Alumni Spotlight – Alliance College Alumni Association

Barbara (Basia) Gdula Adams, AC 1984

Basia has dedicated her life to preserving the spirit of Alliance College while achieving incredible success in global publishing. A Business Development Manager at the Financial Times, Basia’s career spans over 30 years, with previous roles at The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times.

Her time at Alliance College had a lasting impact, from participating in the Kujawiaki Folk Ensemble to studying abroad in Poland during the height of martial law. Basia remains deeply connected to her alma mater, serving as Vice President of the Alliance College Alumni Association Foundation and organizing the 2023 Grand Tour of Poland.

Here she reflects fondly on the lifelong friendships and memories created at Alliance, sharing her love for genealogy, Polish culture, and preserving the polka music heritage.

1. Personal Information

What is your full name and graduation year? Barbara (Basia) Gdula Adams, Class of 1984.
What degree(s) did you earn at Alliance (and elsewhere)? B.S. International Business. Participated in the Foreign Exchange Program at the Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland, 1982-83.
Where are you currently located (city/state/country)? Richfield, OH
What did you want to be when you grew up? I am still contemplating that question.

2. Academic Experience

What was your major or field of study? International Business
Why did you choose Alliance College for your studies? My family were active members of the Polish National Alliance (PNA), and I attended several PNA Youth Jamborees and Youth Instructor’s Courses on the AC campus. I chose Alliance College because I wanted to dance in the Kujawiaki Folk Ensemble and attend the Rzeszow Folk Festival 1980.
Were there any specific classes or professors at Alliance that had a lasting impact on you? Many professors had a lasting impact: Professor Page, Professor Matejczyk, Pani Dolzenko, Professor Garbert, Mr. & Mrs. Haluck, and Larry Kozlowski.
What extracurricular activities, clubs, or sports were you involved in at Alliance? Kujawiaki, Polish Club, Pi Lambda Phi Little Sister, Ski Club,
What is your favorite memory from your time at Alliance? I have many fond memories including performing with the Kujawiaki, participating in the Year Abroad Program at the Jagiellonian University, and the many social events including the annual Wigilia dinner. Many of the friendships that were created at Alliance were not just for four years but for a lifetime!

3. Career Path

What is your current job title and organization/company? Business Development Manager for Government and Education at the Financial Times (FT). The FT is a leading global news organization that provides business, political, and world affairs news and analysis
Can you give us a brief overview of your career journey since graduating from Alliance? I’ve had a 30+ year career in global publishing with well-known companies such as The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, and my current employer, the Financial Times.
How did your education at Alliance help prepare you for your career? While a foreign exchange student at the Jagiellonian University in 1982-83, Poland was under Martial Law. I would go to the US Consulate in Krakow once a week to watch a video montage of news clips of the previous week’s CBS evening news. While at the Consulate, I would have access to the library newspapers and magazines, one of which was the Financial Times. During my senior year at Alliance, we had access to a new national newspaper published by Gannet called USA Today. I developed a habit of reading and being informed of world affairs. Being exposed to global news and information at Alliance, and living abroad in Poland during the height of the Solidarity movement both gave me an appreciation for global news and information.
What challenges have you faced in your career, and how did you overcome them? Always learn new skills, especially computer skills and programs, to stay relevant in the workplace. Remember, none of us had laptops when we went to college. Our parents sent us off to Alliance with typewriters!

4. Accomplishments and Impact

What professional accomplishments are you most proud of? When I was at the WSJ I worked with The Ohio State University to start Biz Quiz. It is a buzz-in quiz contest for students in higher education, with a host asking questions based on WSJ articles. Working at the Financial Times I re-established Biz Quiz and partnered with UC Davis, and students are quizzed on global news content that appears in the Financial Times.
Have you received any awards, recognitions, or certifications in your field? I have received many sales accolades throughout my career.
How do you think your work has made a difference in your field or community? Integrating global news into existing curricula can bring current affairs and an international perspective to the classroom. It provides students with a greater business acumen and international understanding.
What personal milestones have you achieved since graduation (e.g., family, personal projects)? My husband and I (more on him later) share a love of genealogy. We traced my family history back to Poland and visited many of the relatives (on both my mom’s and dad’s side) on our many trips there. Since then, we have compiled and published a 120 + page book on the family history of that original couple who emigrated here over 100 years ago. We included photos, names, contacts, birthdays, and anniversaries of several hundred of their descendants in the US. A huge accomplishment and a family treasure!

