Originally from Poland, Magda immigrated to the United States when she was just three years old. She traveled by boat through stormy seas and was left with a small scar on her eyebrow as a souvenir of the harrowing journey. Her family settled in Chicago and she has been here ever since. Magda has extensive experience in public projects; she plays a critical role in bringing many Chicago libraries and schools to fruition. She is passionate about creating great spaces and making existing spaces more functional and aesthetically pleasing. She received her Bachelor of Science from University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and her Master of Architecture from the University of Illinois at Chicago.

Magda studied biology as an undergraduate and even began her PhD in microbiology.