Ethan Vance | staff writer

Almost a year after he was first tapped to succeed former Duquesne University President Ken Gormley, David Dausey was inaugurated as the university’s 14th President Thursday. 

“I accept this responsibility with the profound sense of joy, gratitude, and humility,” Dausey said. “Because while I may be the one standing at this podium, I know that I cannot make it here on my own.” 

The inauguration was held at UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse with faculty, staff, family and students in attendance

Members of the Duquesne community spoke at the ceremony, including Student Government Association President Mwango Kasuba. Kasuba hosted a conversation with Dausey in the Spiritan Room Wednesday and thanked Dausey for being committed to the university’s goals. 

The SGA president said he appreciated Dausey’s commitment to students and shared a personal story with the audience.

“One of the biggest things he’s ever done for me is probably teach me how to tie a tie,” Kasuba said. “It was simple for me, but something I’ll always remember.” 

The ceremony began outside with an academic procession where members of Duquesne Athletics and other organizations lined up on Academic Walk as delegates from Duquesne and other universities marched to the fieldhouse. 

David Livingston, president of Mercyhurst University in Erie, Pennsylvania, worked with Dausey for eight years at Mercyhurst and marched in the procession. He said he remembered Dausey as a problem solver.

“He’s very creative. He added a lot of new programs while he was provost … which has continued to help [Mercyhurst] thrive,” Livingston said. “We are really proud to have him as an alum.”

Dausey described many key goals of his for the university during his speech. 

“I’m committed to deepening our partnerships with our city and our region, especially now in our neighborhood,” Dausey said.

Dausey discussed other key goals, such as dealing with issues facing higher education and continuing to have conversations with students and faculty about what can improve the university. 

Dausey told The Duke on Wednesday that he hoped to work with outside lenders to make them more accessible to Duquesne students in the wake of the discontinuation of Grad PLUS loans by the federal government. He said he is making plans to demolish St. Ann’s and repurpose it into a green space. 

“I see our students who are the reason for everything we do,” Dausey said. “Every decision that we make, every challenge we take on and every audacious goal we pursue is for you.” 

Duquesne alumnus Pittsburgh MayorCorey O’Connor said he believed Dausey is the right person to strengthen ties between Duquesne and the city.

“President Dausey is all about his community,” O’Connor said. “Out in the city of Pittsburgh, we are very thankful for him to be here, and we look forward to a great future with the partnership between Duquesne and the City of Pittsburgh.”

Other key speakers included Kendra Whitlock Ingram, president and CEO of the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust and a member of the Duquesne board of directors; Sarah Ewing,  provost and vice president of academic affairs and Maureen Kelly, a member of Duquesne’s board of directors and former magistrate judge of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania. 

Some students told The Duke they are excited for Dausey’s presidency and hoped he’d bring new opportunities to the university. 

“I’d like him to get more involved in the sciences,” said Jaxson Kohler, sophomore environmental science major. 

Duquesne broke ground on the new John G. Rangos Sr. School of Health Sciences building Aug. 14, which is set to open in Fall 2028. 

Other students, like Te’Mar Carlise, sophomore music education major, said she hoped to see new buildings for the music school and increased diversity on campus. 

Dausey addressed concerns of inclusivity in his speech. 

“I believe one of the most important jobs as president is to make sure everyone has a seat of their own,” he said. 

Dausey said success is dependent on every scholarship and every staff member, noting how critical their contributions are to Duquesne. He said he wanted every student to know that they belong.

“Together, we will not simply sustain our beloved university. We will compel it into the future with such speed and such agility that people will wonder how we did it,” Dausey said. “But we know we did it together.”