At the College of William and Mary, the days could be charted in dogs, gigantic and miniature. Yet, among a field of dogs and community members on the campus, there are a few in particular who have created small, consistent, integrated communities. A 2021 NIH study and other studies by the American Psychological Association have shown that there is a genuine, positive impact of canine contact on both mental health and academic performance. The community members who bring their dogs to the College every week are helping students one pet at a time, one interaction at a time. Without further ado, here are some of the most recognizable dogs and community members of campus.
The Whimsical Delight: Joyce and Jerry Napier and Max
Max is the DOG, the infamous 7-year-old Chiweenie owned by Jerry and Joyce Napier.
Jerry and Joyce Napier began their first fateful walk to campus five years ago.
“Me, Joyce and Max were walking here just for the benefit of exercise, and … it was pleasant to come here. And Max liked it,” Jerry Napier said.
After a long career as a civil service programmer and an electrician, respectively, Joyce and Jerry Napier retired to Gloucester County. They began coming to the College’s campus for the exercise, but stayed for the community.
“All of the students are friendly and hospitable and make us feel welcome, and I think it’s been good for Max,” Jerry Napier said.
While Max the dog is not a therapy dog, he is a dog that loves freely all of the time. As students interact with Max’s loving owners, the Napiers always ask students how things are going, and there is a genuine care felt behind it. Students speaking with the Napiers immediately get the feeling of the warmth and camaraderie of jolly, long-lost friends.
With the Napiers, Max is a canine of many caricatures. Some people see him as the lovable, rambunctious Mr. Weenie from “Open Season,” or as another wagging Max from the original and best half-hour Christmas special of “How The Grinch Stole Christmas!” But, regardless of his cartoon-grade quirkiness, the genuine kindness shown by Max and his owners has people in a queue.
Students can find the cuddly underdog cuteness of Max and the Napiers all week on the 1963 alumni memorial outside of the Sadler Center, on the Sunken Garden or on a bench outside of Chancellors Hall whimsically during the day. To get the inside pug snug on Max from afar, follow the Dogs of William and Mary Instagram account. A chill attention lover who shares his time and his licks wholeheartedly, Max the dog and his owners spread a lot of kindness on this campus when no one’s watching. The Napiers and Max are the hidden gem of the campus dog community. Not many people know about them, but those who do love them.
Legends of Campus: Marisol and the Corgis
Marisol Lambert ’80 and her corgis are a staple at the College. The corgis are fodder from a canine obsession that begins to root itself when students are first admitted to the college. At 7, 9 and 7 years old respectively, corgis Tucker, Louie and Nelly are the college’s unofficial royal mascots.
This winter will officially mark a decade that Lambert has been bringing her corgis to campus for student comfort therapy.
Lambert and her husband, both alumni, started it all on a walk in 2016.
“After our horses passed away we were at a turning point. We decided to take a walk in Williamsburg, and students really seemed to love [the dogs]. Then I brought them once in a while, once a week, and then I started bringing them once a day,” Lambert said.
A retired daycare manager, teacher, and children’s book author, Lambert has had her fill of pets over her lifetime — at the peak, five cats, three dogs and seven foster horses. Yet, among all these pets, Lambert has a special connection with these intelligent, kind and quirky corgis.
Not only are the corgis a comforting tradition, but they even have their own bit of legend floating around the campus. Lambert says that, lately, students have found a greater benefit of Lambert and the corgis’ visits to Earl Gregg Swem Library: a bit of luck.
“The corgis’ good luck legend is that if you pet all three of them, you’ll get your good grade, or study abroad or win your entrepreneur contest. Two students got their Monroe scholarships when they were petting them. The fairies used to ride on them in Wales back in the day — so we figure they’re filled with magic,” Lambert said.
Lambert loves the intelligent corgis fully, as who they are, canine twamps. Her dogs have some personality.
“Tucker is a walking pillow, Nelly is [a] princess and Louie is a farm dog,” corgi fan Brennan Strong ’28 said.
Lambert brings her dogs to help students cognizantly based on her own experience.
“I’ve had dogs my whole life. When I was at William and Mary, I was a mess because I didn’t see dogs anywhere, or have access to dogs or animals,” Lambert said.
For the uninitiated freshman who wants to envelop themselves in the corgi lore with students and alumni, the cherubic, loveable corgis will be snuggling on the floor around Lambert for the foreseeable Tuesdays and Fridays during the semester from 2-5:30 p.m., and at Swem special events. For secondhand snuggles throughout your day (and for the only rationale to use GroupMe over winter break in dire hopes for pictures of the corgis), join the Corgi GroupMe run by Marisol and the student “corganizers” for all your corgi-related updates and merchandise. Marisol and her corgis are the trailblazers for canine therapy at the College.
The New Dog on the Block: Norman the Campus Therapy Dog
Finally, for the chill pill on the block, certified for his calm demeanor, the newest comer to campus to get your tail wagging for is Norman (not Norman Mailer, the slightly unstable and sexist man with ingenious writing skills, just Norman). A 7-year-old Great Pyrenees at the McLeod Tyler Wellness Center, Norman is a rescue dog owned by Ruth McDonald.
McDonald is a retired Marine Corps clarinetist who has devoted most of her life to service. Originally from the Washington, D.C. area, McDonald and her husband retired to Williamsburg. She says she brought Norman to elementary schools in D.C., and she wanted to continue making visits in Williamsburg.
McDonald contacted the Wellness Center to see if they would be interested. A year and a half ago, Norman and McDonald began their first visit.
Already, Norman is calm, but his observant demeanor imprints him on students. Calliope Koesters ’26 said the dog instinctively rests his head on her after her worst days.
“He just knows,” Kesters said.
Students can find Norman flurrying it up in the Wellness Center Wednesdays from 12-1:30 p.m..
More Pugalicious Resources:
For niche canine interests, the College has students covered. For the efficient athlete, there are the corgi races at top speed at 5:30 p.m. Tuesdays and Fridays. For the more leisurely athlete, there’s a monthly sweat and pet in therapeutic yoga with Guinness the therapy dog the first Tuesday of the month at 10 a.m.. For more diversity in fuzzy friends, explore the Williamsburg farmer’s market to see everything from a highly comical canine reincarnation of Garfield to spotted greyhounds of outlandish proportions that will touch the dearth of an artist’s heart.
There’s a dog time and place for everyone on the College’s campus. These community members and their dogs are each a place to take a moment and find some love on campus.
