Alumni Spotlight: Michelle Wendell ’82 - A Life in Animal Services 

As part of our Alumni Spotlight Series, Gill St. Bernard's recently sat down with Michelle Wendell, a GSB Class of 1982 alum, whose professional path has included the labels entrepreneur, author, and “Alpha Mom.” 

You recently returned to campus! Tell us about the experience — what were some of the highlights?  

I came to New Jersey to celebrate Mother’s Day with my family; my first trip in five years and the longest I’ve ever been away from my pups. My visit to GSB came about due to the efforts of Assistant Director of Development and Alumni Relations, Katrina Musto. She is the first GSB person to express interest in my unconventional life and genuinely wanted to meet me and have a chat, and the time flew by! 

Before parting, Katrina gave my mother, Sondra P’82, ’84, GP ’23, and I a tour of campus. Boy, has it changed! We got to see my brother Mike’s office (Class of 1984)—definitely a highlight—and ended up at the very impressive Student Art Exhibit. There’s a special place in my heart for woodworking and the projects blew me away. My mother was drawn to the beautiful paintings…by kindergartners! As I studied the various Graphic Design art pieces, I found myself wishing there had been such a class when I attended GSB. Kudos to the teachers who provided the projects that enabled all that talent to shine!  

How did you land at GSB? When did you start?  

By eighth grade I was completely disenchanted with school—I just wanted to dance! My parents recognized the need for me to avoid the traditional, public school system. GSB, in 1978, on the other hand, was my kind of place. I loved, loved, loved being educated by Units rather than six or seven different subjects at once. Not having to face algebra every day of the school year was heaven!  

Do you have a favorite GSB memory?   

Back in the late 70s-early 80s, students and faculty would meet as a Disciplinary Commitee, and review incidents deemed worthy of investigation. One time a student got in trouble for climbing the outside of Founder’s Hall in order to serenade his girlfriend through the second-floor window while she was in class! 

What was your favorite class?   

For me, most of the enjoyment came from the teachers themselves (like Stuart Carroll, Rashid, Sue Ely, Cyndy Dunham) and from the other students in the class.  

How did GSB prepare you for college?  

My GSB education was so far above and beyond those of my college peers. I was excused from attending all but two academic classes my first semester. I remember realizing, for the first time ever, just what a fabulous education I received growing up in New Jersey in general and GSB in particular.   

What has your career path been like, and how did you end up where you are today?  

For many years, I worked seven jobs at a time, using my smarts and my talents in offices and kitchens to make ends meet. Then at the age of 39, I experienced two incidents within ten days that left me physically unable to continue at that pace. And, as usually is the case, that’s when I found my true calling, my happiness.  

I started watching my friends’ dogs, then as word of mouth spread, friends of friends began to inquire about my services. People would bring their pups to my house and leave them for a day, a week, a month; the longest sitting job I did was six months. I had six dogs of my own, and on average, there would be 12-14 pups running around. Several times there were twenty-one! 

It’s been more than twenty years now, and I still wouldn’t trade what I do for anything. I exemplify the phrase “your bliss won’t necessarily be found on the road to riches”, but I rarely come across someone as content and happy as I am because of my chosen career—and yes, it is most definitely a career!  

In what ways did GSB prepare you for a career with dogs?  

Gill taught me that what I did and thought was of value. I was encouraged to be me, to forge my own way, even when that way was different than that of my peers. So that’s what I did with Canine Kid Care. The people at GSB made me feel special, and that’s what I aim to do for other two- and four-legged friends, most especially for my clients.   

Do you have any special projects you are working on now?  

I wrote and self-published Fierce Love, One Life Given Over to Dog, a two-tome memoir about the joys of domesticated pack living. Now I’m in the process of telling the rest of the story—the deaths of my six pups--in Fierce Life, An Introvert’s Struggles with Deep Grief. I also created and maintain three dog-related websites, which are currently being combined onto the one website, CanineKidCare.com. 

What advice would you give to current GSB students?  

Put down your cell phone! Take those earbuds out and go outside! Look up! Look around! Connect! Surround yourself with kind, well-meaning, like-minded beings. Make a life for yourself that energizes you! Stay positive.