Mariah Kurpuis,
Regional Advisory Board - PNW Member
- To help transform the lives of others who can benefit from an assistance dog and support their independence as well as their quality of life.
- To be a part of meaningful work guided by a powerful mission and core values centered around compassion, empathy, and integrity.
- To be a part of a collaborative, inclusive work environment alongside passionate individuals from all different walks of life, backgrounds, and careers, but share the common denominator of loving dogs.
- To be given the privilege of promoting awareness and providing education about assistance dogs and the impact they can have on the lives of others.
- To positively contribute to volunteering and outreach opportunities, which allows for engagement with broader community members, business owners, donors/sponsors, and others who give back to DBL in meaningful ways.
Mariah was born and raised in Burlington, WA spending the majority of her childhood surrounded by agriculture and animals on her family’s orchard and vineyard. Mariah completed her bachelor’s in Child Development and Family sciences in Ellensburg, WA before moving to Azusa, CA to complete her master’s in Child Life. Mariah completed two Child Life practicums between Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital and Miller Long Beach Children’s Hospital before being selected to serve as Mary Bridge’s Child Life Internship recipient in the Fall of 2018. It was through these experiences Mariah was introduced to the immense benefits of animal therapy and service animals, which inspired her to put her australian shepherd Dexter through the Pet Partners therapy animal program and, later, write her master’s thesis on the efficacy of pet therapy in hospitalized pediatric patients.
Mariah currently resides in Wenatchee, WA with her husband and her three dogs Dallas, Penny, and Sophie. Mariah currently works as the Director of Customer Success at a local occupational healthcare company. In her free time, Mariah enjoys interior designing, traveling, and taking her dogs on adventures.
To learn about joining the Regional Advisory Board, visit our informational page and application.
