Emeritus Professor at the University of Silesia. Professor at the Academy of WSB, Dąbrowa Górnicza. Initiated and implemented social work education programs at the Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Silesia (Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees). Co-founder and implementer of training programs in social assistance and social work. From 1994 to 2019, she led the Social Work Study Program at the Institute of Sociology, University of Silesia. From 1997 to 2010, Prof. K. Wódz participated in the work of the Central Commission for Specialization in the social worker profession. For many years, she served as a reviewer for journals such as: European Journal of Social Work, Studia Socjologiczne, Praca Socjalna, Problemy Polityki Społecznej and others. She was and still is a member of the editorial boards of many scientific journals, including the Social Work Library Series (1993-1999), Problemy Pracy Socjalnej (Problems of Social Work) by the Akapit publishing house, Górnośląskie Studia Socjologiczne - New Series, Social Space/Przestrzeń Społeczna. From 2008 to 2014, she chaired the Social Work Section of the Polish Sociological Association.
Prof. K. Wódz participated in many international projects concerning various aspects of the transformation of Polish society after 1989, including the project "Social History of Poverty in Central Europe: The Polish Case," a grant from the Institute of Human Sciences in Vienna (1997-1999). She also led studies on transformations of collective identities in EU countries as part of the international project “Identity, Diversity and Citizenship in the European Union” (James Madison Trust, 2004-2005) and CIVGOV (5th EU Framework Programme, 2003-2006). She researched the social and cultural consequences of the transformations of old European industrial regions (SPHERE project, 7th EU Framework Programme, 2008-2011). From 2014 to 2017, she headed the Polish team in the international RESCuE project (7th EU Framework Programme), focusing on household coping strategies with the consequences of the economic crisis. From 2010 to 2017, she participated in the N-CORP project: Network for Comparative Research on Professions.
In her academic work, Prof. K. Wódz deals with the use of community organizing methodology in urban regeneration programs in neglected neighbourhoods, social activation of communities at risk of social exclusion, professionalization of social work in Poland, the development of civic dialogue and public participation at the local level, cultural studies, gender studies, urban and regional studies, and political sociology. She is the author, co-author, and editor of over 300 works. [24.02.2025]

Director of the Municipal Social Welfare Centre in Katowice from 1991 to 2006. Dr Kowalczyk has extensive teaching experience, lecturing at the Post-Secondary School for Social Workers in Katowice from 1998 to 2001 and at the University of Silesia from 1999 to 2016 in the Social Work Study Program. She collaborated with the Regional Social Policy Centres in Katowice, Krakow, and Kielce from 2009 to 2013 to conduct social worker training. Dr Kowalczyk has rich experience as a consultant and trainer in social assistance and social work, including implementing the model separating social work from administrative procedures and introducing social work standards in numerous social welfare centres. She has authored and co-authored many articles and books on the theory and practice of social work and social assistance. [24.02.2025]