Hosts 2026 Edition

Professor of Social Sciences in the discipline of Political Science and Public Administration (2023), Doctor habilitatus in Political Science (Jagiellonian University, Faculty of International and Political Studies, 2012, degree awarded with distinction); Ph.D. in Political Science (Jagiellonian University, Faculty of International and Political Studies, 2003); Master’s degree in Law (Jagiellonian University, Faculty of Law and Administration, 1995–2000); secondary education: Bartłomiej Nowodworski High School No. I in Kraków (1991–1995).

Recipient of the Sasakawa Young Leaders’ Fellowship Fund (SYLFF, 2001, Catholic University of America). Visiting Professor at the JFK Institute for North American Studies, Freie Universität Berlin (March–September 2015). He has conducted research and delivered lectures in the United States, Germany, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Italy, Japan, and Australia.
Recipient of the First Prize of the Jagiellonian University Student Laudations for the highest-rated instructor at the university based on student evaluations (2013). Eight-time recipient of the Jagiellonian University Rector’s Awards for excellence in teaching and for academic achievements.
Deputy Director for Teaching at the Institute of American Studies and Polish Diaspora (2008–2016); Vice-Dean for Teaching at the Faculty of International and Political Studies, Jagiellonian University (2016–2020).

Piotr Dobosz is a Professor of Legal Sciences, Associate Professor, and Vice-Dean of the Faculty of Law and Administration at the Jagiellonian University in Kraków.
In 1994, he obtained his doctoral degree from the Faculty of Law and Administration at the Jagiellonian University.

His doctoral dissertation received an individual award in a national competition organized in 1995 by the Ministry of Culture and Art, the General Conservator of Monuments of the Republic of Poland, and the Association of Monument Conservators for the best scholarly, academic, and popular works in the field of heritage protection and museology. On December 12, 2012, he earned his postdoctoral degree (habilitation) at the Department of Administrative Law, and in 2017 he was appointed Associate Professor at the Jagiellonian University and awarded the title of Professor of Legal Sciences. He also serves as Associate Professor at the Faculty of Administration and Economics at the University of Applied Sciences in Tarnów. He is a member of several organizations, including the Polish Academy of Arts and Sciences, the Polish National Committee of ICOMOS, the Social Committee for the Restoration of Kraków’s Monuments, and the Society of Lovers of the History of Kraków. He is also President of the Kościuszko Mound Committee in Kraków.
He is the author of over 200 academic publications. He has received numerous awards for scientific and organizational achievements from universities, state authorities, and professional associations, as well as national and municipal honors, including the Bronze Cross of Merit (2002), the Officer's Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta (2020), and the Silver Medal ""Gloria Artis for Merit to Culture"" (2018). He was also awarded the Gold Badge for the Protection of Monuments by the Minister of Culture of the Republic of Poland (2003) and the ""Honoris Gratia"" badge (2017).

Professor at the Jagiellonian University, Doctor habilitatus of Legal Sciences.
Conciliator at the OSCE Court of Conciliation and Arbitration in Geneva (term 2019–2025).
Independent Expert of the OSCE Human Dimension Mechanism (term 2023–2029).

Member of the Advisory Legal Committee to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland in 2014–2021 and again since 2024.
Ad hoc judge at the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg (2018–2024).
Appointed by the Prime Minister of the Republic of Poland as an adjudicating member of the Refugee Board during its 3rd and 4th terms (2009–2019).
Member of the International Scientific Committee of the International Law Association (ILA) on “Use of Force: Military Assistance on Request (Military Action with Consent)”.
Scholarship recipient of, among others: the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, the Max Planck Society, and the Tokyo Foundation.

Fulbright Alumni Ambassador, Fulbright Junior Visiting Scholar at Columbia Law School in New York (2023), and the Foundation for Polish Science START Fellow. Conducts research on financial markets regulation at the Business Law Department of the Jagiellonian University. Manager for External Relations at the Kościuszko Mound Committee in Kraków.

Earned his Master of Laws degree with summa cum laude distinction from Jagiellonian University in Kraków. Project Coordinator at the CUA Columbus School of Law in Washington D.C., Principal Investigator of the National Center for Science research grant at the University of Warsaw. Two-time recipient of the international SYLFF grant (in United States and Australia). Completed numerous scientific scholarships and internships at prestigious academic institutions, including University of Cambridge, Melbourne Law School, Bucerius Law School, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, and the Program in the EU Private Law for Postgraduates. Graduated with honors from the American Law School at Jagiellonian University and Columbus School of Law in Washington D.C. Founder and board member of the Semper Augustus Foundation, a scientific think tank offering pro bono education in the field of business and company law.

My participation and expert contribution to the substantive content of this event were made possible thanks to the generous support of the Polish National Science Center (NCN) scientific grant “Preludium” No. 2018/29/N/HS5/02977.

CUA Director of CUA-UJ Law Programs, namely American Law Program, International Business and Trade Summer Law Program, and LL.M. in American Law. Professor Emerita of Law; J.D. (Harvard Law School).

She served as CUA Law’s clinical program coordinator, an Associate Dean, and taught professional responsibility, criminal law, and the externship seminar, Becoming a Lawyer. She has taught, presented, or consulted in 35 countries regarding teaching legal ethics, legal profession reform, clinical education, and legal education generally. Professor Wortham was Chair of the Rules of Professional Conduct Review Committee and the Legal Ethics Committee of the DC Bar, which has more than 100,000 members.

Chris Ross is a Clinical Assistant Professor of Law at The Catholic University of America, Columbus School of Law. He teaches the Religious Liberty Clinic; serves as the Managing Director of Columbus Community Legal Services; and is the Director of Experiential Curriculum. He is also a Fellow with the law school’s Center for Religious Liberty.

In Fall 2025, Chris was appointed the Faculty Director of the Catholic University of America-Jagiellonian University Joint American Law Programs. In this role, he coordinates Catholic Law’s International & Business Trade Summer Law Program in Krakow, oversees and teaches in the American Law Program at Jagiellonian University, and helps facilitate a summer program for L.L.M. candidates in Washington, DC.

Before joining Catholic Law, Chris was a Senior Managing Associate at Sidley Austin LLP, where he practiced appellate and regulatory litigation in federal courts. He has also served as a Deputy Solicitor General for the State of Ohio and clerked for the Honorable Alice M. Batchelder on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. He graduated magna cum laude from the Fordham University School of Law, where he served as the Executive Notes Editor of the Fordham Law Review. He holds an undergraduate degree from The King's College in New York City.

Dean of the Columbus School of Law, The Catholic University of America; graduate of B.S. Cornell University; J.D. Yale Law School. Dean Payne was a partner and the chair of the FDA and Health Care practice group at the global law firm, Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP.

Previously, he practiced at Sidley Austin LLP and was a Captain in the U.S. Army Judge Advocate General’s Corps. Admitted to the DC and New York bars, he received the highest rating of “Leading” from the Practical Law Company, was named a “Life Sciences Star” by the legal guide LMG Life Sciences, and was ranked in 2019 as a “Litigation Star” in Washington, D.C. by Benchmark Litigation.