For 45 years, the Polish-American Club of the Triangle (PAC) has been a vibrant part of our community — celebrating heritage, building connections, and welcoming generations of Polish-Americans in the Triangle.
Our Mission:
Celebrate Polish culture
Connect Polish-Americans
Educate about Polish heritage
Support our community's integration and advocacy
Having a good time
Club Constitution
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B7eKSVPQssROWDdIS3Jzem9rNm8/view
Our Facebook
Executive Board
Supportive Board
Joanna Pawlak - President
Joanna Pawlak was born and raised in Warsaw, where she developed a strong connection to Polish culture and community. Her international career began in Singapore, where she pursued doctoral studies and conducted molecular biology research at the National University of Singapore. Since 2006, she has built her scientific and management career in the United States, working at the Scripps Research Institute, Bayer, and currently Syngenta, where she serves as a Global Portfolio Manager leading international projects.
Despite her global career, Poland has always remained at the heart of Joanna’s identity. She has been actively involved in the Polish-American community through the Polish School in Raleigh and the Polish-American Club of the Triangle, organizing cultural, educational, and community events. She also organized a cultural workshop about Poland for a U.S. National Guard battalion preparing for deployment to Poznań.
As President of PAC, Joanna brings extensive experience in project management, fundraising, partnership building, and team leadership. Her goal is to strengthen a welcoming, modern Club that connects generations, promotes Polish heritage, supports young people in developing their Polish identity, and builds strong relationships with the broader community.
Anna Andrzejewska-Santiso - Vice President
Anna Andrzejewska-Santiso was born in Starachowice, Poland. She studied chemistry at Maria Curie-Skłodowska University in Lublin, earning both a Master’s degree and a PhD in Chemistry.
Her scientific career brought her to the United States in 2007 as a Postdoctoral Research Associate at the University of Tennessee. She later worked at The Ohio State University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), and continued her academic career at University College London (UCL). In 2012, Anna and her family settled in Raleigh, North Carolina.
Anna has been actively involved with the Polish Saturday School in Raleigh, supporting teaching, grant writing, and cultural events, including Polish theatrical productions for children.
For the past two years, she has also been actively involved with the Polish-American Club of the Triangle, contributing to the organization of community events, cultural initiatives, and fundraising activities.
As Vice President of PAC, Anna brings academic and organizational experience, a strong sense of responsibility, and a commitment to teamwork. She works closely with the President and Board to strengthen the Club, support its initiatives, and build connections within the Polish-American community.
Jowita Mikołajczyk - Treasurer
Jowita Mikołajczyk was born in Nowy Targ, Poland, and earned a degree in Biochemistry from Jagiellonian University in Kraków. She currently works for a biotechnology company in Research Triangle Park (RTP).
Since arriving in North Carolina in 2008, Jowita has been actively involved with the Polish-American Club of the Triangle. She served as Vice President for several years and, for the past few years, has held the position of Treasurer. Throughout her many years of involvement with the Club, she has played an active role in organizing numerous Club events and supporting the Polish-American community.
Jowita has also passed on her commitment to promoting Polish culture and traditions to the next generation. Both Jowita and her daughter have taught at the Polish Saturday School, helping younger members of the community maintain their connection to the Polish language, culture, and heritage.
Piotr Gucwa - Secretary
Piotr Gucwa graduated from the Faculty of Mathematics at the University of Warsaw and moved to the Raleigh area in 2000.
He works as a Software Engineer at Labcorp and has been actively involved with the Polish-American Club of the Triangle for many years, serving, among other roles, as the Club’s Secretary.
Piotr would like to continue supporting the Club, its activities, and its members.
Anna Bylczynska-Boer - Chief Communications Officer
Working with charitable organizations has always been Ania’s passion, while Polish culture remains an important part of her identity. After arriving in North Carolina 20 years ago, she found a welcoming community in the Polish-American Club of the Triangle and has remained actively involved in Polish-American life ever since.
Ania holds Master’s degrees in Management from the Poznań University of Economics and in Mass Communication from California State University, as well as a Certificate in Nonprofit Management from Duke University. Her professional experience includes nonprofit leadership, public relations, social marketing, grant management, fundraising, budgeting, and coordinating employees and volunteers.
For more than 15 years, Ania has been involved with the Polish Saturday School in Raleigh. She has also promoted Polish culture through the folk dance group Polki NC, participated in the Polish Book Club, helped organize the Polish Tennis Club, and volunteered at numerous community events.
As Vice President of PAC, Ania brings nonprofit expertise, creativity, energy, and strong organizational and communication skills. Her focus is on growing membership, strengthening connections across generations, increasing PAC’s visibility, and creating an inclusive community that celebrates and preserves Polish culture.
Monika Pietron - Chief Education Officer
Hanna Gracz
Hanna Sierzputowska-Gracz was born in Warsaw, Poland. She studied Physics at the University of Warsaw, earning a Master’s degree in Biophysics, and later received her PhD in Chemistry from Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań. She spent ten years conducting research at the Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry of the Polish Academy of Sciences before continuing her scientific career in the United States.
Hanna and her family settled in Raleigh, North Carolina, in 1989. She joined North Carolina State University, where she served as Director of the Biomolecular Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Facility and Research Professor in the Department of Biochemistry. She also maintained strong ties with Poland by organizing and leading NCSU’s Summer Study Abroad Program in Biotechnology in Poznań for 15 years.
For many years, Hanna has been an active member of the Polish-American Club of the Triangle, supporting community events, cultural initiatives, and fundraising activities. She has also played an important role in the Saturday Polish Language School in Raleigh, supporting its educational mission and helping secure classroom space at NCSU since 1991. Her long-standing involvement reflects a deep commitment to strengthening Polish culture, education, and community in the Triangle.
Mariola Bereśniewicz-Kopciński
