Monika M. Zaleska

Monika M. Zaleska is an Adjunct Lecturer in the Russian and Slavic Studies Program within the Department of Classical and Oriental Studies at Hunter College, City University of New York (CUNY). She is also a PhD candidate at the CUNY Graduate Center, focusing on Marcel Proust’s influence on Polish artist and writer Józef Czapski. Previously, she earned an MFA in Fiction from Brooklyn College, where she edited The Brooklyn Review and taught English, comparative literature, and creative writing courses. Her academic background includes a B.A. from Swarthmore College and a Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship to Poland (2013-2014).

• Education:
  • PhD candidate, CUNY Graduate Center
  • MFA in Fiction, Brooklyn College
  • B.A., Swarthmore College

Zaleska’s research and teaching emphasize Polish literature, comparative literary analysis, and the interplay between French and Polish modernist traditions. Her creative writing and editorial experience further enrich her scholarly contributions.

• Scientific Awards:
  • Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship to Poland (2013-2014)

At Hunter College, she teaches courses like Polish Literature Post-Solidarity and Modern Polish Prose, bridging literary scholarship with creative practice.