Duquesne, Carlow Presidents to Discuss Universities’ Role in Social Justice
Duquesne President Ken Gormley and Carlow University President Dr. Suzanne Mellon will discuss universities’ involvement in solving social justice issues in the Pittsburgh region at the final United Pittsburgh speaker event this semester.
Gormley and Mellon will present What Can Universities Contribute to a United Pittsburgh? at 6:30 p.m. Monday, April 15, at the Hill House Association’s Kaufmann Center. William Generett, Jr., vice president for community engagement at Duquesne, will moderate the discussion.
A native Pittsburgher, Gormley is a nationally recognized constitutional scholar, best-selling author and former dean of Duquesne’s School of Law. As president, he has emphasized the University’s historic mission to foster ethical behavior and dialogue through a series of public events focused on civil discourse. Gormley also has organized several high-profile events featuring U.S. Supreme Court justices, legislators and journalists while at Duquesne. He became the University’s 13th president in 2016.
“I look forward to a wonderful conversation with Dr. Mellon,” Gormley said. “Both Carlow and Duquesne have rich histories and deep ties to the Pittsburgh community and region. We each have ambitious plans for our faculty, staff, students and alumni as they help to create the next great era for this special community.
“Our conversation will focus on both the challenges facing our region and the abundant opportunities that exist for institutions of higher education, particularly faith-based institutions like our own,” Gormley said. “We are in a unique position to drive a productive future tied to excellence, commitment to ethical principles and inclusiveness for all. That’s why this event is so timely and exciting.”
Since becoming president of Carlow in 2013, Mellon has placed a strong emphasis on academic excellence and alignment of programs to the rapidly evolving needs of the workforce. She has led Carlow through several capital campaigns and developed a strategic plan for growth that includes the creation of three colleges, each charged with preparing career-ready ethical leaders for the 21st century.
United Pittsburgh, developed by Duquesne’s Center for Catholic Faith and Culture (CCFC), combines academic courses with a free public speaker series. It focuses on collaboration with the community by providing new insights into Catholic social teaching and promoting civic awareness among the University’s students, faculty and staff. These community forums are open to the public and free of charge, thanks to generous support from the Henry Luce Foundation.
“This 10-week series combined ethics courses with a public lecture series featuring local government, faith-based and community leaders who explored challenges such as racial discrimination, economic and healthcare disparity, ethics, empowerment and accountability,” CCFC Director Dr. Darlene Weaver said. “Students and community residents benefited from the opportunity to hear first-hand from leaders who are working to create a more just and equitable Pittsburgh.”
Details about United Pittsburgh, the speaker series and registration are available online or by contacting the CCFC at 412.396.1595 or ccfc@duq.edu.