Looking back at 25 years of our history, studded with renowned scholars, academics and dedicated employees, SWPS University has established a special award, a “Non Omnis Moriar” medal. The medal is awarded posthumously in recognition of distinguished contributions to the development of SWPS University and its community. On the occasion of the 25th Jubilee, the Senate, on the joint initiative of the Rector and the Honorary Degrees and Recognition Committee, has conferred the first “Non Omnis Moriar” medals to distinguished members of our community, who have made lasting contributions to the University.
Posthumous award
"Non Omnis Moriar” Medals
The award process requires the Rector or the Founder or the Director General of SWPS University to submit a motion to the Honorary Degrees and Recognition Committee to launch award proceedings. The motion may also be put forward on the initiative of the Committee itself, once Rector’s approval has been obtained. Next, the Committee prepares a justification for awarding the Medal, and the Senate of SWPS University awards the Medal on the motion of the Honorary Degrees and Recognition Committee. The resolution of the Senate on the awarding a “Non Omnis Moriar” Medal requires a three-fifths majority of the voting members to pass.
Since the Medal is given posthumously, the award is presented to the family of the recognized individual, whenever possible.
Medal design
Concept of the Jubilee Medals
The new “Non Omnis Moriar” Medal has been designed by designers form SWPS University’s School of Form. It is made of galvanized and antiqued copper. The diameter of the Medal is 85 mm and is attached to 20 mm long ribbon. The Medal consists of three circles symbolizing three values of SWPS University: Openness, Courage and Responsibility (in Polish Otwartość, Odwaga, and Odpowiedzialność - hence the three circles, the three “O’s”). The circles intertwine, symbolizing the complementary nature of the values, yet they are united, like a community, which reflects our motto: We, the University.
The concept of the medal has been devised by a team of designers from the Department of Graphic Design in Wrocław, while Katarzyna Sowa designed the award.
Medals in recognition of outstanding contributions to SWPS University
Symbol of Remembrance
On the occasion of the 25th Jubilee, the Senate of SWPS University has posthumously awarded the following acclaimed scholars, academics, and administrative employees with the “Non Omnis Moriar” Medals:
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 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.
Professor 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.
Farewell to Professor Witold Wołodkiewicz →
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.
Families of the medal recipients have been invited to attend a special celebration, scheduled for Inauguration of the upcoming academic year.
back to the 25th jubilee page →
Jan Strelau – Teacher, Mentor, Scholar
Professor Jan Strelau has contributed greatly to the development of psychology and has left a lasting legacy.