Diversity Center Alumni

Group of students

The Diversity Center is committed to providing alumni with insight into diversity and inclusion initiatives, challenges, and successes on campus.  We also strive to create space for alumni to  (re)connect with each other, The Diversity Center, and the university.

Whether or not you were a student when the dCenter was established, our values of critical reflection, perspective taking and community resonate with a wide range of alumni who believe in our mission. Please join us as we celebrate our continued efforts  as collective voices of resistance and change.

Diversity Deep Dive:

Advice, Farewells, Sunset

Upcoming Events

Check out these opportunities for engagement and community over the summer!

Register for all summer activities HERE

If you have ideas for a get-together, or have any questions about any of our upcoming events, please email Angie Hambrick (hambriaz@plu.edu).

Couch to 5K | June 12-August 19 | Virtual and In Person

Join us in intentional and community-based training to complete the 14th Annual Parkland Pace or Race 5K on Saturday, August 19.  We will share weekly goals leading up to the race.  Each participant will receive a dCenter Alumni Couch to 5K t-shirt to wear during training and on race/pace day.

*The Office of DJS will cover the race/pace registration fee; day of race registration opens at 8:30a and race/pace begins at 9:30a.

DJS Culinary Series | Thursday, June 15 | 6:00p PST | Virtual

We are excited to host our second Diversity Center Alumni Alumni Culinary Series 2023.  Each month, a PLU Culinary Expert will lead us through step-by-step preparation of one of their favorite meals.  This month, join Rebecca Rumpza, Director of Campus Life Operations, as she shares her recipe for Bucatini all’Amatriciana.

*A list of ingredients, any prep instructions, and Zoom link will be provided after registration.

Seattle Pride Celebration | Sunday, June 25 | 11:00a | Seattle

Join us at the home of dCenter alum Winston (Chenyu) Xu, ’11, as we celebrate Seattle Pride 2023.  Beverages and refreshments will be provided, but we encourage you to bring a dish to share.

*Space is limited.  Partners and children are always welcome.  Location will be provided after registration.

Trivia Night at Farrelli's Pizza | Tuesday, June 27 | 7:00p | Point Ruston Tacoma

Join us for a night of Trivia at the Tacoma Waterfront!  Partners and friends always welcome.

Tacoma Pride | Saturday, July 8 | 12:00p - 6:00p | Tacoma

The Rainbow Center will host Tacoma Pride, a street festival in downtown Tacoma. Tacoma Pride is a family-friendly event that features street-side vendors, live performances by musicians, drag acts, as well as guest speakers and dignitaries. Tacoma Pride is the largest attended Pride event in Tacoma and is a highlight of Tacoma’s Pride Month of July.

Sign up HERE to table with the Center for DJS at this year’s Tacoma Pride Festival!
*Contact the Office of DJS with any questions (djs@plu.edu)

Progressive Dinner | Friday, July 14 | 3:00p | Tacoma

Take a stroll down 6th Ave in Tacoma as we sample bites from Dirty Oscar’s, Crown Bar, La Cà Bar, The Red Hot and everything in between!  Partners and friends always welcome.

DJS Culinary Series | Wednesday, July 20 | 4:30p PST | Virtual

We are excited to host our second Diversity Center Alumni Alumni Culinary Series 2023.  Each month, a PLU Culinary Expert will lead us through step-by-step preparation of one of their favorite meals.  This month, our guest chef is Laree Winer, Associate Director for the Wild Hope Center for Vocation, with special guest, The “Minster of Meat.”  She will be preparing treats and drinks for the ultimate Summer Happy Hour.

*A list of ingredients, any prep instructions, and Zoom link will be provided after registration.

Trombone Shorty + Ziggy Marley | Sunday, July 30 | 3:45p | Chateau Ste Michelle Winery

Hang out on the lawn with us at Chateau Ste Michelle as we lime with Trombone Shorty and Ziggy Marley.

*The Office of DJS will cover the cost for the first 7 who register (lawn seating); others may purchase tickets and join us at the concert ($79.50 + fees). Partners and children always welcome.

