Charlotte Shields- Rossi | a&e editor

David Dausey grew up in Pittsburgh in a blue-collar family. After graduating from Thomas Jefferson High School in Jefferson Hills, he assumed he would work in a steel mill like his father. But all the jobs dried up.

He chose to go to Community College of Allegheny County while bussing tables and doing odd jobs.

“My path was not one that was college bound when I finished high school,” Dausey said. “It was at community college that I discovered a passion for learning.”

After community college, he transferred to Mercyhurst University studying psychology. After completing his undergraduate degree, he furthered his education at Yale University in epidemiology. He was able to do this through a fully funded doctoral program, which he said is a blessing considering he wouldn’t have been able to afford tuition.

Dausey then continued higher education at the University of Pennsylvania and Harvard University focusing on higher education administration.

Dausey practiced epidemiology around the world — traveling to the Middle East, East Africa and Southeast Asia, served as the provost at both Mercyhurst and Duquesne University and on Nov. 19, it was announced that the first-generation college graduate would assume the role as Duquesne’s 14th president starting in July.

“I was just counting my blessings on that day. How amazing it was to be selected for that is such an incredible platform to help other people. What a blessing to be able to do that in your life,” Dausey said.

Dausey spends some days hiking for five to six hours at a time — his wife calls them “death marches” due to their duration. He likes reading both non-fiction and fiction while drinking coffee with a bit of cream and non-sugar sweetener and has a passion for helping others.

Duquesne’s mission statement — “serving God by serving students” — is what drew him to the university.

“I think my commitment to our mission and our students qualifies me most to be president of Duquesne. First and foremost, I believe it, I live it, it is what gives my life animation and purpose,” he said.

Dausey found a love for epidemiology during his undergraduate years when Richard Preston, author of

“The Hot Zone: A Terrifying True Story” came to speak at his university.

Only two years into his job as provost of Duquesne, COVID-19 hit. With a background in epidemiology and higher education, Dausey said it felt like his two worlds collided.

“I became basically the chief epidemiologist at Duquesne and the provost, and so it was a time of great challenge and great concern,” he said.

Daria LaTorre, vice provost for strategic initiatives, joined Duquesne during the height of the pandemic. LaTorre said Dausey’s leadership in times of crisis, like a global pandemic, is what makes him qualified for the job.

“We welcomed students back on campus under Dr. Dausey’s leadership in the fall, when many universities were not able to do that.” LaTorre said. “When many of the universities were struggling during COVID, just getting by if you will, under Dr. Dausey’s leadership we opened a medical school.”

What started as an idea on a whiteboard a month into Dausey’s employment turned into the Nasuti College of Osteopathic Medicine, which opened its doors Jan. 17, 2024. The medical school is, so far, what Dausey is most proud of from his time at Duquesne. He keeps the golden shovel that he used to break ground on the new school’s construction site in his office

John Kauffman, dean of the medical school, chose to work at Duquesne because Dausey’s vision aligned with his.

“He is very bright, he is a visionary,” Kauffman said. “I think he is very well-qualified, and I think he was the obvious choice of being the next president.”

He said that higher education institutions are struggling right now, due to a decrease in enrollment, and that a strong leader is needed to help Duquesne thrive.

“Dr. Dausey is uniquely gifted to be able to build on the work of President [Ken] Gormley and really take us to the next level,” he said.

In the next era of the university, Dausey wants to create a more inclusive environment, particularly for those with disabilities. He wants to focus on adapting to the ever changing nature of artificial intelligence.

But the most important thing to him is listening to the dreams and concerns of students, faculty and staff.

“Our mission is to help people create authentic relationships, to walk alongside the marginalized and build communities together,” Dausey said. “My goal will be continuing to position Duquesne as a university where individuals who want to change the world for the better can come here.”

Charlotte Shields- Rossi can be reached at shieldsrossic@duq.edu