Dogs of Wilkes

When Jeff Stratford, associate professor of biology, heads out into the field to collect samples for his research, he’s usually accompanied by a team of students who are joined by Stratford’s dog Rosie. Although restrictions from the pandemic have meant that he’s working solo in summer 2020, he’s still got…

After earning her undergraduate degree at Wilkes, Sara Pisak ’16 has continued on in the Maslow Family Graduate Creative Program at Wilkes. She will complete her MFA in nonfiction this year. Her Bichon Frise Ditto has accompanied her on every step of her Wilkes journey. Writing is a solitary occupation,…

AJ Quadarella is a sophomore psychology major at Wilkes who lives in Reamstown, Pa. Although having to stay at home during the pandemic hasn’t been ideal, her collie, Bella, has helped to liven things up. OK, so she might interrupt Zoom class lectures and discussions, but what’s a dog to…

Michael Steele, professor of biology, and Margaret Steele, the University’s chief development officer, are the owners of Greta, a purebred Bernese Mountain Dog. She’s been a familiar sight on campus since the fall 2019 semester and a welcome addition to the Steele Research Lab in Cohen Science Center. Members of…

Wilkes University seniors Korbin Schlichter, mechanical engineering major and AFROTC cadet, and Shannon O’Connor, psychology, sociology and criminology major, like to bring their fur baby Autumn to campus to play ball, get treats and even pull dad along on his skate board. The ever-active Australian Shepard also has an important…

Paula Andrews, administrative assistant in the Air Force ROTC office at Wilkes, has a furry friend who helps her in her administrative duties. Kuvo, a 15-year-old rescue, joined Andrews’ family in 2007. Now, he’s in the ranks of Wilkes ROTC students, visiting them on campus for a belly scratch or…

Wilkes faculty of practice in education Tracy Kaster and her husband, Lt. Col. Mark Kaster, director of veterans affairs, adopted Ace two years ago when he was placed in the Delaware Valley Golden Retriever Rescue. But now it seems Ace is the one who is saving members of the campus…

Wilkes sophomore Jess Morandi, a digital design and media arts major from Wantagh, N.Y., is a familiar sight in Towers residence hall because of her four-legged roommate – Shadow, a mixed-breed dog with ancestry that includes pit bull and West Highland white terrier. Morandi, who is completing minors in sociology…

Professor of biology William Terzaghi and wife Vivien enjoy bringing their certified therapy Samoyeds Zoki and Zava to visit students in Terzaghi’s labs as well as to the Women Empowered by Science program. Though very smart, Terzaghi explains that these two pups have a knack of being naughty from time…

Bonnie Culver, director of the Maslow Family Graduate Program in Creative Writing at Wilkes, says that she has had Norwegian elk hounds “for all of my adult life.” You can see her and her latest elk hound, Brody, out and about on campus. Inside the creative writing office in Cox…