From Eastvold to Broadway: Justin Huertas ’09 and Kiki deLohr ’10 debut on musical theater’s biggest stage
It’s 11 a.m. in Harlem. Justin Huertas ’09 and Kiki deLohr ’10 are feeling loose, relaxed — even a bit silly — as they sip coffee outside Sugar Hill Café. In a few short hours they will make their off-Broadway debuts in a musical written…
continue readingDayton Campbell-Harris ’16: Fighting for voters’ rights
Originally, Dayton Campbell-Harris ’16 planned for a career as a high school history teacher and high school football coach — he played football for PLU when Scott Westering was an inspirational coach. But during his junior year at PLU, a social work class moved Campbell-…
continue readingPLU receives top accolades for quality, affordability and student experience
Pacific Lutheran University has been named one of the best colleges in America by Money.com and a “Hidden Gem” by College Raptor. PLU once again made the list of Money.com ’s Best Colleges in America, receiving four out of five stars. This list ranks more…
continue readingTwo PLU students spend the summer reading the stars
“Capturing astronomy images is rewarding but can be challenging,” said professor of physics Katrina Hay. “It requires long exposures or stacked images, focusing in cold dark conditions, climbing a ladder to access the telescope, tracking objects as they move across the sky, and merging several…
continue readingBorn and raised in the Philippines, Maria Surla ’23 is now a PLU grad and a nurse at MultiCare Good Samaritan Emergency in Parkland
Maria Surla has traveled a long and rewarding road. The 39-year-old recently graduated with PLU’s Class of 2023 with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. “The difficult experiences I’ve had made me who I am now,” Surla says. Born and raised in the Philippines, Surla…
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PLU students and faculty collaborate on summer chemistry research
August 29, 2023
Dive deeper into PLU’s summer undergraduate research program! Students Rebecca Smith ’24 and Aidan Hopson ’24 spent ten weeks collaborating with chemistry professor Andrea Munro to study colloidal nanocrystals, particles so small they are nearly invisible. #LutesEmbraceComplexity To learn more about chemistry projects, classes and…
continue readingNewly minted PLU graduates reflect on what commencement — and earning their degree — means to them
May 30, 2023
“Commencement means the culmination of hard work and accomplishments with my teammates and my classmates — so it’s a great day.”
continue readingMoving Moments | PLU Commencement 2023
May 27, 2023
PLU students, parents, alumni and friends gathered at the Tacoma Dome this afternoon for our 2023 commencement. PLU alumnus and filmmaker Joshua Wiersma ’18 captured moving moments from the ceremony.
continue reading“We are uncatchable” | PLU Women’s Rowing
February 1, 2023
“There is this moment, where everything around you disappears. Where your vision goes dark, and all you feel is the handle of the oar…” Today is National Girls & Women in Sports Day, so we invite you to put on a life jacket, grab a…
continue readingCampus Tour: PLU’s newly renovated anatomy and physiology lab
January 30, 2023
PLU Resident Instructor of Biology Michelle Crites gives a tour of the newly renovated anatomy and physiology lab in the Rieke Science Center. Learn more about the PLU Department of Biology.
continue readingA conversation with novelist Mari Matthias ‘94, author of “The Runestone’s Promise”
November 9, 2022
Mari Matthias ‘94 loved diagramming sentences back in the ninth grade. Later, she served on the staff of Saxifrage, PLU’s student-run literary and art magazine, during all four of her years on campus. Matthias describes herself as a self-taught novelist. “Once I decided to write…
continue readingPLU students go on stunning rock climbing adventure in Vantage, Washington
October 24, 2022
Pacific Lutheran University student videographer Matt Shaps ’24 joined our Outdoor Recreation program on an epic rock climbing adventure in Vantage, Washington. Learn about Outdoor Rec’s upcoming day and weekend trips at plu.edu/recreations/outdoor-rec .
continue readingPLU Football: Behind the Scenes
September 20, 2022
The PLU football team has begun its 2022 season. Join us at Sparks Stadium for home games in September, October and November. Full schedule available at: golutes.com/sports/football
continue readingMy Story, My Words: Ricky Haneda ’22
June 5, 2022
Recent PLU graduate Ricky Haneda gives a first-person perspective on his experience as an international student making the transition to an American school.
