Dariusz Stola Reappointed Director of POLIN Museum

Dear Friends,

I am delighted to announce that Professor Dariusz Stola has been reappointed Director of POLIN Museum for a five-year term, effective March 1, 2026.  This is outstanding news as Dr. Stola is highly qualified for this important leadership role, in which he served once before from the opening of POLIN Museum in 2014 until 2019. His steadfast commitment to the mission of the Museum – to raise awareness of the history of Polish Jews, foster mutual understanding, counter antisemitism, and inspire informed public debate — inspired his first term as it will his second. His leadership has been crucial to the Museum’s successes to date, and he will build on his legacy and that of the departing director, Zygmunt Stępiński. Dr. Stola is deeply familiar with the Museum, its staff and its audiences, and he is ready to lead, collaborate and serve. 

A distinguished historian of postwar Poland, international migration, and Polish-Jewish relations, Dr. Stola is on the faculty of the Institute of Political Studies of the Polish Academy of Sciences and member of its Academic Council. He is also on the faculty of University of Civitas (formerly Collegium Civitas) and member of the Migration Research Center at the University of Warsaw. Among his more than 130 scholarly articles and six books are "The Anti-Zionist Campaign in Poland 1967–1968" and "A Country Without an Exit? Migrations from Poland 1949-1989," which won the 2011 history award from the weekly "Polityka."

 Dr. Stola’s many honors include the Irene Sendler Award, which is presented annually by Taube Philanthropies to honor those “who have been exemplary in preserving and revitalizing Poland’s Jewish heritage,” the City of Warsaw Award, and Poland’s Knight’s Cross of the Order of the Rebirth of Poland and Gloria Artis Silver Medal of Merit to Culture. In 2024, Dr. Stola was nominated Chair of the International Auschwitz Council. 

As the President of the American Friends, I know that Dr. Stola understands the importance of POLIN Museum to audiences in North America, and I and everyone on the board look forward to collaborating with him. 

Sincerely,

Roman Rewald

President and CEO, American Friends of POLIN Museum