Congratulations to Emily Algranati who has officially completed her three-year GDB instructor apprenticeship. The apprenticeship requires practical, hands-on experience in training both our dogs and our clients, as well as a comprehensive academic course of study.Â
"I adore working with our dogs everyday, but there is also nothing better to me than seeing clients walk proudly and independently with their guides," Emily said. "Whether in class or in the field, that magic never fails to give me chills."Â
Emily grew up all around New England, mostly in western Massachusetts and Maine. She has a bachelor's degree in English Literature and Gender Studies from Cornell University, plus graduate degrees in English and American Literature from Northwestern University. Before coming to GDB, Emily taught children and adults in several fields: outdoor education, early childhood education, and English & American literature. She also enjoyed volunteering with the Guild for the Blind (now called Second Sense) in Chicago and working with pet dogs in various realms: animal-assisted therapy, dogs sports, shelter dog rehabilitation, and pet dog training. In her spare time, Emily enjoys running in the beautiful Oregon mountains, gardening, cooking, knitting, and sharing meals and music with friends. She and her wife are expecting their first child in March; the baby will join the couple's two dogs and cat at home: a retired guide dog named Penne, a senior Shepherd mix named Pico, and a sweet kitty named Tabitha.
