At approximately 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Junkai Gong ’27 rang the doorbell at an atypical destination for Brown students: 55 Power St, which has served as Brown’s presidential residence since 1949.
While President Christina Paxson P’19 P’MD’20 has lived in the large brick house for over a decade, late last year, the residence welcomed a new, fluffy four-footed resident — and that puppy is the reason for Gong’s visit.
Gong is one of four presidential dog caretakers — responsible for walking and entertaining Murphy, a 15-week-old standard poodle. The job is both a mental and physical exercise. The presidential puppy, true to his age, has boundless energy.
“He’s so lively,” Gong said. “He likes to sniff everything. He likes to greet people.” Murphy “jumps around so much. It’s really nice to see (his) pure joy and happiness.”
Paxson and her husband — Senior Fellow in International and Public Affairs Ari Gabinet P’19 P’MD’20 — got Murphy from a Massachusetts breeder in December 2025, after their previous dog, Cooper, died last summer.
“I was perfectly happy not having another dog, but President Paxson was not,” Gabinet told The Herald. But Gabinet quickly warmed to Murphy, and has since curated a series of loving nicknames for the puppy including “Murphaletta” and “Mr. Murph, Sir,” — based on the “Aaron Burr, Sir” scene from the musical “Hamilton.”
Murphy’s arrival in December carried more weight than anticipated. “Murphy arrived in December when the President was super busy with all the aftermath of the (Dec. 13) shooting,” Gabinet said. “Murphy was really, sort of a wonderful emotional thing for her.”
Gong started the dog-walking job when he returned from winter break. From 11 a.m. to about 12:45 p.m. on Wednesdays and Thursdays, Gong takes Murphy on 20-minute walks and dog-sits him for the remaining time. He gets paid $20 per hour.
When duty calls for Paxson and Gabinet — say, a Brown Corporation dinner in their home — Gong works overtime.
“We’re stressed as college students,” Gong said. “It’s nice to lay back and slow down a little bit with Murphy.”
But during his twice weekly appointments with Murphy, Gong can’t relax for long.
The Herald tagged along with Gong for his Wednesday walk with Murphy and, just a few minutes into their route, the puppy gnawed at a sheet of plastic in front of Friedman Hall. Gong reached down, brushing it away from Murphy’s mouth.
“I’m mainly there just to make sure he’s safe, that he doesn’t eat anything,” Gong said.
As the walk continued, the duo made their way across the street and onto the Main Green, which is Murphy’s favorite spot on campus other than his home, Gong said.
Gong usually takes Murphy to the Pedestrian Bridge in downtown Providence or south of campus. But on Wednesday’s walk on the Green, Murphy got to make new student friends, eagerly greeting passersby who showered him with love and pets.
When Gong and Murphy reached Faunce Arch, the puppy stopped in his tracks. All the socialization and walking left Murphy depleted, and only Gong’s dangling of chicken treats could entice the dog to brave the journey home.
Many students vie for the dog-walking job, Gabinet said. Gong heard about the position after taking one of Gabinet’s classes last semester, he said. After a quick email to Gabinet, he got the job. “That was the process,” he said.
Back at 55 Power St., Gabinet waits for Murphy’s return. The puppy’s entrance is marked by a trail of wet paw prints across the floor.
“His paws are all soaking,” Gabinet said. “Time for another foot bath, puppy,” he said to Murphy.
Paxson and Gabinet are no strangers to life with dogs. Gabinet lived with dogs all his life and Paxson grew up with Rusty, a golden retriever. Murphy is the latest in “the great tradition of presidential poodles,” Gabinet said, preceded by Cooper and Leo.
Maria Raposo, the housekeeper at Paxson and Gabinet’s house, has fond memories of Cooper, who “used to love to go get the newspaper outside,” she said. Cooper’s favorite spot in the house was the side door, which happens to also be where Murphy chooses to curl up.
The two dogs share more than just their breed and beloved spot: They are named after Murphy and Joseph Cooper from the movie “Interstellar.”
But Gabinet says Murphy is not likely to be space-bound any time soon, nor will his future be in one of Gabinet’s corporate law courses.
“Sorry, Murphy is a finance bro,” Gabinet said.
James Libresco is a senior staff writer covering staff & student labor. He is a first-year student from Alexandria, Va. studying political science. In his free time, he can be found playing basketball, meditating, or loosing in Among Us.
