Pittsburgh -- September 17, 2026 -- Duquesne University formally inaugurated Dr. David J. Dausey as its 14th president on Sept. 17, drawing nearly 1,000 students, faculty, staff, alumni and guests to UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse as the institution approaches its 150th anniversary in 2028.
Board chair invests Dausey with historic 1931 presidential medallion
Duquesne Board of Directors Chair Diane Hupp presented Dausey with the University's presidential medallion, first commissioned in 1931, mounting it on a newly designed chain of office intended to carry the names of future presidents. Dausey is the first president to wear the medallion in this new format. The ceremony, themed 'Enduring Mission. Emerging Pathways,' included a nearly 300-person academic procession featuring more than 30 delegates from other colleges and universities.
Dausey outlines vision built on a University-wide Listening Tour
After his November 2025 appointment, Dausey launched a Listening Tour that drew participation from students, faculty and staff and shaped his stated priorities. He officially became president on July 1, 2026, following eight years as Duquesne's executive vice president and provost, a tenure during which he helped lead the creation of the Nasuti College of Osteopathic Medicine and the launch of the University's first engineering programs.
PNC Bank headlines more than 25 organizations backing inaugural events
PNC Bank served as premier sponsor for the inaugural festivities, joined by more than 25 additional organizations providing financial and logistical support. Greetings during the ceremony came from Pittsburgh Bishop Mark A. Eckman and Pittsburgh Mayor Corey O'Connor, alongside representatives of Duquesne's student, faculty and Spiritan communities.
Pittsburgh native brings epidemiology and global health credentials to role
Dausey, a first-generation college student who grew up in Jefferson Hills, began his higher education at the Community College of Allegheny County before studying at Mercyhurst University and Yale University, where he earned master's and doctoral degrees in epidemiology. He holds a second doctorate in higher education management from the University of Pennsylvania and has conducted global health work in more than 20 countries, collaborating with officials from the World Health Organization and United Nations.
Student musicians from Duquesne's Mary Pappert School of Music, marking its own 100th anniversary this year, performed throughout the ceremony, which concluded with an all-campus reception on Academic Walk.