Meet the board
President
Dria Hager
Major: Animal Science (Concentration: Production Animal Scholars)
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Minor: National Defense Studies and Leadership
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Class: Senior
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How I Got Involved: I have not had the opportunity to raise or help raise a Future Leader Dog, but I am planning to once my living situation allows. I've wanted for a long time to be involved with an organization like Leader Dogs for the Blind, and this was the first and best way I found that I could be involved without raising a puppy myself. This is a way to support puppy raisers in a capacity that they perhaps may not have time to do themselves while raising a puppy; many hands make light work, and together we can make life for those raising FLDs a little bit simpler.
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Vice President
Megan Kempa
Major: Human Biology (Lyman Briggs)
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Minor: Anthropology
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Class: Senior
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How I Got Involved: I joined leader dog club because it combines my passion for working with animals and making a lasting impacting on those in need. Puppy raising is challenging, but I love that this club provides raisers with the resources and support to be as successful as possible. I also am really passionate about sharing this opportunity with other MSU students. After all, I didn’t know raising a service dog puppy was even an option for college students until I met a classmate who was doing so. The more students that are interested and involved, the more we can give back to the Leader Dog organization, which means more Leader Dogs will make it into the hands of those who need them.
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Secretary
Maddie Kaminski
Major: Animal Science
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Class: Senior
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How I Got Involved: This past spring I heard about Leader Dogs for the Blind and was blown away by the fact that I was qualified to apply. I have always dreamed of training a service dog and now I finally had the chance. This past summer I picked up FLD Lulu at Leader dog and we started our journey from there. I wanted to join MSU’s Leader dog club to share all of the experiences I have recently had with FLD Lulu, and to teach students how to interact with service dogs on campus and in everyday life. So far, everyday has been a blessing with Lulu and I hope with all my heart that together we can continue successful training to pursue Lulu to become a Leader dog and find a new home.
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Treasurer
Austin Kramer
Major: Finance
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Class: Sophomore
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How I Got Involved:
Puppy Raiser Chair
Joe Leo Ergastolo
Major: Animal Science
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Minor: Italian
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Class: Junior
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How I Got Involved: ​I am the founder of the club and I wanted to start this club because I want to do something positive for others while also involving my own hobbies and interests. I have been training dogs for the Guide Dog Foundation my entire life and with my experience with them I was very familiar with their programs. I knew of their student raiser program at the University of Georgia and I wanted to start a similar program here at MSU. One day I hope that we can get our club to the size of the UGA program which has just under 200 student raisers.
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Fundraising chair
Delainey Williams
Major: Horticulture (concentration horticulture science)
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Minor: Environmental and Sustainability Studies (RISE program)
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Class: Senior
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How I Got Involved: My family has been raising Leader Dogs and been involved with the organization since I was in 6th grade. It has been something I have been passionate about for a long time. We had one of our puppies, Gladys, placed with a client, she is currently in Spain and loving life with her partner. We were lucky enough to be able to meet him when he came to pick her up, and listening to him talk about how much having her was going to change how he lived his life and give him so many more freedoms really stuck with me. And, when I heard there was a club starting here at State I knew I had to join and do my part to help inspire others to get involved with this amazing organization.
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Technology Chair
Samantha McBeth
Major: Animal Science
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Minor: Animal Biotechnology
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Class: Sophomore
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How I Got Involved: I joined the club my freshman because who doesn't love dogs and want to be in a club with them! Learning about the organization and helping at events really made me fall in love with the cause and hopefully in the near future I will be able to raise one.
meet Gladys
This is Gladys, raised by the Williams family (also pictured in harness on the home page of this site). She graduated from the program and was placed with a client from Spain several years ago. My family had the amazing chance to meet her new life partner while he was at the Leader Dog facility learning how to properly utilize Gladys in his daily life. Being able to hear how much she was going to give him more independence and improve his ability to thrive on his own.
Having a Leader Dog has such a huge impact on visually impaired people's lives, which is why we, and everyone involved with Leader Dog are so passionate. Not only does this organization provide the service of the dogs to help with daily tasks, but it also provides the clients with an amazing companion for many years, which is also very important.
