For the first time ever, a woman will formally lead the Board of Directors of the Polish & Slavic Federal Credit Union, the largest ethnically based credit union in the U.S.

The 75,000-member, $1.4 billion CU, headquartered in Brooklyn, N.Y., but with a strong presence in Chicago, has long had women board members but never a woman chair. The new chair is Marzena Wierzbowska.

The CU reported that during its recent board election, 16 candidates competed for seats on the board. Four new directors were elected: Malgorzata Gradzki, Beata Klar-Jakubowski, Leon Kokoszka and Marzena Wojczulanis.

Wierzbowska, in her second term, was elected the board's chairperson at the first post-election meeting.

Well known within the Polish American community for her work with social and legal outreach programs to benefit Polish immigrants, Wierzbowska had served the past four years on the PSFCU board, distinguishing herself as an outspoken advocate for members' rights.

“I would like to thank the directors for selecting me to this important post, and all our members for their trust. As always, I will make sure that PSFCU is a safe and stable financial institution, which respects the rights of all its members,” she said.

 “Under my supervision, the board will respond quickly and emphatically to problems suggested by the members, which, in the end, will help us improve overall member satisfaction and the quality of our service. I am a firm believer in being responsive to member feedback,” Wierzbowska said.

Wierzbowska completed journalism and political science studies in Poland, and later studied psychology at New York University. She has served as the director of the Legal and Social Services program at the Polish Cultural Foundation in Clark, N.J., and was the director of the Community Action Program and manager/coordinator of the municipal English as a Second Language teaching program organized by the City of New York.

Polish & Slavic this summer named a new CEO, Polish-born former banker Oskar Mielczarek.