continue readingConfronting Mental Health: How the PLU community is demonstrating transformative care
February 11, 2022
Walk across campus and you can see the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic everywhere. Masks on faces, signs reminding you to wash your hands, restrictions on classrooms and more. But the pandemic hasn’t just caused physical changes, but also unexpected mental challenges. And that is…
continue readinglatest from PLU Media Coverage
Sep. 5, 2023
New collaborative program aims to help district grads address Tacoma’s teacher shortage
KING 5 News (Seattle)
Jul. 5, 2023
PLU’s new ‘Seed Teachers Program’ aims for more diverse classrooms in Tacoma
KOMO News (Seattle)
latest from Alumni, Internships, Career
Beyond pedagogy: from Tacoma to Namibia, a partnership reframing teacher development practices
September 28, 2023
In Kwangali and Oshindonga, widely spoken languages in Namibia, “Uukumwe” means “togetherness.” For six teachers in Washington and seven teachers from Namibia, the word personifies the relationship-building that lies at the heart of education. “It was a vision that was bubbling in my mind because…
continue readingFrom Eastvold to Broadway: Justin Huertas ’09 and Kiki deLohr ’10 debut on musical theater’s biggest stage
September 13, 2023
It’s 11 a.m. in Harlem. Justin Huertas ’09 and Kiki deLohr ’10 are feeling loose, relaxed — even a bit silly — as they sip coffee outside Sugar Hill Café. In a few short hours they will make their off-Broadway debuts in a musical written…
continue readingThe People’s Librarian: Brian Bannon’s passion for democratizing information led him to the New York Public Library
September 12, 2023
In 1997, Brian Bannon was a PLU senior. An exemplary student, he wrote for The Mast, and was a double major researching social justice through the lens of queer rights movements. One afternoon, Bannon found himself in the office of history professor Beth Kraig, discussing…
continue readingAaron Bell ’04: A Philosopher in Finance
September 8, 2023
PLU graduate Aaron Bell ’04 learned early on that life is full of pathways — and that it was his responsibility to pursue his interests with passion to find his purpose. He grew up in Wisconsin where he was a standout student — an Eagle…
continue readingEmily Peterson ’14 : Global policy, politics and partnerships
September 8, 2023
Like many students, Emily Peterson ’14 began her time at PLU unsure of what, exactly, she wanted to do. “I wanted to work for the United Nations,” she says. “Although at the time, I didn’t know what it was, to be honest, when I was…
continue readingDayton Campbell-Harris ’16: Fighting for voters’ rights
September 8, 2023
Originally, Dayton Campbell-Harris ’16 planned for a career as a high school history teacher and high school football coach — he played football for PLU when Scott Westering was an inspirational coach. But during his junior year at PLU, a social work class moved Campbell-…
continue readingMilitary To Medicine: Air Force, Navy veterans become nurses after second chances at college
September 5, 2023
Stephanie Millett ’22 was in her early 20s when she walked into a U.S. Navy recruiting office after dropping out of the University of Oregon in 2010. The decision to enlist, she says, was “a bit of a last resort” to get her family and…
continue readingAnnica Stiles ’25 explores Iceland’s wilderness and culture
September 5, 2023
Embarking on a journey to study in Reykjavik, Iceland, during the summer is a unique and life-changing experience that offers an extraordinary blend of academic enrichment and natural wonder. Imagine being immersed in a land of fire and ice, where the midnight sun never sets,…
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latest from Research and Academics
Lydia Flaspohler ’25 and Ryan Fisher ’24 dive into the secrets of marine microorganisms
September 28, 2023
Have you ever wondered how the ocean’s tiniest inhabitants play a significant role in shaping our world? Marine microorganisms, minuscule life forms, wield a vital influence over our planet’s climate. They manage crucial components like carbon and oxygen within the vast oceans and the atmosphere.…
continue readingPLU Department of Anthropology completes repatriation of materials to the Nisqually Tribe
September 25, 2023
Leaders from the Nisqually Indian Tribe visited Pacific Lutheran University earlier this month to take possession of materials from a PLU anthropology excavation done around Woodard Bay, Washington in the 1990s. This repatriation process was led by Associate Professor of Anthropology Bradford Andrews and Faculty…