My husband, Kevin Adams, is an accomplished songwriter, publisher, and performing musician, having played and recorded on over 50 Polish-style polka albums. He toured with many national acts, including Dick Pillar Orchestra, Eddie Blazonczyk’s Versatones, and Lenny Gomulka’s Chicago Push. We have been to the Grammy Awards several times. In 2014 he was inducted into the International Polka Music Hall of Fame. I am his #1 fan, and it has been a joy to see what we have accomplished together.

5. Reflections and Advice

Looking back, what advice would you give to your younger self while you were still a student at Alliance? Enjoy the process and stay open-minded. College is a time for growth and exploration.
Do you have any advice for the younger generations pursuing a similar career path? Have a passion for your work, and you will never work a day in your life!
How do you stay connected with fellow alumni? I am a lifetime member of the ACAA and attend the Alliance College Reunion weekends. I was a board member of the Alumni Association for 8 years and currently serve as VP of the Foundation. Also, every year during the holidays, a group of Alliance College Alumni and their families have a kolendowanie. We dress in traditional Polish folk costumes and sing Polish Christmas carols to family and friends. It has become a yearly outing where AC friendships are renewed, and we continue making memories together.

6. Future Goals

What are your future career or personal goals? To mentor young people starting their careers so they can see first-hand the value of relationship-building.
Are you working on exciting projects or initiatives you’d like to share with us? I am always working on something!

7. Fun and Personal

What do you enjoy doing outside of work? Any hobbies or interests? I am Secretary of the Polka Music Preservation Society, a non-profit organization that manages the Polka Jammer Network, which is the world leader in streaming polka music. We attend many of the major polka festivals and conventions throughout the country. I also volunteer at the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad on their North Pole Adventure, a magical train trip to the North Pole during the holiday season.
If you could have dinner with one famous person (dead or alive), who would it be and why? I would like to have dinner with Pope John Paul II. I had the honor of attending his Canonization in Rome in 2014. It was an experience of a lifetime!
What is one thing people might be surprised to know about you? I was the United States Polka Queen (1986-87) and the International Polka Queen (1987-1988). Another surprise people may not know is that I have traveled to Poland 25 times, including a Family Heritage Tour to Poland in 2019 with 45 cousins and another in 2024. What made the family trips to Poland so special is that we spent three days in the village visiting the homestead, churches, and cemeteries and eating, singing, and dancing with our family in Poland.
If all jobs had exactly the same salary, what job would you have? I think it might be fun to be the Director of Mazowsze, the National Folk Song and Dance Ensemble of Poland.
Do you cook? If so, what is your favorite recipe? I enjoy cooking a lot of Polish ethnic dishes.
How many different states have you lived in? Two states – OH, PA as well as Krakow, Poland during my year abroad program in 1982-83.

8. Giving Back and Staying Connected

Have you had any opportunities to give back to Alliance (e.g., mentoring, donations, guest speaking)? I had the honor of organizing the Alliance College Alumni Grand Tour of Poland in 2023. Traveling to Poland for 2 weeks was great to reconnect with alumni and their families. I am the VP of the Alliance College Alumni Association Foundation and manage the scholarship application process.
Would you be open to future opportunities to engage with the school, such as speaking at events, mentoring students, or attending alumni gatherings? I presented an overview of the Alliance College Alumni Association Grand Tour to Poland in 2023 at the recent AC reunion weekend in Erie, PA.