Marilyn Erman, Puppy Program and Education Manager

Marilyn Erman holds a Bachelor’s degree in Music Therapy from the University of Iowa. She began her career as a music therapist, working in acute psychiatry at BJC HealthCare and in dementia care at Parc Provence. She later served as an Activity Director at The Villages of St. Peters and as a Support Manager with SLARC, supporting individuals with disabilities.

Throughout her career, Marilyn worked alongside her dog, Puck, providing animal-assisted therapy. Seeing the powerful impact dogs can have on people’s lives inspired her interest in therapy and service dogs. She later joined Duo Dogs, working in their kennels from 2021–2022 and gaining an even greater appreciation for the role these dogs play in helping others. Excited by CHAMP’s reputation and mission, she eagerly joined the team when the opportunity arose.

Marilyn still shares her life with Puck, now 11 years old, completely blind, and a little hard of hearing. They are also joined by Elora, an energetic 4-year-old Malamute/German Shepherd mix. Outside of work, Marilyn enjoys hiking, traveling, attending concerts and live performances, and continuing to write songs and play music.

She is passionate about educating others on the canine-human bond and believes dogs are a vital part of our communities and can make a profound difference in helping people live, heal, and thrive.