Pamela W. Connelly

Pamela W. Connelly joined the University as senior vice president for legal affairs and general counsel in the spring of 2021.

A seasoned attorney, Connelly reports to the Duquesne University president and serves as the institution's chief legal counsel. She also annually reports to the University's board of directors on matters of risk management and legal affairs.

She has practiced in the area of higher education law since 2002, serving most recently as a shareholder at the law firm Strassburger McKenna Gutnick & Gefsky in Pittsburgh, where she specialized in higher education and employment litigation. Previously, Connelly served as an executive administrator and in-house counsel at the University of Pittsburgh, where she served as the first vice chancellor for diversity and inclusion.

Connelly is a member of the Allegheny County Bar Association and the National Association of College and University Attorneys. She also is a member of the board of the Pittsburgh Community Broadcasting Corporation as well as Pittsburgh Arts and Lectures, where she serves on the executive committee. Connelly holds a bachelor's degree in economics from the Pennsylvania State University and earned her Juris Doctor from the University of Pittsburgh.