Overview

Janusz Waldemar Cisek (8 February 1955 – 28 February 2020) was a Polish historian, academic lecturer and public official. His career combined scholarly work with institutional leadership and service in government. Cisek is remembered for his involvement with Polish historical institutions and for efforts to promote knowledge of modern Polish history.

Career and roles

Cisek served as Executive Director of the Józef Piłsudski Institute of America from 1992 to 2000, a New York–based organization dedicated to the study and preservation of Poland's modern history. He later held a governmental post as Under-Secretary of State of the Republic of Poland from 2012 to 2013. He was affiliated with the Polish Peasants' Party during his public life.

Contributions and work

As a historian and lecturer, Cisek combined administrative leadership with research and teaching. He contributed articles, essays and public lectures on topics in twentieth-century Polish history, working to make archival materials and historical debates more accessible to scholars and the public. His tenure at a prominent émigré research institute helped strengthen ties between Polish historians at home and abroad.

Selected roles

  • Executive Director, Józef Piłsudski Institute of America (1992–2000)
  • Under-Secretary of State, Republic of Poland (2012–2013)
  • Member of the Polish Peasants' Party

Legacy and death

Cisek's combination of scholarship, institutional leadership and public service made him a notable figure in contemporary Polish historical circles. He is remembered for promoting archival research and historical education across national boundaries. Janusz Cisek died in Warsaw on 28 February 2020; reports note his death occurred in the Polish capital in Warsaw and was caused by leukemia leukemia. His passing was noted by academic and cultural organizations that had collaborated with him.

Notable facts

Throughout his career Cisek bridged scholarly inquiry and public engagement, serving both in institutional leadership outside Poland and in governmental structures at home. His work is part of ongoing conversations about how modern Polish history is studied, preserved and presented to wider audiences.