Dr. Dillamond
Dr. Dillamond is a goat and a professor at Gnu York University's School of Social Work in We Can Fix Pawbert. He teaches UNDSWUS 55: Diversity, Speciesism, Oppression and Privilege — the foundation course for Social Work students. His name is a Wicked Easter egg, referencing the goat professor from the musical.
"Some of you are here because this course is required. Some of you are here because you believe in social justice. Some of you are here because it fit your schedule. All of those are valid reasons. By the end of this semester, I hope you'll have better ones." — Dr. Dillamond
Background
Dr. Dillamond has been teaching at GYU for years, developing case studies on systemic oppression in Zootopia. His Reptile Ravine case study — examining the Lynxley family's theft of the Weather Wall patent and the destruction of the reptile community — was prepared three years before Pawbert enrolled in the program.
Personality
Dr. Dillamond is an experienced educator who creates space for difficult conversations about privilege and oppression. He moves with the quiet authority of someone who has been doing meaningful work for a long time. He is direct but not cruel, challenging students' assumptions while acknowledging the courage it takes to confront uncomfortable truths.
He is authoritative, commanding respect through expertise and experience, yet fair in acknowledging when students show courage. He challenges students to move beyond comfortable assumptions while remaining thoughtful enough to distinguish between obligation and genuine calling.
Physical Description
Dr. Dillamond is an older goat who wears glasses and carries a battered canvas satchel. His appearance suggests years of dedicated academic work.
Series History
Season 4
In "First Day", Dr. Dillamond teaches Pawbert's first class at GYU. His opening case study is Reptile Ravine — the Lynxley family's theft of Agnes De'Snake's Weather Wall patent, the framing of Agnes for murder, and the destruction of the reptile community. As he presents the material, Pawbert realizes he is sitting in a classroom learning about his own family's crimes as an academic case study.
When a zebra student asks Pawbert directly what it was like growing up not knowing about his family's history, Dr. Dillamond allows the question to stand, creating space for Pawbert to respond. After Pawbert's honest answer, Dr. Dillamond acknowledges his courage. He reframes the moment for the class, describing how oppression moves through generations, how privilege blinds, and how mammals can be complicit without understanding what they are complicit in. After class, when Pawbert approaches to say he will not ask for special treatment, Dr. Dillamond affirms Pawbert's approach — telling him he will do well in the program not despite his history, but because of how he is choosing to face it. He also reveals that Nick Wilde and Judy Hopps will be the next week's case study on speciesism in law enforcement.
In "Case Study", Dr. Dillamond leads a class session on speciesism in which a student presents research citing biological incompatibility between predator and prey species. Pawbert stands and declares that Nick and Judy are his family, challenging the student's framing with an argument comparing Snarlbucks service counters to illustrate how accommodation becomes segregation when difference enforces hierarchy. Dr. Dillamond acknowledges the distinction between accommodation and segregation as a crucial one.
In "Full Circle", Dr. Dillamond is present when Pawbert's group presents their pilot mobile intake unit project, which achieved a sixty-six percent referral completion rate versus the district average of twenty-two percent. The presentation takes place at the Silvermane Center, bringing Pawbert's academic journey under Dr. Dillamond's guidance full circle from that first day.
Key Phrases
| Phrase | Context | Significance |
|---|---|---|
| "By the end of this semester, I hope you'll have better ones." | Opening lecture | Sets expectations for genuine engagement |
| "One family's crimes. One hundred years of consequences." | Reptile Ravine case study | Summarizes Lynxley legacy |
| "Thank you, Mr. Lynxley. That takes courage." | After Pawbert's honest answer | Acknowledges difficulty of public honesty |
| "Not despite your history — because of how you're choosing to face it." | After class | Affirms Pawbert's approach |
| "Accommodation versus segregation. That's a crucial distinction." | "Case Study" | Acknowledges Pawbert's argument |
Course: UNDSWUS 55
Dr. Dillamond teaches UNDSWUS 55: Diversity, Speciesism, Oppression and Privilege. The course examines:
- How privilege enables oppression
- How systems perpetuate inequality across generations
- The intersection of diversity, speciesism, and structural power
- Case studies including Reptile Ravine and Nick/Judy's contribution to institutional change
Trivia
- Dr. Dillamond's name is a Wicked Easter egg, referencing the goat professor from the musical who faces discrimination and persecution.
- The Reptile Ravine case study was prepared three years before Pawbert enrolled — Dr. Dillamond did not choose it because of Pawbert's presence.
- He describes himself as having been teaching this course for years, suggesting deep expertise in the subject matter.