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Pancho: A School of Management Superstar

Article written for the University of Buffalo andย originallyย published on the school’sย website.

Chris Salem and PanchoChristopher Salemโ€™s pragmatic attitude toward his progressive degenerative eye disease had earned him the admiration of co-workers and students. But when he took his new associate, Pancho, down the halls of the School of Managementโ€™s Alfiero Center, the reaction was downright adoring.

โ€œLook at those eyes,โ€ Salem heard students say. โ€œHeโ€™s beautiful. I want to hug him.โ€

Salem was elated. โ€œMary,โ€ he told a co-worker in the Career Resources Center, where he advises undergraduate students. โ€œAt 51, Iโ€™ve still got it.โ€

Of course, he knew the ogling and droolingโ€”at least most of itโ€”was over Pancho.

Panchoโ€™s arrival in June meant adjustmentโ€”for Salemโ€™s three children, who had to resist treating him as a pet until Panchoโ€™s six-week training period ended, and for the wide-eyed School of Management admirers who had to restrain themselves from throwing their arms around Panchoโ€™s huggable frame and kissing his soulful face.

After years of adapting to retinitis pigmentosa, a disorder leading to progressive, irreversible sight loss (a good day, says Salem, is making eye contact with students sitting across from him), a welcome logistical support system came in the form of this yellow Labrador with liquid eyes, an irresistibly pettable coat and magnetic personality.

โ€œHe always wants to please, always wants to make sure everything is all right. Heโ€™s there to protect me so I donโ€™t fall. But he seems to look out for my mental state, too.โ€

Salem happily shares Pancho with the School of Management community. Weeks after Panchoโ€™s training period ended, Salem declared a โ€œplay dayโ€ when the dogโ€™s harness stayed off and everyone could bond.

โ€œHe was running up and down the long hallway, hitting every office, as if to say โ€˜Iโ€™m free!โ€™ โ€™โ€™ Salem says.

The CRC community celebrated Panchoโ€™s presence, even on-duty. Pancho sleeps on a dog bed in the corner of Salemโ€™s office, his four legs in the air. A co-worker took a cellphone picture of him this way and sent it via office email. Subject line: โ€œPancho hard at work.โ€ And Pancho got his own UB magnetic nametag: โ€œPancho: School of Management.โ€

โ€œSome of our most fun moments have been welcoming Pancho, working with Chris to make sure weโ€™re treating Pancho the right way to be a guide dog, and coming up with ideas to announce him as our newest employee,โ€ says Gwen Appelbaum, assistant dean and CRC director. โ€œPancho is a member of our team now.โ€

At home, where Salem relies on the support of his wife, Melody, and three children, Pancho has re-opened the neighborhood. Salem and Pancho explore the streets morning and evening. Mobility is an issue: โ€œNot having the freedom to drive someplace can be incredibly frustrating.โ€

But Salemโ€™s incessant willingness to adjust has served him well. Pancho is the latest evidence.

โ€œI just keep moving forwardโ€”Iโ€™m not smart enough to realize there might be other choices. Itโ€™s a full life. This is not living in adversity. Itโ€™s working with what you have.โ€