the Honorary Distinction Bene Merito (2009), The Grand Cross of Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland (2004), and Commander’s Cross Missio Reconciliationis (2003).

Professor Robert Cialdini

In October 2013, the Senate of SWPS University granted the title of doctor honoris causa to Professor Robert Cialdini for outstanding achievements in social psychology and for research in the field of psychology of influence and its implementation in business management.

Professor Cialdini has authored many publications linking the fields of psychology and marketing. His seminal book Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion is regarded as one of the psychology classics and has been enjoying unwavering popularity among psychologists, marketing specialists and layman readers alike. Porfessor Cialdini is an expert in implementing psychological research in practice. His clients include the largest international corporations and governmental organizations. He is the founder and the President of Influence at Work, an international consulting firm, that aims to improve organizational and personal performance by understanding and using the psychology of influence.

Professor Philip Zimbardo

In 2011, the Senate of SWPS University granted the title of doctor honoris causa to Professor Philip Zimbardo for his outstanding contributions to Psychology and the implementation of psychological research in conflict resolution as well as for the promotion of international scientific cooperation, including SWPS University.

Professor Helmut Skowronek

In 2010, the Senate of SWPS University granted the title of doctor honoris causa to Professor Helmut Skowronek for his outstanding contribution to Educational Psychology and his interdisciplinary research combining the fields pedagogy, psychology and sociology. Professor Skowronek is an acclaimed specialist in all these areas of scientific inquiry.

Professor Wojciech Burszta

A cultural anthropologist, cultural researcher, essayist, and translator. Author of over 400 publications, such as a handbook Antropologia kultury. Tematy, teorie, interpretacje (Cultural Anthropology. Topics, Theoris, and Interpretations). President of the Oskar Kolberg Institute. Member of the Polish Ethnological Society. Founding member of the Polish Institute of Anthropology and the Jerzy Kmita Institute Foundation. Recipient of the Gold Cross of Merit, a Polish state decoration given in recognition of services to the state. Lecturer at SWPS University’s Department of Cultural Studies in Warsaw. He passed away in 2021.

Farewell to Professor Wojciech Burszta

Grażyna Dulinicz

A long-standing Director of SWPS University’s Library. She was universally liked and highly respected by academics, administrative employees, and students. She worked tirelessly to establish and expand our library. She died tragically in a car accident, in 2010.

Professor Tadeusz Gałkowski

A psychologist, specializing in rehabilitation psychology. His research focused on autism and psychological aspects of rehabilitation in persons with physical and mental disability. Author of numerous books and articles on developmental psychology and child and adolescent education. Co-author of the Polish edition of the Charter of Rights for People with Autism, Chair of the Polski Komitet Audiofonologii (Polish Committee of Audiophonology). He passed away in 2020.

Professor Krzysztof Gawlikowski

A political scientist, specializing in sinology. His researched interests revolved around the classic Chinese thought on strategy (e.g. Sun Tzu) as well as socio-political traditions of East Asia and their impact on the contemporary political and cultural transformations. Author of numerous publications in various languages and many collective monographs on East Asia. Founder and long standing Head of the Center for Asia-Pacific Studies at the Institute of Political Studies, Polish Academy of Sciences (PAN). Initiator of the Asian Studies program at SWPS University. He passed away in 2021.

Farewell to Professor Krzysztof Gawlikowski

Professor Tatiana Klonowicz

Psychologist, specializing in psychology of individual differences and psychology of stress. Author of numerous publications on the impact of stress on human life, lecturer at SWPS University. She passed away in 2017.

Stanisław Piestrak

A long-standing Director of Facilities Management at SWPS University in Warsaw. Mr. Piestrak oversaw the renovation of the historic industrial building by Chodakowska Street in Warsaw that has become the main campus of SWPS University. He worked tirelessly to ensure safe and comfortable conditions on campus for students and employees, and managed the day-to-day operations of the university. He passed away in 2011.

Profesor Zbigniew Pietrasiński

A psychologist, researcher, educator, university lecturer, and mentor for many generations of students. One of the founders of SWPS University. Since its inception, he held the position of the Vice-Rector for Student Affairs. His research interests included optimization of human development and a study of creative processes. He passed away in 2010.

Ewa Podbielska

An administrative specialist who worked for many years at the Office of the Dean of the Faculty of Psychology in Warsaw. Passed away in 2020.

Professor Jan Strelau

A doyen of Polish psychology, a world-renowned expert and a pioneer researcher on temperament. Author of the Regulative Theory of Temperament (RTT). He has made an outstanding and lasting contribution to the development of science in the field of psychology. His legacy includes 300 scientific publications, including academic handbooks used by students of psychology across Poland. Some of his numerous awards include the Commander’s Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta, the Humboldt Research Award, the Lifetime Achievement Award granted by the European Association of Personality Psychology, the Foundation for Polish Science Award, in the social sciences and humanities category, also known as the Polish Nobel Prize. He passed away in 2020.

Farewell to Professor Jan Strelau

Professor Witold Wołodkiewicz

A world-renowned specialist in Roman law. Recipient of a Commander’s Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta for his contributions to research and education. His professional interests focused on the impact of Roman law on the development of European legal culture. He was also interested in legal humanism, jurisprudence of the era of the Enlightenment, and Napoleonic Code. Co-creator of the Faculty of Law in Warsaw, at SWPS University. He passed away in 2021.

Professor Kazimierz Wrześniewski

A psychologist, specializing in health psychology. Member of the Board at the European Health Psychology Society. Author of numerous articles and monographs on health psychology, co-author of books and research papers. Lecturer at SWPS University. He passed away in 2012.

Professor Anna Zeidler-Janiszewska

A philosopher. Researcher of the modern and post-modern aesthetic experience, involved in the development of cultural studies in Poland. Her professional interests included mainly art and literature. A long-standing lecturer and researcher at SWPS University. She passed away in 2017.