continue readingTherapeutic Leadership: David Ward discusses his approach to leading PLU’s College of Health Professions
September 7, 2023
David Ward is a practicing therapist who says the origins of his vocation go all the way back to his childhood home. “I grew up in a family where I benefited from strong family ties, and I saw the impact of imperfect but strong relationships,”…
continue readingEllie Dieringer explores impact of the Holocaust in South America
September 5, 2023
Close to 50,000 Jewish refugees fled to Argentina during the rise of Nazism and World War II. In fact, between 1933 and 1945, Argentina received more Jewish refugees per capita than any other country in the world, except Palestine. But to. most – outside of…
continue readingTwo PLU students spend the summer reading the stars
August 28, 2023
“Capturing astronomy images is rewarding but can be challenging,” said professor of physics Katrina Hay. “It requires long exposures or stacked images, focusing in cold dark conditions, climbing a ladder to access the telescope, tracking objects as they move across the sky, and merging several…
continue readingChris Holland ’24 balances class, internships, mentorships and countless hours building new software
August 15, 2023
Computer science major Chris Holland will graduate with a degree in computer science this December. Throughout his PLU years, Holland has taken advantage of seemingly every learning and resume-building opportunity he’s come across, which have included multiple internships, mentors, and freelance work for local businesses.…
continue readingUnlocking the Magic of Colloidal Nanocrystals
August 11, 2023
In the world of science, significant discoveries can come in tiny packages. Picture being able to make and change things so small they’re nearly invisible. That’s where colloidal semiconductor nanocrystals shine. These super small wonders are made in solution and grown to have different sizes…
continue readinglatest from Student Life, Resources, Community
How Erik Bainter ’23 and Jai Alapai ’24 answered a call that could save two lives.
September 8, 2023
THE PLU ATHLETICS MISSION STATEMENT spells it out. The “S” in Lutes stands for service — giving back and making an impact in the lives of others. It’s a value that two Lute football teammates put into action this past year. Just a few months…
continue readingCommunications and psychology double major Alex Reed ’23 explored film and storytelling at PLU
May 19, 2023
Sometimes the most random moments leave lasting impressions. Alex Reed’s first experience at PLU happened when she was a high school sophomore, when her school band came to the university to attend a music clinic. “This trip definitely put PLU on my radar as I…
continue readingFamily ties and academic pursuits: Parker Brocker-Knapp’s journey at PLU
May 19, 2023
Parker Brocker-Knapp ’23 grew up in Portland, but Puget Sound never seemed far—thanks to close family ties to PLU. We sat down with Brocker-Knapp to learn more about how this senior made the most of his time at PLU. How did you choose PLU? I…
continue readingA new space for neurodiverse students on campus
April 27, 2023
Last October, a new club emerged on campus: the Student Neurodiversity Club. Although small, this club is having a growing impact on the PLU community. When attending a recent SNC meeting in the first floor Stuen lounge, I was greeted by a cheerful collective of…
continue readingStephanie Aparicio Zambrano ’23 discusses her PLU experience, psychology major & internship with the Dean of Students Office
March 29, 2023
Once a major in communication, Stephanie Aparicio Zambrano ’23 found burgeoning success turning her advice-giving prowess into a future career path. Zambrano found her calling in working with college students as an intern in PLU’s Dean of Students Office. There, she learned the importance of…
continue readingDhaval Patel on Forging His Own Path
March 19, 2023
Dhaval Patel found his calling when he was a computer engineering major at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona. Spoiler alert — it had little to do with binary digits, buffer or bandwidth. “I was drawn to student affairs because when I was a college student,…
continue readingOn the Court and in the Classroom: A Brother and Sister Find Success at PLU
February 24, 2023
On the day of high school class choices, a middle school teacher noticed the normally outgoing Jackson Reisner sitting quietly, acting withdrawn. Jackson grew increasingly anxious as the morning progressed. A movie buff, the Burlington eighth grader had seen all the difficult depictions of high…
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