
2021 Benson Summer Research Fellows to Present
By Michael Halvorson ’85 Are you curious about innovative historical research projects that are transforming PLU and our communities? The History department invites you to learn more at a presentation of creative scholarship by the 2021 Benson Foundation Summer Research Fellows. The colloquium takes place…

A Conversation with Dr. Rebekah Mergenthal
PLU Department of History You might notice that Dr. Rebekah Mergenthal is not listed as an instructor on the History Department’s teaching schedule during the 2021-2022 school year. Although she is eager to get back into the classroom after so many ‘Zoom sessions,’ we’ll have…

Summer 2021 Benson Research Fellows Announced
By Michael Halvorson, ’85. The Benson Program in Business and Economic History is pleased to announce the selection of three student-faculty research teams for Summer 2021. The fellowships are selected by the Innovation Studies steering committee and funded through the generous support of Dale E.…

PLU Alum Discusses Eisenhower’s Work During 1918 Pandemic
By Michael Halvorson ’85, Professor of History. When Dwight D. Eisenhower was a young officer in the U.S. Army, he was responsible for protecting his troops during the 1918 Pandemic that threatened military bases in the U.S. This is one of the fascinating stories about…

PLU Alumna Wins the Hans Rosenberg Book Prize
Sincerest congratulations to Molly Loberg, PLU alumna ’98, who recently won a highly esteemed prize for her first book! Molly was a History/German major who went on to win a Fulbright for study in Germany and then earned her Ph.D. in history from Princeton! “Molly…

Headed for a History Ph.D. – Updates from an Alum
First, we are glad that you chose PLU. Our mission is to prepare students for lives of thoughtful inquiry, service, leadership, and care – and we definitely care about you and your growth as a learner, a person, and a historian. Whether you are starting…

The Smooth Path to a BA in History! Ready to Join Us?
First, we are glad that you chose PLU. Our mission is to prepare students for lives of thoughtful inquiry, service, leadership, and care – and we definitely care about you and your growth as a learner, a person, and a historian. Whether you are starting…

When Two PLU Historians Sit Down to Chat
One smoky August afternoon Dr Beth Kraig and I decided to beat the heat and take shelter in the cooling confines of the University of Washington, Tacoma library, to have a cheery chat about plagues. We thought this would be a fun topic to discuss,…

New History Course Examines Innovation and Ethics
By Sarah Cornell-Maier ‘19. This Fall, Pacific Lutheran University is introducing a new history class that serves as a gateway to the Innovation Studies Program . Hist/Phil 248: Innovation, Ethics, and Society is a team-taught course that combines many different fields of study into one.…

From PLU History to Grad School in the Big Apple!
Thinking about graduate study in history? Pacific Lutheran University history majors have an excellent track record when it comes to earning an M.A. or a Ph.D. (or both) in history. I recently touched base with Carli Snyder, ’17, about her first year in grad school.…