Ask any alum about the special, tight-knit relationships that our faculty and staff form with our students, and they’ll likely tell you it goes both ways, too. Look no further than inside the Gottwald Science Center. 

Dr. Shannon Jones, director of biological instruction and program coordinator of the URISE integrated science program, recently lost her dog, Myles. Her students had met Myles, but more importantly, they had already formed a strong bond with Jones and could see she was struggling. They knew they wanted to do something for her — so they banded together to find a new puppy, Louie. 

Melanie Cerron, ’21, was a student in Jones’ Science Math and Research Training (SMART) class, a course created to target students who are underrepresented in the sciences.

"She’s an amazing teacher,” Cerron said. “She strives to make us succeed. She’s very caring about all her students. She’s like the mom I don’t have here [on campus].”

Cerron messaged her classmates with her idea, and along with Jones’ colleagues, they collected money for a new dog. And just like that, Louie Smart Jones came into their lives — and keeps them company while researching in Gottwald this summer.

“I was shocked that they wanted to do something,” Jones said about her students. “Not only have they found community among themselves, but I’m a part of it. Louie is the embodiment of the kind of support we have here. I can’t really even put into words how special it is.”

We’re so proud to be part of a place where we not only form lifelong bonds with one another, but we look out for each other, too. Plus, now we have an extra cute new member of the Spider family!