Józef Zając

Senator of the 8th, 9th, 10th and 11th term Senate. Born on 14 March 1947 in Potok-Stany. In 1973, he graduated from the Faculty of Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry of the Maria Curie-Skłodowska University in Lublin. From 1973 to 1976 he was a doctoral student, and from 1987 to 1995, a research associate at the Institute of Mathematics of the Polish Academy of Sciences. In 1977, he was awarded a doctoral degree, and in 1994, a post-doctoral degree in mathematics. In 1992, he became an associate professor at the Department of Mathematics in Joensuu, Finland. He received honorary doctorates from two Ukrainian national universities. He was a lecturer at Maria Curie-Sklodowska University in Lublin (1976-1987) and worked as an associate professor at the Joensuu University in Finland and Hokkaido University in Osaka, Japan (1991-1993). In 1997-1998, he provided advice on the computerisation and organisation of databases at a cement plant in Chełm. As an associate professor, he lectured among others at the John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin (1996-2018), the Higher School of Economics in Nisko (1998-2004), the University of Information Technology and Management in Rzeszów (1999-2001), and the University of Rzeszów (2005-2006). Between 1999 and 2001, he was the Dean of the Faculty of Economics and Management of the Higher School of Foreign Languages and Economy in Częstochowa, and in 1997-2018 headed the Chair of Applied Mathematics at the Catholic University of Lublin. Since 2001, he has had close ties with the State Higher Vocational School in Chełm, of which he was the founder and the first rector (2001-2016), currently serving as the deputy rector for development. He initiated and coordinated the establishment of the Academic Airport in Depułtycze Królewskie (EPCD). He is a mathematician specialising in the application of complex analysis and mathematical economics. His output includes over 130 academic papers published in domestic and foreign journals, two textbooks on air navigation and aviation phraseology and one on the organisation of higher education. He also co-authored four patent applications related to concepts of mathematical modelling of technical problems.He is a reviewer of “Mathematical Reviews,” an electronic database and a journal published by the American Mathematical Society (AMS). He also sits on the Council of the “Let us Open our Hearts” Foundation for People with Disabilities and People in Need. He actively supports Polish–Ukrainian dialogue as part of the “Partnership and Cooperation Foundation”, for which he was decorated by the Second Class Order of St Mary Magdalene Equal to the Apostles. He was decorated with the Knight’s Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta, the Gold Cross of Merit, and the “Meritorious Service to the Lublin Region” Honorary Badge. He was awarded the titles of Man of the Year of the Lublin Region, Chełm Man of the Year 2010, and Distinguished Citizen of Chełm. He was awarded diplomas and commemorative badges for supporting the activities of Borderland organisations, promoting historical knowledge on Volhynia and strengthening the ethos of the Home Army. For his activity in developing scientific and economical cooperation between Poland and Canada, he was honoured with the Gold Medal of the 100th anniversary of Polonia in Windsor.

Polish mathematician