Koda inDOGurated as First Dog of Connecticut College

They could barely sit still, and they likely had no idea what was going on. But the four dogs onstage on a beautiful Friday afternoon under a tent on Tempel Green—including the canine of honor, bernedoodle Kodachrome “Koda” Chapdelaine Tetreault—behaved admirably and adorably during Connecticut College’s first-ever inDOGuration ceremony, one day before the inauguration of Koda’s mom, President Andrea Chapdelaine.

Several other dogs formed a line and paraded in front of the stage to their seats with their faculty and staff owners before the ceremony began. Fellow canine audience members barking, yipping and cheering on Koda included Maverick, a sheepadoodle belonging to Director of Media Relations Christina Flowers; Riley, a westie owned by Dean of Students Victor Arcelus; Shiloh, border collie-retriever mix and best friend of Director of Campus Safety Mary Savage; and official wellness canines from the New London and Waterford Police Departments.

Dean of Admissions Andy Strickler, whose lab/shepherd mix (at least according to the vet’s best guess), Utley, was one of the doggy dignitaries onstage, approached the microphone to emcee the pawsitively delightful event. Probably never expecting a task like this to land on his agenda, he quipped, “Other duties as assigned …” before formally beginning the un-fur-gettable ceremony with, “Good afternoon, ladies, gentlemen, students, and our target-rich campus full of squirrels and other critters for our four-legged companions to chase.”

Strickler said that when he first arrived at Conn a decade ago, dogs weren’t even allowed in campus buildings, but the campus is much more dog-friendly today, “and we will now officially, formally have a First Dog of Connecticut College.”

As if on cue, Koda, adorned in blue velvet regalia, stood on her hind legs and hugged President Chapdelaine, to the delight of the audience. Strickler then deemed Koda “the tail-wagging titan of campus morale, the unofficial director of student wellness and, unfortunately for me, the only member of the senior administration who is allowed to nap during meetings.”

He continued, “Let us reflect on the qualifications of our First Dog. For the mere price of a pat on the head or a treat, she exemplifies the Camel spirit of loving each and every student regardless of major, academic performance, hometown, sports allegiance, campus engagement or personal passion.”

Conn’s new First Dog will serve honorably, Strickler promised. “Koda will not propose or pass legislation, she’s not going to raise tuition, and I guarantee Koda is not going to send anyone an email at 2 a.m. Instead, Koda will lead with loyalty, wearing her Camel blue, governing with love and enthusiasm, and accept all bribes in the form of peanut butter.”

Koda was the goodest girl while Strickler read an official citation, signed, of course, by Colby Alvord, whose human is Board of Trustees Chair Seth Alvord.

Finally, just before Koda led the recessional march to the tune of the turn-of-the-century banger “Who Let the Dogs Out?” by the Bahamian junkanoo band Baha Men, Strickler declared Koda “the unofficial mascot of the Camels, defender of our arboretum campus from the ravenous invasion of squirrels, and friend to all who happen across these lands,” and he offered her a wish: “May your leash be long, your tail wag often, your days be filled with students’ love and admiration, and your schedule filled with naps in sunbeams.”