Jolanta Lion, originally from Łódź, Poland, received her MA in Polish Language and Literature with a specialization in Linguistics and Film from the University of Łódź, Poland. She has been teaching Polish Language and Culture for beginning to advanced-level students since 1989 at the University of Łódź, Polish National Film School in Łódź, and the University of Pittsburgh, including SLI. In addition, she created and taught courses on contemporary Polish Cinema and Cinema of Krzysztof Kieslowski as well as founded and directed a Polish Film Festival "Through Polish Eyes." Currently, she is the Director of the Carnegie Mellon International Film Festival, "Faces," where Polish films and Polish Filmmakers are a significant component of the festival.