2014-Winter-DU-Magazine

OUR BLUFF IN BRIEF
Our
in Brief
President Stresses Academic
Excellence at Convocation
President Dr. Charles J. Dougherty focused on the
importance of academic excellence in his annual address
to faculty, staff and administration at the 2013 University
Convocation in September.
Academic excellence is a top priority in the University’s
strategic plan. The strategic plan, Dougherty explained,
“is organized to draw attention to the fact that the heart
of what we are involves students, faculty and a mission
that binds them together.”
Dougherty detailed how the University’s academic
aspirations for excellence now reach nationally and
internationally. “It is no longer sufficient for us to look at
regional success,” said Dougherty.
With Duquesne faculty committed to excellence in both
teaching and scholarship, Dougherty said, “We seek a
balance for achievement in both.”
Dougherty described numerous upgrades that better
support academic excellence in all means of delivery.
From 2002 to 2012, more than $29 million was spent
renovating academic units; another $22 million is
planned through 2017.
In closing, Dougherty expressed gratitude for
campus-wide efforts to achieve academic excellence,
explaining the impact on the University’s growing
national and international reputation: “You are a critical
part of the trinity at the heart of who we are as you
bring our students an education for a lifetime in our
Catholic, Spiritan tradition.”
Japanese Professors Focus on Forensic Nursing at DU
Five members of the nursing
faculty from The Japanese Red
Cross Kyushu International
College of Nursing came to
campus in September to learn
about Duquesne’s forensic nursing
program.
Aiming to launch a forensic nursing
program in Japan, the visitors
came to learn how forensic nursing
functions in clinical practice in
the U.S., as well as to understand
the relationships among forensic
nursing and the fields of law and
legislation.
At Duquesne, they met with
Professor Kathleen Sekula, director
of the forensic nursing graduate
programs and an internationally
recognized pioneer in the field;
Assistant Professor Alison Colbert,
chair of graduate nursing programs;
and Professor Rick Zoucha, whose
field of expertise is in transcultural
nursing.
36 DUQUESNE UNIVERSITY MAGAZINE Winter ‘14