Water Day | Saturday, August 12 | Seattle

Join us for a day on the water in Lake Union, Seattle.  Have fun floating, kayaking, or dipping your feet in the water before enjoying food and drinks at Nicole’s house.  Hosted by Nicole Juliano, Director of The Center for Diversity, Justice, & Sustainability.

*Consider bringing a dish or beverage to share.  Partners and children always welcome.  Location will be provided after registration.

DJS Culinary Series | Monday, August 21 | 4:30p PST | Virtual

We are excited to host our second Diversity Center Alumni Alumni Culinary Series 2023.  Each month, a PLU Culinary Expert will lead us through step-by-step preparation of one of their favorite meals.  For our final installment, join culinary expert, Dr. Eva Frey, Dean of Students, as she prepared a great option for brunch, egg and veggie bake.

*A list of ingredients, any prep instructions, and Zoom link will be provided after registration.

Rainiers Game v Las Vegas Aviators | Sunday, August 27 | 1:35p | Tacoma

Close out summer with our final event!  Ticket (free!) includes hotdog, drink, and a limited edition Rainiers hat.  Partners and children are always welcome.

Fourth Biennial Diversity Center Alumni Trip

May 29 – June 6, 2024 | Santo Domingo & Punta Cana Dominican Republic

We are excited to announce our next dCenter Alumni trip to the Dominican Republic May 29-June 6, 2024! We hope that travelers will be able to immerse themselves in the rich history of the Dominican Republic, exploring the complexities of race and nationality of the “first colony of the New World.”

The registration fee for the trip is $450 per traveler.  The fee includes eight meals, some ground transportation, and two excursion.  Registration will open September 1; deadline for registration is February 26, 2024.

We will continue to update our site this summer with the full itinerary and other logistics.  Stay tuned!  For questions, please feel free to email Angie Hambrick (hambriaz@plu.edu).

Schedule & Details

Welcome to Santo Domingo!

Info coming soon!

We are excited to offer Spanish language lessons for travelers!

This 12-session interactive conversational Spanish course (March 4 – May 20, 2024) , specially tailored for PLU dCenterAlumni, will prepare adult learners for their week-long trip to the Dominican Republic (and beyond!). Class sessions will take place via Zoom with the specific times to be determined. Emphasis will be placed on immediately useful phrases, vocabulary and grammatical concepts most frequently used for & during travel.
Instruction includes:
  • Videos
  • Music
  • Poetry
  • Guest speakers/participants
  • Interactive final individual assessment

About the Instructor

Jacob Taylor-Mosquera (’09) is an enthusiastic bilingual educator based in Seattle.
Along with DEI, Project Management & Public Administration certificates, his academic background includes a BA in Global Studies and Spanish from Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma and an MA in Latin American Studies with an emphasis in public policy from Leiden University, Netherlands.  His studies and volunteer work have taken him to Colombia, Mexico, Panama, Ecuador, The Netherlands, Chile and Germany, with short visits to eight other countries.  He has presented and lectured on transracial adoption, forced migration and U.S. foreign policy in Latin America, and taught Spanish locally.  In his spare time, Jacob coaches or plays soccer, volunteers as a Board member for a small private school, directs government relations for the Colombian adoptee organization he is co-founding and edits his memoir.

The registration fee for the trip is $450 per traveler.  The fee includes eight meals, some ground transportation, and two excursions.  Registration will open September 1; deadline for registration is February 26, 2024.

Stay tuned for more information.

We will begin our trip in Santo Domingo and end in Punta Cana.  Flights must be coordinated by each traveler, however the Team would be happy to assist.  All participants must arrive in Santo Domingo by 8:00a on Thursday, May 29 to participate fully in the first day’s activities.

More info coming soon!

In Santo Domingo, we are recommending Hotel Hodelpa Nicolas de Ovando.  Located in the Zona Colonial, Hotel Hodelpa offers single and double occupancy rooms at reasonable rates.  **Lodging arrangements in Santo Domingo must be made by each traveler. 

In Punta Cana, The Office of DJS may secure a shared lodging option with limited occupancy (~12) for a fee.  Stay tuned for more information.