Madelyn Reilly Appointed VP for Legal Affairs and General Counsel

Madelyn Reilly has been named vice president for legal affairs and general counsel at the University effective July 1. Reilly, who currently serves as associate general counsel and executive director of compliance, will succeed Linda Drago, who is retiring June 30.

“Madelyn has proven herself to be a thorough, innovative and gifted attorney.  She works cooperatively with others across campus. The results have been new and improved policies on multiple complex issues,” said University President Dr. Charles J. Dougherty. “She is also deeply committed to Duquesne’s Catholic, Spiritan mission. We are fortunate indeed to have her to turn to in this time of transition in the legal affairs office.”

A School of Law alumna, Reilly was named director of risk management at the University in January 2009 and was appointed associate general counsel in October of that year. During her tenure, Reilly has provided counsel in various aspects of legal affairs, including contracts, litigation, regulatory compliance, protection of minors, emergency planning and policy development and implementation.

Reilly collaborates with the Office of Research on multiple issues and agreements regarding licensing, cooperative and sponsored research, visiting research scholar agreements and confidential disclosure agreements; led the University’s emergency response team through a total revision of its program for pandemic and all-hazard emergency response; and developed and delivered Title IX training sessions for hundreds of employees as well as created Duquesne’s Title IX Committee.

In addition, Reilly chairs the University’s Emergency Planning and Response Committee and has chaired multiple ad hoc committees, including the Minors and Volunteers on Campus Committee, the Discrimination Policy and Procedures Review Committee and the Information Technology Security Committee. She also serves as a member of the University Copyright Committee, the University Safety Committee and Campus Community Risk Team.

Prior to her work at Duquesne, Reilly served for more than 15 years in the law department for PPG Industries. She was assistant general counsel of the compliance and enterprise risk section of the law department, where she was responsible for ethics and compliance activities, security, legal training, crisis response and major litigation for global coatings, glass, chemicals and fiberglass manufacturing operations. Reilly also served as PPG Industries’ senior counsel of environment, health and safety. In addition, she was corporate counsel for compliance and risk management at InterTech Security LLC and was part-time executive director of Duquesne’s Institute of Professional Environmental Practice.

Reilly is a member of the National Association of University and College Attorneys; a member of the University Risk Management and Insurance Association; a member of the board of Holy Ghost Preparatory School (Philadelphia), for which she serves as the chair of the Risk Management Committee; and is a member of the Oakland Catholic High School Board of Trustees, for which she chairs the governance committee.

Reilly has a master’s degree in education from West Virginia University and a bachelor’s degree in biology from Indiana University of Pennsylvania.