One of George’s biggest fans is Emma Corridan ’27, MBA ‘28.

“I first met George when he was a puppy two years ago. He was on a walk, and when I got a chance to pet him, George brightened the rest of my day. Ever since then, whenever I see George on the Quad, I always go out of my way to say “hi” to him, and my friends and I excitedly text each other whenever there is a George sighting. I have talked to other students, and they go out of their way to say “hi” to George because his joy is so infectious,” Corridan said.

George was just a tiny pup when he moved into The Commons residence hall with his parents, Quinnipiac Chief Experience Officer Tom Ellett and his wife, Gladys Vallespir Ellett, an assistant professor of nursing. While the Elletts had previous experience sharing a family dog with a university residential community, they had no idea just how much more a golden had to give.

“We never had a golden before, so while we knew a dog could connect and mean something with certain people, we didn’t know how big this experience would be,” Tom Ellett said. “What we’ve found with George is he tends to get almost everyone wanting to pet him. I do think the golden breed is a special breed — I understand why they’re rescue dogs and why they’re emotional support dogs because of how much they get, literally, from human touch.”

It’s also a breed that’s beloved by families, and plenty of students love to share stories with the Elletts about their golden retrievers back home. Many will also remark on George’s gentle spirit.

“Students will often tell us about their 2-year-old or their 6-year-old, and how calm George is compared to their dog. I think part of that is he’s so used to seeing hundreds of students walking out of class and passing, that he has grown into being on a college campus,” said Ellett.

Sporting the breed’s gorgeous golden coat, a wagging tail that doubles as a happiness meter and a trademark “golden smile,” George is out and about on the Mount Carmel Campus three to four times a day. Three days a week, George can be found making the rounds with one of his student dog walkers at the other end of the leash.

“I think he really enjoys his dog walkers, and they’re a special group of students, for sure,” Ellett said.

Megan Pollard ’28, MAT ’29 has been helping walk George on campus since he was born.

“George’s personality is just out of this world,” Pollard said. “Everyone loves to feel important in their environment, and when you’re with George, it’s so easy to shower him with attention, which he instantly returns back to you. George makes friends with everyone because he’s simply a friend to all.”

Ellett feels George also builds a distinct bond with his walkers that offers “an ownership, a connection and an empowerment” as they share the special experience with the Quinnipiac community. Many have also formed new friendships with those who frequently stop to talk with them and pet George.

As chief experience officer, Ellett is fine-tuned to the student experience. In George, he sees a unique ability to provide tailored moments of connection for individual students, whether it’s relieving sadness, absorbing stress or just bringing them joy.

“I do think there is a level of human connection that goldens really need, and I think that plays well in a community of college students who yearn for connection, who yearn to be seen and who yearn to have a sense of belonging,” Ellett said.

George also makes a great stand-in for the pets students may be missing while they’re away from home. Thinking back to her early experiences as a first-year student, Corridan said discovering George on campus helped make her transition to school much easier.

“I’m a big dog lover, and I missed my own dogs more than anything else when I went away to Quinnipiac,” Corridan said. “College can be stressful, but petting George always calms me down. Dogs have a way of telling you that everything is going to be alright just by looking at you. Seeing a dog like George playing on the Quad and greeting students just makes me so happy, and it makes Quinnipiac feel more like home. I am so glad that we have George on campus because he makes me smile, even on the toughest of days.”

“A dog doesn’t have judgement or words, only touch and action,” Ellett added. “I think that can mean something to students who might be sad or lonely or might just need the affection of a dog.”

Last April, Ellett received an unexpected email from a student whose pet had passed away a week earlier.

“She reached out to me to say, ‘I’ve seen George on campus and today’s my birthday, and I would love to be able to spend a little time with him.’ She came over and took him for half an hour. Those little things make a huge difference,” Ellett said.

During Orientation, first-year students meet George as a member of the Quinnipiac community. George also accompanies the Elletts to university events and other on-campus experiences. Everywhere he goes, he seems to enjoy his role as a goodwill ambassador.

“What we’ve tried to do is to really engage George with the community as much as possible,” Ellett said. “He’s just a gentle giant, in so many ways. He’s a good dog.”