Dear Duquesne University students and colleagues,

Today, as I officially take office as the fourteenth president of Duquesne University, I do so with a profound sense of gratitude for the faith placed in me by the Board and this university community, and for the tireless dedication of all those who have helped to drive Duquesne’s momentum over the past decade.

During the transition, I’ve thought a lot about where Duquesne is and where we are called to go next.

Over the past few years, we’ve built significant momentum through our collective work. We’ve launched new schools and programs, deepened our community impact, and continued to grow enrollment. In a few weeks, we will welcome one of the largest and most academically promising classes in Duquesne history to start their educational journey on the Bluff. This incoming class also has a higher proportion of individuals from outside of our state and region than we’ve seen in years.

As proud as we should be of the institutional momentum we’ve built, it is clear that Duquesne is at an inflection point. The landscape of higher education is changing rapidly around us, and institutions across the country are facing the same question: whether to turn inward and focus on preserving what they have built, or to lean forward and pursue something greater.

The progress we’ve made over the past decade has created extraordinary opportunities for the university’s future. I believe that to build on our strong position and meet the challenges we’ll face in the years ahead, we must lean forward, guided by what has always set Duquesne apart: the strength of our community and the power of our mission.

That belief underscores why it was so important to me to undertake a listening tour during the transition period. During this time, I met with hundreds of faculty, staff, students, alumni, and community partners, hearing their thoughts, ideas, and concerns for Duquesne’s future. I’m deeply grateful to all those who invested their time and energy into sharing their candid thoughts with me. The response to the listening tour really speaks to how special our Duquesne community is and how invested each of you is in its future.

I’m committed to doing everything I can to make the most of your suggestions and to continue to provide the time and space for ongoing discussions throughout my presidency. Your thoughts and ideas will be central to guiding the university’s strategic direction as we move forward together. We are already working to weave the feedback we’ve received so far to guide our initial actions and strategies, and I am excited to share more about that with you as my presidency gets underway.

One way we will share this progress is through a faculty and staff convocation on September 2. This new event will mark the start of the academic year and feature a state-of-the-university address and an opportunity to honor the extraordinary achievements of our community. More information will follow in the coming weeks.

My presidency officially begins today, with inauguration activities scheduled for September 13-18. We have a great week of events planned, and I hope you can join us. We’ve approached the inauguration planning process with one key goal: to make it as much a celebration of this incredible community as of its new leader. To ensure you can be a part of that celebration, classes will not be held on September 17, the day of the investiture ceremony.

I want to express my gratitude to Ken Gormley for his steadfast leadership over the past 10 years, and to his wife, Laura, for her continued friendship and support. I look forward to working with Ken as he transitions into the role of Chancellor.

I also hope that you will give a warm Duquesne welcome to our new provost, Dr. Sarah Ewing, who begins her tenure today. Dr. Ewing is a proven academic leader, and I am confident that the provost’s office is in good hands with her as my successor.

I am truly humbled to lead this remarkable university, and I am looking forward to working alongside each of you as we write the next great chapter in Duquesne’s storied history.

Warm regards,

David J. Dausey, Ph.D., Ed.D.
President
Duquesne University