Dr. Hornridge
Dr. Hornridge is a kudu who serves as the Reentry Advisor at Gnu York University in We Can Fix Pawbert. She works with students who have had significant interruptions to their education---medical, personal, or legal---helping them find their path forward rather than simply returning to who they were before.
Background
Dr. Hornridge specializes in helping students navigate the transition back to academic life after major life disruptions. Her role goes beyond administrative support; she helps students examine what they actually want from their education rather than defaulting to previous expectations. Her office in Silvermane Center reflects her approach---warm, filled with well-tended plants, thank-you cards, photos, and a poster reading "YOU DON'T HAVE TO HAVE IT FIGURED OUT."
Physical Description
Dr. Hornridge is a kudu---tall, elegant, with curved horns and kind eyes. She carries herself with the ease of someone who has made thousands of nervous mammals feel welcome.
Personality
Dr. Hornridge combines warmth with directness, creating space for students to examine their motivations honestly. She challenges assumptions gently but persistently, pushing students to distinguish between what they actually want and what they think they should want.
Key personality traits:
- Warm --- Creates a welcoming atmosphere that puts nervous students at ease
- Direct --- Asks challenging questions without being confrontational
- Insightful --- Recognizes that mammals returning after interruptions are not the same as when they left
- Patient --- Understands that not knowing is a valid starting point
Series History
Season 4
In S04E04 "Open Enrollment", Ayo recommends that Pawbert Lynxley speak with Dr. Hornridge, describing her as someone who helps students with "interruptions" and does not judge.
When Pawbert and Luther meet her in her office, Dr. Hornridge reveals she was expecting them---Ayo had called ahead. She explains that while the registrar handles records, she is there for "everything else," meaning helping Pawbert figure out what he is doing at GYU and why.
Dr. Hornridge asks Pawbert directly whether he wants to return to the business program he was enrolled in before his arrest. When he admits he does not know, she tells him that is a good answer---honest. She observes that most students returning after an interruption think they know exactly what they want, but they are usually wrong; they want what they wanted before, but they are not the same mammal they were before.
When Pawbert explains he originally chose business because his father respected it and it was useful to him, Dr. Hornridge probes deeper, asking what he wants now---not what he thinks he should want or what anyone expects of him. Pawbert admits he does not know what he wants, only that he does not want to be useless.
Dr. Hornridge advises him not to force himself back into what he was before. She suggests taking time to explore the course catalog, talking to advisors in different departments, and figuring out what actually interests him. She reassures him that not knowing is honest, and that those who are certain they want exactly what they wanted before usually struggle the most.
Her guidance proves pivotal. By the end of the episode, Pawbert has decided to pursue Social Work---a decision influenced by Dr. Hornridge's question about what he truly wants, not what others expect.
In S04E06 "Day Pass", Pawbert references his meeting with Dr. Hornridge, noting that she said the admissions committee meets weekly. He spends four days anxiously checking his email for a response.
In S04E07 "Transfer Credit", Pawbert reflects that he has told Dr. Hornridge, tentatively in her office, about his interest in Social Work before announcing it to his pack.
Key Relationships
Pawbert Lynxley
Dr. Hornridge serves as a crucial advisor during Pawbert's return to GYU. By asking him what he truly wants rather than assuming he should resume his previous path, she helps him recognize that his original choice of business was driven by his father's expectations. Her approach gives Pawbert permission to explore something different, ultimately leading him to Social Work.
Ayo
Dr. Hornridge coordinates with Ayo in Student Services, receiving referrals for students with complex reentry situations.
Key Phrases
| Phrase | Context | Significance |
|---|---|---|
| "What do you want, Mr. Lynxley? Not what you think you should want. Not what anyone expects of you. What do YOU want?" | S04E04 | Central question that helps Pawbert examine his true motivations |
| "Not knowing is honest." | S04E04 | Validates Pawbert's uncertainty as a starting point |
| "They want what they wanted before---but they're not the same mammal they were before." | S04E04 | Insight about returning students |
| "You don't have to decide your whole future today. You just have to be willing to figure it out." | S04E04 | Reassurance about the process of self-discovery |
Influence on Pawbert
Dr. Hornridge's approach marks a turning point in Pawbert's academic journey. By giving him permission to not know what he wants and encouraging him to explore rather than default to old expectations, she creates space for him to discover Social Work as his true calling. Her emphasis on distinguishing between external expectations and internal desires mirrors the broader themes of Pawbert's recovery---learning to make choices for himself rather than to please others.
Trivia
- Dr. Hornridge's office has a poster that reads "YOU DON'T HAVE TO HAVE IT FIGURED OUT," which perfectly encapsulates her advising philosophy.
- Her office is described as warm with plants everywhere, creating a stark contrast to the institutional feel of Mr. Hedger's Registrar's Office just down the hall.
- She is one of several GYU staff members introduced in S04E04, alongside Ayo and Mr. Hedger.