Peggy Moran

PROFILE: Margaret “Peggy” Moran has a wonderful sense of humor and she loves animals. When the Foundation asked her if she spoke any languages in addition to English, she responded: “Canine.” It’s said that life begins at 50, or at least in Peggy’s case, begins again at 50 as the aspiring conservationist earned an Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship and is on her way to a university after a long career as an animal trainer, free lance journalist, consultant, teacher, volunteer, and most importantly, a mother.   In fact for the past 31 years, Peggy has successfully operated Peggy Moran Behavioral Consulting, where she offers dog and owner training programs, while also providing in-service training for animal humane organizations. Part of her job description is to also lecture school groups and professional organizations about animal behavior. In addition, she also was a regular contributor to Dog World Magazine for many years. What caused Peggy to start college after a successful career far from academia? The answer is her love of nature. Peggy hopes to double major in natural resources and anthropology and eventually, “inspire environmental responsibility and stewardship.” She would especially like to help disenfranchised and non-traditional adult students like her, “discover their own scientific literacy and academic self-esteem through the interactive study of the natural world.” Peggy’s story has made big news in her hometown of Lemont, IL, a small city near Chicago: http://www.mysuburbanlife.com/lemont/features/x265583405/Animal-trainer-nabs-scholarship

INSPIRATION: Peggy said her academic discovery has been a community process and that alone inspires her to succeed. “It would not have been possible without the support of my family and friends, the guidance from my teachers and school administrators, and the financial aid from generous others.” Peggy would like to single out Michael Dietz, her anthropology professor at College of DuPage, who provided her support from her first day of class.

ASPIRATION: Peggy’s passionate devotion to nature and love for all living things will aid her in her undergraduate courses in the fields of natural resources and anthropology, and eventually in a career protecting the environment. 

MAKING A DIFFERENCE:   For a long time, Peggy has been training therapy dogs, animals that visit hospitals, nursing homes, and other facilities in the effort to comfort and help patients recover. This part of her life that is now second nature to her. Peggy is proud of her own academic accomplishments as well, “I am most proud of all of the recent steps I have taken in pursuit of a formal education. I am proud of giving myself permission to rise above boundaries in my mind and in my daily life in order to keep reaching for new information and evolving personal growth. I am proud of my belief in my right to learn, change, and redefine myself at any age. I am proud of my courage and curiosity, which have served me well in every aspect throughout my life but most especially now.”

ACCOLADES: Peggy won the ASPCA's "Pet Over-population Answers Award" in 2000 for developing a program to standardize animal shelter volunteers' animal interactions in order to reduce animal stress and increase adoptability. She also received a GED with honors for scoring in the top 3% of high school graduates.

INTERESTING FACT: Peggy loves puppets and enjoys making them "say" funny things (though rarely when she is alone.)