Our Graduates Programs
We’re pleased to provide this handy way to find our graduates whose websites link to us. If you’re a Bergin University graduate and would like to be listed here, please send an email to info@berginu.org.

Graduate Profiles
What do graduates of BUCS actually go on to do? And how is their success related to their experiences as students at Bergin University? We seek to shed some light on those questions in our Graduate Profiles.

We’re very proud of the accomplishments of our graduates. Their hard work has resulted in some truly remarkable outcomes, and we hope you find as much inspiration in their ventures as we do.

Grace Van Dyke
Training Coordinator, Prison Pet Partnership Program
Website: http://www.prisonpetpartnership.org

Grace Van Dyke was hired by the state of Washington’s Prison Pet Partnership shortly after her graduation in 2007 from the University’s Associate Degree Program. “Hurricane Katrina prodded me to search for a new path in life,” writes Grace of the destruction of her hometown. “This led me to pursue an Associate of Science Degree in Assistance Dog Education at [Bergin University of Canine Studies] in Santa Rosa, California.” She is family now – and like family, we revel in her success. Hired as the Training Coordinator for the Prison Pet Partnership Program, Grace’s contribution there is diverse in keeping with her multiple talents – from organizing to touching the lives of everyone associated with the program.

AS Class of 2010

The Bergin University of Canine Studies, Home of the Assistance Dog Institute, is pleased to introduce our Associate of Science degree class of 2010. We are honored to bring great talent to the your attention and to provide networking and employment opportunities for Assistance Dog International members and our graduates. Please take a moment to read about our graduates’ backgrounds and interests and contact them when you’re seeking special talents.

	Kim Chew & Olssen San Bruno, California AS in ADE	I intend to pursue a career training dogs in diverse areas, from scent detection, diabetic alerting, to hearing dog work both indoors and outdoors. I am interested in an internship as well as a position with an organization working in these areas. In addition to Bergin University studies, I completed 12 weeks of scent detection work, a novice title in agility, and a 26-year career in finance at the US Postal Service.
	Hannah Knapp & Chrissy Maple Falls, Washington AS in ADE	I am looking for a paid apprentice dog trainer position, but am open to grooming and environmental management work as well. I have had extensive training in service dogs and a small taste of many other dog activities and training methods. I have even completed the beginner and intermediate classes at K9 Nose Works, which is a scent detection class. With this knowledge I am willing to enter any dog related field of work. I can even help with public relations and marketing. I am willing to relocate.
	Lesley Liddle & Nora Eastsound, Washington AS in ADE	In the past eight months I have developed a program called “Canine Safety Companions” which specifically helps the elderly. I rigorously select and train small shelter dogs for obedience, for sound alerting, retrieval and tugging skills, and to go for help. Then I match the dog with a senior who could use a little help maintaining independence at home. My own small shelter dog “Lulu” has been trained as a “demo” dog so that I can make realistic presentations to senior centers, charitable organizations, and potential clients.
	Michelle Perry & Neely Santa Rosa, California AS in ADE	My ideal job and goal is to train assistance dogs for programs, businesses, or organizations. I would also like to teach people how to train assistance dogs and to help those who can be helped by dogs, such as disabled people. I am a person who enjoys working with dogs and I also enjoy the creative aspects of training dogs with different personalities. I am also interested in doing some internships and seminars to increase my knowledge and skills. Bergin University has given me a great opportunity to work with and train different types of dogs, like service dogs, balance dogs, mobility dogs and dogs to assist people with PTSD. The school has also given me the opportunity to work with clients with disabilities, teaching them commands and how to manage their service dogs. I am very excited to start my career.
	Jason Baker & Vlad Arnold, California Completed Coursework in ADE	Being a veteran myself, it has been my desire to help other veterans, and what better way to accomplish this goal than through the miracle of service dogs. With the education I have received in the Associate of Science degree program at Bergin University, I have come to see not only the physical support a canine can give, but also the emotional support. I would like to work with and help veterans with PTSD use service dogs as therapy, and also help place service dogs with veterans with mobility impairments.
	Dave Jamieson & Natalie Laingsburg, Michigan Completed Coursework in ADE	I have recently completed studies at Bergin University of Canine Studies. Canine training is one of the most rewarding jobs on the planet. Dogs offer so much to humans, not only friendship, but they offer a therapeutic value as well. In 5 years I would like to see myself as a fully employed master trainer for an organization dealing with veterans, especially veterans with PTSD. If that option is not available I would like to be the lead trainer, training students how to train service dogs, improving the concept of service animals for the upcoming not-too-distant future. Not only am I an accomplished versatile trainer, I employ a plethora of new ideas, am organized, honest, a team player, and have a leading presence as a field instructor as well as in the classroom setting.
Class of 2009 (click here)