Ownership, Support, Government:
The university is owned and operated by Pacific Lutheran University, Inc., a Washington corporation whose purpose is higher learning. The PLU corporation meets annually on the PLU campus to elect regents and to conduct other business. The corporation consists of 125 delegates from the six synods of Region I of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. The 37-member Board of Regents includes members of ELCA congregations, representatives from the Alumni Association, at-large members, bishops from the synods of Region I, and the University president.
The policy making and governing body of the University is the Board of Regents. On the basis of recommendations made by the president, it charts a course for the University and strives to provide essential funds. The student body and the faculty have non-voting representatives who meet with the board. The installation of new Board of Regents Officers occurs each October. The Board of Regents for the Academic Year of 2015-16 will be installed in October 2015.
| OFFICERS 2015-16 | ||
| NAME | TITLE | |
| Gary Severson | Chair | |
| Ed Grogan | Vice Chair | |
| Michelle Long | Vice Chair | |
| Brenda Morris | Vice Chair | |
| Brad Tilden | Secretary | |
| Thomas W. Krise | President, PLU; Ex-Officio | |
| MEMBERS Class of 2013-16 |
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| NAME | AREA | REPRESENTS |
| Dale Benson | Lake Oswego, OK | ELCA |
| David Brauer-Rieke | Portland, OR | Bishop, ELCA |
| Andrew Finstuen | Boise, ID | ELCA |
| Darren Hamby | Seattle, WA | ELCA |
| D. Tony Hicks | Scottsdale, AZX | At-Large |
| Mack Hogans | Bellevue, WA | At-Large |
| Richard Jaech | Tacoma, WA | Bishop, ELCA |
| Lisa Korsmo | Lakewood, WA | ELCA |
| Michelle Long | Katy, TX | At-Large |
| Osamu Matsutani | Anchorage, AK | ELCA |
| Nancy Powell | Gig Harbor, WA | At-Large |
| Pam Russell | San Diego, CA | Alumni |
| Jan Ruud | Tacoma, WA | ELCA |
| Martin Wells | Spokane, WA | Bishop, ELCA |
| Class of 2014-17 | ||
| NAME | TITLE | REPRESENTS |
| Daniel Alsaker | Spokane, WA | ELCA |
| Neal Arntson | Vancouver, WA | ELCA |
| Bruce Bjerke | Seattle, WA | At-Large |
| Estelle Kelley | Portland, OR | At-Large |
| Brenda Morris | Lake Tapps, WA | At-Large |
| Jeffrey Rippey | Hood River, OR | At-Large |
| Jerry Skaga | Gig Harbor, WA | ELCA |
| Charleen Tachibana | Woodinville, WA | ELCA |
| Bradley Tilden | Seattle, WA | Alumni |
| Andrew Yee | Camano Island, WA | ELCA |
| Class of 2015-18 | ||
| NAME | AREA | REPRESENTS |
| Linda Barbo | Seattle, WA | At-Large |
| Gayle Berg | Martinsdale, MT | ELCA |
| Edward Grogan | Gig Harbor, WA | ELCA |
| Roe Hatlen | Big Fork, MT | At-Large |
| Lisa Kittilsby | Mercer Island, WA | ELCA |
| Mark Knudson | St. Paul, MN | At-Large |
| Jon Kvinsland | Gig Harbor, WA | Alumni |
| David Peters | Billings, MT | ELCA |
| Donna Schilitt | Portland, OR | ELCA |
| Tom Eric Vraalsen | Oslo, Norway | At-Large |
| Donald Wilson | Canby, OR | ELCA |
| PLU ADVISORY | ||
| NAME | OFFICE | |
| Joanna Royce-Davis | Vice President for Student Life | |
| Donna Gibbs | Vice President for Marketing and Communications | |
| David Lee | Vice President for Advancement | |
| Steven P. Starkovich | Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs | |
| Allan Belton | Vice President for Finance and Administration | |
| Kevin O’Brien | Religion, Faculty | |
| Joanna Gregson | Sociology, Faculty | |
| Jill Whitman | Geosciences, Faculty | |
| Martha Spieker | ASPLU President, Student | |
| Ellie Lapp | ASPLU Vice President, Student | |
| Colin Laufmann | ASPLU Director of Finance, Student | |
| CHURCH OFFICIALS | ||
| NAME | TITLE | |
| Bishop Elizabeth A. Eaton | Bishop | |
| Mr. Carlos E. Peña | Vice President | |
| Rev. Wm. Chris Boerger | Secretary | |
| Rev. Linda O. Norman | Treasurer | |
| Rev. Mark Wilhelm | Program Director for Schools, College and Universities | |