A Full-Circle Moment for Law Grads and President Ken Gormley

Gormley, who will step down as president June 30 to assume the role of chancellor, has shaped Duquesne University for more than 30 years, with the law school remaining an important, enduring part of his leadership. 

“The Duquesne Kline School of Law was my first home at the University, and it holds a special place in my heart,” Gormley said. “I am deeply honored to be invited to deliver the Commencement address and celebrate this important milestone with our law graduates as they enter their legal profession with a sense of purpose and prepared to achieve the highest standards of ethics and excellence.”

A former dean, longtime faculty member and nationally recognized constitutional scholar, he has been a guiding presence for generations of Duquesne Kline law students as a teacher, mentor and advocate.

“Commencement is a new beginning and a celebration of our graduates’ shared accomplishments, labor and sacrifices,” said Law Dean April M. Barton. “It is especially fitting that President Ken Gormley will deliver the Commencement address, given the profound impact he has had on the Thomas R. Kline School of Law of Duquesne University as a professor, dean and leader. His vision and commitment have helped shape the law school while preparing generations of students to be empowered to lead and ready for what’s next in the legal profession.” 

Gormley first joined the Duquesne Kline law school faculty in 1994 and later served as dean from 2008 to 2015. During his tenure, he elevated the school’s national profile through meaningful programs featuring United States Supreme Court justices such as Sandra Day O’Connor, Samuel Alito, Jr., Antonin Scalia and Sonia Sotomayor, among others. 

“It’s been truly thrilling to bring United States Supreme Court justices to Duquesne University and to give our students a rare chance to learn and hear firsthand from the legal minds who have shaped some of the most defining and pivotal decisions in our nation’s history,” Gormley said. “Many of these jurists are—and were—true pioneers who have shaped the evolution of the U.S. Constitution. Providing the experience that connects classroom learning to the real-world impact of the law at the highest level for our students has been truly rewarding.”

As Duquesne Kline dean, Gormley also helped strengthen the law school’s results‑focused bar preparation program, contributing to continued, strong outcomes for graduates. 

“During my time as law dean, we worked to strengthen our focus on bar preparation in ways that would better our students for success,” Gormley explained. “Today, I’m proud that Duquesne Kline ranks among the top 50 law schools nationally for its 2022 Ultimate Bar Passage rate, according to the American Bar Association. It’s gratifying to see that commitment continue to deliver such strong outcomes.”

Gormley was installed as Duquesne University’s 13th president in July 2016, bringing the perspective of a legal scholar and academic leader to the role. He emphasized Duquesne’s mission to foster ethical leadership and civil discourse while guiding the University through a period of sustained growth and national recognition.

In 2018, he also organized the National Conference on the First Amendment: Bedrock of American Freedom, co-hosted by the Pittsburgh Foundation in cooperation with the National Constitution Center.

During Gormley’s presidency, in 2022, Duquesne announced the largest—and most transformational—gift in its history from alumnus Thomas R. Kline, one of the nation’s most influential trial lawyers, resulting in the naming of the Thomas R. Kline School of Law of Duquesne University.

For the Class of 2026, Gormley’s address will mark a defining moment as they prepare to begin their careers and carry forward the values shaped during their time at the Thomas R. Kline School of Law of Duquesne University.

Duquesne University

Founded in 1878, Duquesne is consistently ranked among the nation's top Catholic universities for its award-winning faculty and horizon-expanding education. A campus of more than 8,200 graduate and undergraduate students, Duquesne prepares students by having them work alongside faculty to discover and reach their goals. The University's academic programs, community service and commitment to equity and opportunity in the Pittsburgh region have earned national acclaim.

It's time for bigger goals. Follow Duquesne University on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram and LinkedIn.
www.duq.edu