Growing up in Southern California, sunshine and palm trees surrounded Daniel Smolsky, B’20, L’23, throughout his early years. Traveling extensively as a child, he made several trips to the East Coast but did not have the opportunity to stop in Pittsburgh.
When deciding on a college, Daniel knew he wanted to pursue bigger goals and attend school in a larger city in the eastern United States. He decided to enroll at Duquesne University without ever having visited, trading the golden state for Pittsburgh’s golden bridges.
“I did not want to go to school in the middle of nowhere. Being from Los Angeles, Pittsburgh felt like a big enough city. During my four years of undergrad, I fell in love with its people and the school,” Daniel said.
From the onset of orientation, Daniel made Duquesne University his second home and was struck by Duquesne’s mission of service.
Learning Together with Classmates and Friends
“I heard a speech on intention and servant leadership about acknowledging others and being intentional in your words for everyone, and I try to keep that in the back of my mind. My classmates and friends similarly understand that, and I am incredibly blessed to be where I am today. I attribute a lot of that to Duquesne,” Daniel said.
He lived that mission volunteering as an undergraduate student, traveling to Tanzania and Rome as a student ambassador for Duquesne’s Office of Disability Services. Daniel also spent his undergraduate career involved in several clubs on campus, eventually serving as the director of the New Student Orientation program.
“I started as a team leader, assistant director, then director my senior year when I oversaw the program of 220 volunteers and the move in of 2,000 students,” Daniel said.
Empowered to Lead,
Prepared for What's Next
Graduating Summa Cum Laude, Daniel received his bachelor's degree in economics and marketing from Duquesne’s Palumbo-Donahue School of Business and decided he was ready for another challenge. He applied and was accepted into the Thomas R. Kline School of Law of Duquesne University. His motivation and involvedness continued throughout his law school career, first serving as a teaching assistant (TA) for Professor Jan Levine’s Legal Research and Writing (LRW) course. He loved being a teaching assistant and working with first-year law students (1Ls).
"I remember when I was a 1L, it was very intimidating and I really relied on my 1L LRW TA. To this day, we go to the movies once a month with people who were classmates and students. It really is another family being a Duquesne Kline Law alumnus,” he said.
The Law Review and Appellate Moot Court Board were two other activities Daniel joined and where he excelled.
“My 3L year I really put my nose to the grindstone and wanted to represent Duquesne Kline well. I had the honor of competing with classmates Falco Muscante, II, and Aubri Swank, and we won the Philadelphia region at the National Appellate Advocacy Competition. I was named best advocate of the region and we then made it all the way to the quarterfinals at nationals, finishing in the top eight of over 170 teams. I loved that experience and working with Professor [Erin] Karsman,” he said.
Daniel was invited to be a coach for a current Moot Court team. In the spirit of service he agreed, and is relishing in that role. ‘Working with those students is so fun,” he said.
Building Authentic Relationships
A double Duker, Daniel met his wife, Riley, a nursing graduate, at Duquesne. The two of them have additionally been involved with the University volunteering as coaches for the past five years for the Women’s Club Soccer team that she started.
Off the field, Daniel serves as an associate at Dinsmore & Shohl in downtown Pittsburgh and is more than content in the city he first relocated to sight unseen.
“I moved to Pittsburgh when I was a young, naïve 17-year-old. I attribute who I am to Duquesne. I met my wife, my best friend, at orientation. At Duquesne I met some of the biggest supporters and people who will stick with me for the rest of my life. It is almost impossible to say what Duquesne means to me. They joke and call me ‘Mr. Duquesne’ at work because the school has been such a huge part of my life and means so much to me,” Daniel said.
Having now spent nearly 10 years in Pittsburgh, Daniel cannot see himself anywhere else.
He said, “I really have an amazing group of friends and supporters here. I have a great group of colleagues and I love Pittsburgh. It is a wonderful place for young adults because of the beautiful blend of arts, culture, theatre and sports. I don’t see us leaving.”
News Information
Published
April 15, 2026