Duquesne University President Ken Gormley has re-appointed Dr. James Drennen to a second term as dean of the School of Pharmacy.
“Jim Drennen has provided steady and thoughtful leadership during his first term as Dean of the Pharmacy School,” said Gormley. “His understanding of the breadth of the profession has helped to position the School to look into the future of pharmacy, both to help meet the demand for well prepared and ethical professionals and to spur innovation in research and industry.”
Drennen began his first term as the eighth Dean of the School in 2021. In 2025, he led the celebration of the School’s centennial anniversary, culminating in an event that attracted more than 350 people to observe a weekend of events honoring 100 years of pharmacy education and excellence at Duquesne.
Drennen was instrumental in helping to develop an innovative program with CVS Pharmacy that will help address the national pharmacist shortage. Through the new Tuition Advantage program, CVS Pharmacy colleagues will have the opportunity to pursue a Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) degree through Duquesne’s online pharmacy curriculum at a reduced student cost. The collaboration provides Duquesne another way to improve access and help meet industry and societal needs.
Overall, the online Doctor of Pharmacy degree program has grown during Drennen’s time as Dean. Additionally, Drennen led the effort to launch a bachelor’s of science in pharmacy foundations degree, to help students with changing interests but significant coursework in the field to earn a credential to translate their learning into a platform for further post-graduate study.
“I am humbled to have the chance to continue serving my alma mater and our faculty and students as dean of the School of Pharmacy,” Drennen said. “Our work is more important than ever, in striving for positive integrated health outcomes in communities, leading pain management innovation, advancing access to the profession and more. We know that Duquesne is a driver for empowering pharmacy professionals to take an active role in community health and I am very pleased to continue that work with my colleagues.”
A 1985 graduate of the School of Pharmacy, Drennen joined the University’s faculty in 1991. Prior to becoming dean, he served in several crucial roles, including associate dean of research and graduate programs and as the Noble J. Dick Chair in Academic Leadership. Drennen co-founded and was the inaugural director of the Duquesne University Center for Pharmaceutical Technology. Drennen earned his Ph.D. at the University of Kentucky. His research involves development of methods for enhancing pharmaceutical manufacturing efficiency and improving product quality.
Duquesne University
Founded in 1878, Duquesne is consistently ranked among the nation’s top Catholic universities for its award-winning faculty and horizon-expanding education. A campus of nearly 8,200 graduate and undergraduate students, Duquesne prepares students by having them work alongside faculty to discover and reach their goals. The University’s academic programs, community service and commitment to equity and opportunity in the Pittsburgh region have earned national acclaim.
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