To be a university professor is to dedicate one’s life to a single field of study. It requires immersion and expertise to a degree that keeps one on the cutting edge and qualified to guide students toward even greater success. Professors — especially UW professors — eat, sleep, and breathe their academic niche.
But if you really want to get to know a professor, don’t ask them about their research. Ask them about their cat. Or their dog. Or their pig. Or their iguana. We did, and in doing so, we got to know long-standing campus giants and burgeoning faculty mainstays beyond what’s included in their impressive curricula vitae.
Ryan Stowe and Joe Cool
When it comes to cheese, this professor’s pup is anything but cavalier.
Steph Tai and Megyn Kelly
When it comes to exercise, dressing up, or coming to campus, this iguana don’t wanna.
Melanie Manion and David Weimer and Ming
Ming introduced David Weimer and Melanie Manion to the joys and frustrations of poodling.
Paula Niedenthal ’81 and Rudi
This psychology professor’s miniature pig has a big personality.
Jenny Higgins and TacoCat
Forwards or backwards, this zany feline brings joy to her human family.
Matthew McCauley ’12 and Bascom
This doctor’s dog is 55 pounds of friendly fluff.
Hailey Love and Callie and Louie
These pet siblings like people more than they like each other.
Eva Vivian MS’13, PhD’20 and Anka
This pharmacy professor has a long line of long-living pets.
Whitney Loo and Potato and Augustus Caesar la Salad
Everybody wants to be a cat. In Whitney Loo’s house, they are.
