Biography
Joanna Podgórska-Rykala is a Jean Monnet Fellow at the Robert Schuman Centre for Advanced Studies. She is graduated in Law, Political Science and Administration (University of Silesia, Poland). Podgórska-Rykala is a doctor of Social Sciences in the discipline of political science. She works at the KEN Pedagogical University of Cracow, at the Institute of Law, Economics and Administration. Furthermore, she is fellow of the National Academic Exchange Agency at the Silesian University of Opava, Department of Public Policy (2020, Czech Republic). In addition, she holds the Polish Ministry of Education and Science Scholarship for Outstanding Young Scientists.
Joanna has lectured at several European universities, including Silesian University in Opava (Czech Republic, 2021), Masaryk University in Brno (Czech Republic, 2021), University of Presov (Slovakia, 2021), VSB-Technical University of Ostrawa (Czech Republic, 2021), University of Foggia (Italy, 2019), University of Bologna (Italy 2018). She is author, co-author and editor of over 120 publications including monographs, commentaries to acts and scientific articles as well as expertises, research reports and journalistic articles.
In addition to her university experience, she has years of experience in project management and non-governmental organizations leadership. For 16 years she has been involved in the local community, first as President of the Youth City Council (2003-2006) and then as a City Councilor (2006-2010 and 2014-2018).