Behind many a great Fordham employee is a loving pet who makes life much sweeter. So in keeping with a tradition that began in the dog days of last summer, we asked colleagues to share photos and stories of their stay-at-home companions. Enjoy the mood-boosting lift of these adorable furballs!
HR’s Dueling Bernedoodles
Stacey Vasquez tipped us off to the friendly rivalry between her HR colleagues Corbin Wong, PhD, director of organizational and leadership development, and Gülay Siouzios, director of labor and employee relations. The two “are on a mission to prove their Bernedoodles are the cutest in the office,” said Vasquez, HR’s director of strategy and operations.
Wong loves his 6-year-old Tux (above left), whose name is inspired by the anime character Tuxedo Mask and the patch of white fur on his chest. “He’s incredibly loyal, playful, and intelligent,” Wong said.
Siouzios—whose 4-year-old Sparky was named for his sparkly personality—said that strangers will honk and wave from their cars or stop on the street to compliment Sparky’s cuteness. He identifies as a “human” more than a dog, she said, pointing to the way he’s seated on the sofa as proof.
The Diva Who Doubles as a Muse
Media and Black cultural studies scholar Brandy Monk-Payton, PhD, describes her chihuahua mix Nova as her “scholarly muse.” At conferences, the associate professor of communication and media studies has presented research that examines Black pet ownership as viral content on social media and is currently writing a journal article about this digital culture phenomenon. Though she has some “diva tendencies,” Nova is also a loving sidekick who enjoys “going on sniffaris around Inwood Hill Park, howling at sirens, and napping next to me on the couch,” Monk-Payton said.
Molly’s Game
Suzy M. D’Enbeau, PhD, spent much of her summer at her Hudson Valley home reading, writing, and watching her cat Molly play in her yard. “Molly hates it when I type on my computer in my office,” said the assistant professor of communications and media management. Her tuxedo cat scratches at her legs until she relents and moves outside. “She loves it when I work on my deck and watch her chase bunnies, birds, and butterflies. She is not fast enough to catch any, but that doesn’t stop her from trying!”
Big Bear on Campus
Havanese Maltipoo mix Bear has been visiting Fordham since he was 8 weeks old. “My students love him,” said Tyesha Maddox, PhD, associate professor of African and African American studies. Bear celebrated his fifth birthday this summer, right after the Knicks won the NBA championship. “He’s a huge Knicks fan and was very excited about their historic win,” Maddox said.
The Raspy-Voiced Rescue
When Luke Kachersky, PhD, and his daughters adopted their cat Mocha as a rescue, they were surprised to learn that she couldn’t meow—the sound she makes is more of a rasp, he said. “We have a theory that she smoked a ton of cigs when she lived on the mean streets,” joked the Gabelli School associate dean of undergraduate studies and associate professor of marketing. Given her preferred seating position, he added, she may be part panda.
The Monkey King
Jie Ren, PhD, associate professor of information, technology, and operations at the Gabelli School of Business, named her toy poodle Wukong after Sun Wukong, the Monkey King—a legendary trickster from the 16th-century Chinese novel, Journey to the West. True to his name, she said, her 8-year-old pup is “yappy, demanding, and thinks that he’s the king of the house!”
All Eyes on Rory
Nine-year-old “cutie pie” Rory enjoys a walk in Prospect Park every morning, said DAUR’s Julie Fissinger, senior executive director of the President’s Council. Rory has been soaking up the longer, lighter days of summer—“as well as our mostly-undivided attention,” said Fissinger, except when she needs to share the limelight with an occasional foster dog.
Fanzine Famous
When Data Integrity Coordinator Becky McAuley’s late husband Mike came home one day and said “I have a surprise for you,” she immediately guessed, “Is it a cat?” It was actually two kitties—Ellie, above, who turned 18 in July, and her late sister Goose.
McAuley produces a music fanzine, I Question Not Me, with corresponding T-shirts that feature Ellie on back, “so her likeness has traveled to multiple states thanks to touring bands who wear them,” she said.
