Lady Blanka Rosenstiel Endowed Program in Polish Heritage

The Lady Blanka Rosenstiel Endowed Program in Polish Heritage is made possible by a generous gift to the University of Miami from The American Institute of Polish Culture, established by Lady Blanka in 1972. The gift, made in 2021, is intended to support program events and activities designed to celebrate Polish people and Polish culture.  The Program is aligned with Rosenstiel's commitment to educating audiences about the rich history of Poland and the substantial scientific, scholarly, and artistic contributions made by those of Polish descent. The Center for the Humanities is pleased and honored to lead efforts in coordinating the Program at the University of Miami, in partnership with the College of Arts & Sciences and The American Institute of Polish Culture.  

Lady Blanka Rosenstiel was born in Warsaw, Poland. Following World War II, she studied art in Brussels, Belgium before moving to the United States in 1956.  In 1967 she married the late Lewis S. Rosenstiel, Chairman of Schenley Industries, a renowned humanitarian and philanthropist. 

Her avid interest in the arts, dedication to helping young artists, and desire to promote Poland’s heritage while fostering culture in her American homeland, prompted Rosenstiel to establish The American Institute of Polish Culture, Inc. (AIPC) in 1972, based in Miami. The Institute shares with American society the rich heritage of Poland and serves as a center of educational facilities and resources for the encouragement and promotion of the scientific and aesthetic endeavors of Americans of Polish decent.  In 1977, Rosenstiel established the Chopin Foundation of the United States, a national organization dedicated to helping young American musicians, and promoting Chopin’s music in the United States. In 1998 she helped to establish a permanent Kosciuszko Chair of Polish Studies at the University of Virginia. Each year the Institute awards scholarships in the field of journalism, communication or public relations to talented students of Polish origin. 

Rosenstiel has been awarded numerous titles and honors including her being appointed an Honorary Consul of the Republic of Poland in 1998. Other honors and awards include: 

  • Community Television Foundation of South Florida, Inc. – PB Award, 1975, 1976
  • Outstanding Citizen’s Award of Dade County, FL, 1975
  • Polish American Congress, Florida Division – Certificate of Appreciation, 1975,
  • Biscayne College Award, 1976,
  • International Fine Arts College of Miami – Doctor Honoris Causa, 1976,
  • Alliance College of Cambridge Springs, PA – Doctor of Humane Letters, 1978,
  • American Council of Polish Cultural Clubs National Award, 1978,
  • National Advocates Society and National Medical and Dental Association – National Humanitarian Award, 1981,
  • St. Mary’s College – Orchard Lake, MI – Ambassadors Award, 1981,
  • Miami Ballet Society Humanitarian Award, 1983,
  • National Parkinson Foundation Humanitarian Award, 1983,
  • American Council of Polish Cultural Clubs Award, 1984,
  • Lady of the Sovereign Order of St. John of Jerusalem, Knights of Malta, 1984,
  • Am-Pol Eagle – National Citizen of the Year Award, 1985,
  • Florida International University – The Society of Founders Award, 1989,
  • Greater Miami Youth Symphony Award, 1994,
  • Orchard Lake Schools – Honorary Benefactor and Alumna, 1994,
  • Admirals of the Fleet of Florida – Woman of Distinction Award, 1995,
  • Ellis Island Medal of Honor, 1995, Cavalier’s Cross of Polonia Restituta Order, 1996,
  • Jose Marti Medal, 1998,
  • Polish Commander Cross of the Order of Merit, 2004

PROGRAMS (2022-2023)

Thursday, October 27, 2022 @ 7:00pm. Ambassador Marek Magierowski, "Poland's Response to the War in Ukraine." Lady Blanka Rosenstiel Endowed Program in Polish Heritage, Inaugural Series 2022-2023. Kislak Center at the University of Miami Libraries, Coral Gables.

Thank you for registering for this evening’s program @ the Kislak Center at the University of Miami. The weather is beautiful, and we are including step-by-step directions for your walk that should be a little less than 10 minutes in duration from Pavia Garage to the Kislak Center. 

 for directions from Pavia Garage to Kislak!

We look forward to your attendance at 7:00pm this evening!

Livestreaming: If you are unable to attend in-person, please join the Facebook page of The American Institute of Polish Culture for the livestream of the lecture or to access information about additional AIPC events!

The full recording of Thursday's talk is now available. Thank you for your presence and support as well as to Tom Tomaszewski for documenting the program in video!

 to view the program's video recording!

 

"From the very beginning of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Poland has abruptly become a frontline state. Absorbing and accommodating endless waves of refugees, delivering humanitarian assistance to Ukraine, and propping up its military effort to fend off the Russian aggressor. Poland’s perception as an important geopolitical node has risen significantly, as has its overall standing on the international stage. Will recent developments lead to a long-term shift in European politics, with Poland as a new crucial player?”

Marek Magierowski was born in 1971. He graduated from the Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznan with a degree in Hispanic Studies. He worked as a reporter, editor and columnist for over 20 years. He was, among others, the deputy head of the economic desk at “Gazeta Wyborcza,” the head of the foreign affairs desk and the business section at the “Newsweek Polska” weekly, and the deputy editor-in-chief of “Forum.” From 2006-2011, he was the deputy editor-in-chief of “Rzeczpospolita.” He regularly wrote columns on foreign policy for the “Uważam Rze” and “Do Rzeczy” weeklies. In October 2015, he left journalism to work for the Chancellery of the President of the Republic of Poland as an expert on public diplomacy, and was subsequently appointed Head of the Press Office of the Chancellery of the President. From June 2017 to May 2018, he served as Undersecretary of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Marek Magierowski served as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Poland to the State of Israel from June 25, 2018, to November of 2021.