William Generett Jr., Esq. is Duquesne University’s first Vice President for Community Engagement. He facilitates and develops relationships with community organizations, local governments, and civic organizations, strengthening the University’s partnerships with its neighbors. He works to advance community engaged research, teaching, and scholarship, in conjunction with the Center for Community-Engaged Teaching and Research, and coordinate and support co-curricular engagement.

Previously, Generett was President and CEO of Urban Innovation21. Under his leadership, Urban Innovation21 was recognized nationally for connecting underserved communities to Western Pennsylvania’s most successful economies and launched new entities to spur interest in economic development, including the Citizen Science Lab, Pittsburgh’s first and only life sciences community laboratory.

Generett is a very active member of the community, and has served as a member of many regional nonprofit boards and advisory committees including Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, Pittsburgh Mercy Health System, the Heinz Endowments African American Male Advisory Committee, Neighborhood Allies, the Business Advisory Council of the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland, Dick Thornburgh Forum for Law and Public Policy, Innovation Works and Sustainable Pittsburgh, among others.

A native of Pittsburgh, Generett earned his J.D. from Emory University School of Law and is a Phi Beta Kappa, magna cum laude graduate of Morehouse College.