College of Liberal Studies

Thursday, May 22, 2025 @ 3:00pm

Academic Processional

“Processional of Joy”

Invocation

The Rev. Jen Rude, University Pastor

Greetings

Joanna Gregson, Provost, Professor of Sociology
Allan Belton, President

Faculty Retirement

Stephanie Johnson, Dean of the College of Liberal Studies, Professor of English, presenting
Keith Cooper, Associate Professor of Philosophy
Beth Kraig, Professor of History

Reflection

Andrumada Lady Edwards, Student Speaker
Molly House, Student Speaker

Conferral of Honorary Doctorate

Allan Belton, President
Rick Barot, Professor of English

Commencement Address

Gjertrud Schnackenberg, Poet

Conferral of Degrees

Allan Belton, President
Bridget Yaden, Associate Provost for Undergraduate Programs, Professor of Hispanic and Latino Studies

Closing Comments

Allan Belton, President

Prayer and Benediction

The Rev. Jen Rude, University Pastor

Recessional

“Processional of Joy”

Gjertrud Schnackenberg, Poet

Gjertrud Schnackenberg was born in Tacoma, Washington in 1953. Her awards include fellowships from the Guggenheim Foundation, the National Endowment for the Arts, the Rome Prize in Literature from the American Academy and Institute of Arts and Letters, the American Academy in Berlin, the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study at Harvard University, and an Award in Literature from the American Academy of Arts and Letters. She has been a Christensen Visiting Fellow at St. Catherine’s College, Oxford, and a Visiting Scholar at the Getty Research Institute for the History of Art and the Humanities. The Throne of Labdacus received the 2001 Los Angeles Times Book Prize in Poetry, and Heavenly Questions received the 2011 Griffin International Prize for Poetry.

Andrumada Lady Edwards (she/her)

Major: Bachelor of Arts in Gender, Sexuality, and Race Studies with a Criminal Justice minor
Hometown: Seattle, WA
Why PLU? My senior year of high school I participated in a Student of Color overnight at PLU and it genuinely felt like home.
What is your fondest memory of PLU? Building community with my peers in the DJS (Diversity, Justice, & Sustainability) Lounge!
What’s next for you? I will be taking a much-needed gap year while applying to master’s programs this fall.

Molly House (she/her)

Majors: Bachelor of Arts in Gender, Sexuality, and Race Studies & Philosophy with a minor in Native American and Indigenous Studies
University Honors: summa cum laude
Hometown: Seattle, WA
Why PLU? I chose PLU for the incredible opportunity to balance a collegiate softball career and a rigorous, interdisciplinary education. On my initial visit, PLU felt like home — a special place that valued curiosity, community, and service.
What is your fondest memory of PLU? Volunteering at community youth sports clinics through the Student Athlete Advisory Committee stands out as one of my favorite memories! It was incredibly meaningful to serve the community with my best friends and teammates and show younger athletes what being a Lute truly means. These clinics gave me the chance to connect, inspire, and give back — attributes that reflect the heart of the PLU experience for me.
What’s next for you? I plan to attend law school and pursue a career in public interest law, specifically juvenile justice.