Pepperdine University Hosts Former President of Poland Andrzej Duda for President’s Speaker Series

MALIBU, California – Today, Pepperdine University President Jim Gash welcomed Andrzej Duda, former President of Poland, for the first installment of the 2025-26 President’s Speaker Series. Duda shared insights from his time as President of Poland and discussed leadership, purpose, and policy. About 150 members of the Pepperdine community and friends of the university attended the event in Pepperdine’s Surfboard Room in Malibu.

Media assets are available here. A recording of the event is available here.

President Gash opened the event by describing Duda as a leader shaped by purpose, service, and leadership—qualities that mirror the university's mission statement. He noted Duda’s long career spanning law, academia, and leadership. 

The conversation began with Gash asking whether Duda found more fulfillment in the classroom teaching students, or in negotiation rooms with NATO allies. Duda shared that both roles felt deeply connected to his sense of calling. 

“It’s a great pleasure to visit this part of the US,” said Duda. He reflected on his transition from academics to public service. He talked about the first opportunity he received to help shape Poland’s justice system early in his career and how that drew him into government. “Teaching is very close to my heart,” he added, “but public service gave me a chance to do something positive for society and my country.”

When asked about being back on a university campus again, Duda described Pepperdine as “one of the most beautiful places in the world” and praised earlier discussions he had with students at the School of Public Policy. 

The conversation turned to leadership under pressure, considering the ongoing conflict in Europe. Gash asked how Duda managed scrutiny and criticism during his ten years as Poland’s President. Duda spoke of treating the role “as a form of service to my country” from the first day. He described Poland’s rapid development, its historic challenges, and his personal commitment to improving the country’s position on the world stage. He described early political experiences, his academic roots and how it shaped his political career, and eventual election to the European Parliament before winning the Polish presidency. He noted he never expected to become president, but when called to serve, he approached the responsibility ”as one of the most important tasks” of his life. 

Gash then asked Duda to revisit one of the most defining moments of his presidency: the day Russia invaded Ukraine. Duda recounted the months of intelligence briefings leading up to that day. He described the uncertainty of an attack and the logistical and humanitarian questions that dominated his immediate concerns. 

He recalled the overwhelming influx of refugees into Poland, which at its peak reached more than 240,000 a day. He insisted on the urgency of coordinating support with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy. He recalled Poland’s long and painful history with Soviet Russian aggression, and how his own childhood awareness of these events informed his policy making. 

During the event’s final questions, Gash asked about Poland's relationship with the United States and international allies. Duda emphasized the importance of visibly supporting Ukraine and recounted wanting to drive by car into Kyiv at the height of the conflict to send a message of solidarity. 

“We decided to drive to Kyiv because we wanted to show the world that Ukraine was not alone,” he shared. Duda credited Zelenskyy’s courage and the resilience of the Ukrainian people as important to their survival. 

In closing, President Gash took questions from the audience, ranging from European Union challenges to Duda’s favorite Polish foods. In reflecting on the future of the region, Duda stressed the continued involvement of international communities via military, financial, and political support for Ukraine. 

“It is in Poland’s interest to have free and sovereign Ukraine on our eastern border with no Russian troops in them. Truly free,” he said. 

President Gash gifted Duda with a purpose coin, symbolizing Pepperdine’s theme for the year. He commended Duda for living out a calling anchored in service and courage. Duda thanked the Pepperdine community for the conversation about shared values and global responsibility. 

Pepperdine University’s President's Speaker Series welcomes distinguished scholars and thought leaders representing diverse points of view to examine topics and issues facing our communities and the world today. Driven by a desire to connect deeply with our community and inspire meaningful dialogue in the pursuit of truth, the series provides opportunities to cultivate an engaged and impassioned collective through civil discourse.

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About Andrzej Duda

Andrzej Sebastian Duda is a lawyer and politician who served as president of the Republic of Poland from August 6, 2015, to August 6, 2025. He earned his law degree and, later, a doctoral degree in legal studies from the Faculty of Law and Administration at Jagiellonian University, where he also taught administrative law subjects.

Prior to his presidency, he held senior roles in the Ministry of Justice and the Chancellery of the President, served as a member of the Polish parliament (Sejm) from 2011 to 2014, and was elected to the European parliament in 2014. During his time as president, Duda placed emphasis on national security, transatlantic cooperation, infrastructure and energy development, and regional engagement within Central and Eastern Europe.

Duda remains one of the most recognizable contemporary Polish politicians, combining academic experience with political practice, and continues to play a significant role in shaping the direction of Poland’s development in the 21st century.

About Pepperdine University

Pepperdine University is a private Christian university located 30 miles west of Downtown Los Angeles in Malibu, California. Rooted in the Christian tradition, Pepperdine is committed to both the relentless pursuit of truth through academic and scholarly excellence and to embodying Christian faith and values. With students at the heart of the educational enterprise, the University prepares approximately 9,000 scholars for lives of purpose, service, and leadership across its flagship liberal arts school, Seaver College, the College of Health Science, and four graduate schools—the Caruso School of Law, the Graziadio Business School, the Graduate School of Education and Psychology, and the School of Public Policy. Pepperdine is committed to the highest standards of academic excellence and Christian values, where students are strengthened for lives of purpose, service, and leadership. Follow Pepperdine on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

 

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