Duquesne University Senior Vice President for Legal Affairs to Retire in May 2021

After more than a decade of service to Duquesne University, Madelyn A. Reilly will retire from her role as vice president for legal affairs and general counsel, effective May 1, 2021.

During her time in the Cabinet-level role, Reilly developed the staff and scope of the Office of Legal Affairs to meet growing demands of a complex and comprehensive research university. She hired the University’s first Director of the Title IX Program grew the program by implementing six deputy Title IX coordinators while overseeing a total revision of all related policies in order to focus the office on student support.

By adding expertise in contract management and risk management as well, during a time of significant University transactions related to the sale of Duquesne’s power facility, the UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse project, and purchases necessary for the site of the proposed College of Medicine, Reilly’s team provided vital expertise to help deliver on elements of the Duquesne’s Strategic Plan.

Reilly served as chair of the University’s Emergency Management Team (EMT), work she took on in 2009 in her initial position at Duquesne as the director of risk management under a previous vice president. In that capacity, she developed Duquesne’s first Infectious Diseases Plan, developed and thrice revised its Emergency Management Plan, and instituted required national response training for all members of the EMT. In the first weeks of the COVID-19 response, Reilly led the EMT in taking initial actions to protect students and employees.

“Madelyn Reilly has served Duquesne with professionalism and persistence as we have achieved ambitious goals and faced a global crisis, and I have greatly valued our work together,” says Duquesne University President Ken Gormley. “Madelyn will be missed, but by strengthening our legal affairs operation, providing wisdom to our Cabinet, and helping to transition me into my presidency and our board chair, Jack McGinley, into his role, she leaves a legacy that benefits our entire University and that makes Duquesne proud.”

A Duquesne School of Law alumna, Reilly began her work at Duquesne as director of risk management in 2009, before being named vice president for legal affairs, general counsel and secretary of the board on July 1, 2015. 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.

Prior to her work at Duquesne, Reilly served for more than 15 years in the PPG Industries law department as assistant general counsel of compliance and enterprise risk as well as senior counsel of environment, health and safety. In addition, Reilly held positions as corporate counsel for compliance and risk management at InterTech Security LLC and 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 as well as the University Risk Management and Insurance Association. She also served as chair of the risk management committee for Holy Ghost Preparatory School in Philadelphia and secretary and chair of the governance committee for the Oakland Catholic High School Board of Trustees.

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