Across history, dogs have served as loyal companions and protectors. Today, however, dogs are increasingly valued as therapeutic and service partners.
Interim President Christopher Storm, PhD, takes a moment with Shadow, the beloved pet who greets visitors to the president’s office.
Adelphi Interim President Christopher Storm, PhD, understands this well. His standard poodle, Shadow, joins him in the office most days—a presence he finds instantly makes the president’s office more warm and welcoming. And at Adelphi there is an academic component as well. Students in a First-Year Seminar class recently learned about human-canine relationships alongside Echo, a black labrador who works regularly in the Learning Resource Program classroom.
This profound human-canine connection is the reason why James Tullo, a junior in Adelphi’s accelerated exercise science program (BS/MS), founded the Collar Scholars Club. Tullo, drawing on his experience raising service dogs, has seen the powerful impact a dog can have on someone’s life and he has brought that dedication and passion to campus. The club, launched last May, began small but has grown quickly as more students have become interested in service dog work and animal-assisted service programs.
Tullo answered a few questions about Collar Scholars and why he believes so strongly in its central mission.
Q: What inspired you to form the Collar Scholars club?
A: I’ve always been genuinely passionate about dogs and community service. I began raising service dogs before college, which showed me firsthand how profoundly those dogs could change someone’s life. I wanted to establish a space at Adelphi where students could merge that same love for animals with a meaningful cause.
Adelphi students love giving back, and this club is helping them develop essential life skills like responsibility, leadership and empathy. Dogs possess a unique ability to bring those qualities out in people they interact with.
Q: Where do you source your service dogs? Are they pets, or are they specially vetted for this work?
A: Our dogs come from certified service dog organizations that partner with universities and community puppy raisers. These organizations conduct careful breeding to select puppies with the temperament needed for service work. That means they must demonstrate the ability to be calm in all environments, be friendly and social, and always remain patient with their human companions.
The official logo of Adelphi’s new Collar Scholar club.
Q: What is the main mission, or goal, of the Collar Scholars club? What are you trying to accomplish?
A: The main goal is to help raise and socialize service dogs so they are prepared for the next stage of their training. This is a critical role that every member of the club takes part in, as service dogs are essential today for many individuals with disabilities who need greater independence.
Q: What are the benefits for Adelphi students?
A: Beyond the primary mission, we also aim to educate our campus community about service animals, accessibility and disability awareness. The club provides students with hands-on experience in training, teamwork and leadership, and addresses mental health directly. It’s truly amazing to engage in this work while contributing to something bigger than ourselves.
Q: Can you tell us a little about the response from students?
A: The response has been incredibly positive.
Students love seeing the dogs around campus, and many have shared that meeting them instantly brightens their day. We’ve had significant interest from people wanting to volunteer, become puppy raisers or simply learn more about service animals. It’s also helped initiate great conversations about inclusion and mental health. Overall, the initiative has brought a lot of positive energy and purpose to campus life.
Q: Any long-term goals?
A: My ultimate hope is that we can raise a puppy entirely on Adelphi’s campus to become a future service dog and help someone who needs a canine partner achieve more independence.
That would be life-changing for both the students and the eventual owner.
It may be a long way off—but we are headed in the right direction.