Ambasciatore di Polonia in Italia
Graduated in 1974 from History Department at Warsaw University. The same year initiated his post-graduate studies at the Institute of History of Polish Academy of Sciences where in 1979 presented his doctoral dissertation on the formation of Latin American political mass parties.
Since 1978 dr. Schnepf taught history of Latin America at the Iberian Studies Department of Warsaw University, first as senior assistant and later assistant professor and deputy director. During those years developed his research on political and social movements, boundaries problems and military involvement in 19th and 20th century Latin America. During 1982-1983 research associate and visiting professor at Indiana University, Bloomington, IN., USA he taught contemporary history of Poland and Eastern Europe.
At the same time, since the end of 70ties, dr. Schnepf became an active member of democratic opposition in Poland and leader of his university department Solidarność group. For his direct, anti-communist engagement he was severely persecuted, detained and jailed.
In 1991 Schnepf joined Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and during 1991-1996 served as Poland’s ambassador to Uruguay and Paraguay.
From 1998 till 2000 deputy director of Foreign Affairs Department at the Prime Minister’s Office of Jerzy Buzek. He returned to foreign service in 2000 serving as Deputy Chief of Mission in Madrid. In 2001 dr. Schnepf was appointed Poland’s ambassador to Costa Rica and other Central American countries (Panama, Nicaragua, Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala, and Belize).
Since 2003 titular ambassador.
In 2005 he led the organization of 25th Anniversary of “Solidarność” – free trade union which triggered the fall of communism in Eastern Europe.
2005-2006 as secretary of state responsible for foreign and security policy in the government of Prime Minister Kazimierz Marcinkiewicz, Schnepf headed Polish negotiating team for a new and first for Poland budgetary perspective of the European Union.
2007-2008 deputy minister of foreign affairs in the administration of PM Donald Tusk, responsible for non-European countries, development policy and public diplomacy.
In 2008 appointed to the post of ambassador to the Kingdom of Spain. Continuously he served as ambassador of Poland to the United States from 2012 till 2016.
From 2016 on professor at American Studies Center of the University of Warsaw. Since 2020 advisor on international affairs to the President of Polish Senate. In mid-August 2024 ambassador Schnepf has been appointed as a new chief of mission at the Poland’s Embassy in Rome, Italy.
Author of numerous articles, interviews, reviews and commentaries. Co-author (with K. Smolana) of “Bibliography of Polish Literature on Latin America”. Warszawa-Wrocław 1978, and “Poland in the World. Reactivation” (with A. Jelonek), Kraków 2021.
Dr. Schnepf lectured at many foreign universities and research institutes (Montevideo, San Jose, Costa Rica, Singapore, Bloomington, IN., San Diego, Berkeley, CA., Houston, TX., Gainesville, FL., Madrid, Barcelona, Sevilla, Cadiz, and Valencia).
Dr. Schnepf is a member of the Board of POLIN, Museum of the History of Polish Jews.
Passioned with literature and music he played bass guitar in professional bands during his school and university times.
