How two dogs instigated a $1 Million Gift to DU’s Institute for Human-Animal Connection
It’s not just the impressive credentials of Dr. Kevin Morris that make this story extraordinary. Nor is it the amount of his donation or the fact that Morris is the executive director of the Institute for Human-Animal Connection (IHAC) at the University of Denver’s Graduate School of Social Work (GSSW). What makes this $1 million gift so remarkable is how it all began—with two German Shepherds.
Back in 2007, Morris, who earned his doctorate in biochemistry and molecular biology from the University of Chicago, was running clinical trials involving radiation treatments for cancer patients through Sirius Medicine, LLC, a startup he co-founded. An animal lover from childhood, Morris regularly brought his two Shepherds to the lab and would always ask patients if they minded the dogs being present. No one ever objected.
One patient, battling ovarian cancer, was having a dramatic response to the experimental treatment. Morris was surprised when she refused further treatment one day he didn’t bring his dogs, stating she wouldn’t continue without the company of the dogs. “The only thing that kept her in the trial,” Morris recalls, “was being near the dogs – they made her feel safe.”
That moment was transformational for Morris. It wasn’t just the dogs’ impact on humans that caught his attention. He became fascinated by the scientific question behind this connection: How does the human-animal bond work on a biochemical level, and what does it mean for the health and well-being of both species? The answer eventually redirected his career and led him down a groundbreaking new path focused on animal welfare and the science of the human-animal bonds.
With his new career underway, Morris pursued research in the field, publishing studies and securing grants to validate his work. He joined IHAC as director of research in 2016 before being named executive director in 2021. He is also a research professor and holds the American Humane Endowed Chair at DU’s Graduate School of Social Work.
Morris’s recent $1 million estate bequest to DU – GSSW’s first direct principal gift in 15 years and one of only 9 in its history – was made in conjunction with his spouse, Kristin Des Marais, and reflects their shared passion for the welfare of both people and animals and IHAC’s mission. Des Marais is the founder and executive director of the Bergen Spay & Neuter Alliance, having dedicated her career to the wellbeing of animals. The couple hopes that their investment in IHAC will inspire other friends of the Institute to support its work through meaningful gifts of their own.
Their joint gift was timed to coincide with IHAC’s 20th anniversary, featuring a public celebration scheduled for fall 2025. The celebration will recognize not only IHAC’s achievements in research and education, but also its status as the nation’s top-ranked leader in human-animal connection and animal welfare by the Association of Animal-Assisted Intervention Professionals.
The Morris – Des Marais gift also reflects Kevin Morris’ deep commitment to IHAC and the students and research it supports. Over 200 students and counting have been mentored by the Institute, often collaborating as co-authors on studies.
According to Morris, “The passion these Graduate School of Social Work students bring to the work is truly remarkable. It’s also incredible that social work students, most of whom initially have very little science background, are learning rigorous scientific methodology in the lab. This critical thinking experience is invaluable, regardless of which areas of social work they’ll ultimately pursue.”
Val Otten, DU’s senior vice chancellor for Advancement, highlighted the Morris – Des Marais shared passion as key. “Not only is Kevin and Kristin’s generosity a reflection of their dedication to IHAC, but it also demonstrates the Institute’s impact,” says Otten. “From its premier training programs for professionals working in human-animal connection to its state-of-the-art research, IHAC under Kevin’s leadership is a shining example of how DU is challenging conventional thinking and redefining higher education through The Denver Difference campaign.”
IHAC’s current research focuses on two key areas. The first examines how service animals affect human mental health, including studies of veterans living with PTSD as well as children with mental, emotional and behavioral health conditions. IHAC is studying the biochemical effects of human-animal interactions on both the people and the animals themselves. The second area explores how human-animal connections impact community health, with studies on access to veterinary care and how animal law enforcement engages with the communities they serve. The Morris – Des Marais gift not only ensures the sustainability of this research but also inspires others to invest similarly in IHAC’s important work.
“The Institute is an exciting place to work, and I feel incredibly privileged,” Morris shares. “I love the impact IHAC has on students, and through this gift – and hopefully the generosity of others who will join us – I want to make sure it exists well into the future.”
A gift inspired by two German Shepherds, made possible through prior success and strengthened by a love of teaching and research, will undoubtedly leave a lasting legacy.
To learn more about how your gift to the Institute for Human-Animal Connection can strengthen Morris’ work, contact Ashley Haliko at ashley.haliko@du.edu or 303-871-2675.
Read more about IHAC’s research in the DU Newsroom.
