Journeying With Others

From the moment Kerry Dolan ’22 arrived at PLU, she knew she wanted to make a difference in the world. What she didn’t expect was how deeply her experiences on campus — from late-night RA conversations to studying away in Mexico — would shape not just her career, but her calling: to journey with others in solidarity, care, and courage.

“Growing up with two moms, I was exposed to homophobia at such a young age,” Dolan says. “Seeing that hate, I vowed to myself, ‘I never want to make people feel this way. I always want to be an agent of positive change.’”

That early commitment to kindness blossomed into a deep-rooted passion for service that grew stronger during her time at PLU. Dolan double-majored in global studies and political science and minored in Hispanic studies, studied away three times, interned in the U.S. and abroad, served as a resident assistant, led hiking and camping adventures with Outdoor Rec, and was captain of the ultimate frisbee team. But through it all, what shaped her most was PLU’s culture of care — the idea of journeying alongside others in mutual respect and love.

“My experiences at PLU equipped and educated me to trust in myself and be completely open to immersing myself in other cultures,” reflects Dolan.

That sense of calling came full circle when, after graduation, Dolan joined the ELCA’s Young Adults in Global Mission (YAGM) program and spent a year of service in Argentina.

“YAGM introduced me to the concept of accompaniment,” Dolan says. “Not just showing up with what you think are the answers, but journeying with your community in mutuality, solidarity, and interdependence.” It’s a definition she now lives by.

During her time in Argentina, Dolan built lasting friendships, helped launch the congregation’s first Pride Month celebration, and found herself changed by the stories and strength of those around her. “It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience,” she says. “Watching people walk through those doors and say, ‘This is the first good experience I’ve ever had at church as a queer person’ — that moved me deeply.”

Dolan organized a Pride service, a poetry and chocolate night, an art workshop, and a potluck lunch — all with the help of her local pastor, Paulo, and the La Plata community. “I’m so thankful for the trust that Pastor Paulo had in me — that gave me a lot of confidence.”

Dolan says that it was through her experiences at PLU that she began to feel called to international service. As a junior, Dolan studied away in Oaxaca, Mexico, which gave her formative experiences with local women’s rights activists. “I learned so much about machismo, femicide, gender-based violence, and the strength of the women working for change,” she says. “It didn’t feel like a class, but rather we were immersed in another culture, learning from and working alongside local community members.”

Studying away also taught Dolan to trust in herself. “Growing up, I never expected to be able to do a year-long program,” she reflects. “I would get homesick after one night away from home. But through studying away for J-term and then two more times in Oaxaca, the experiences coalesced to empower me to spend a whole year in Argentina. I learned to lean on my community members because, again, that’s what accompaniment is all about.”

Another key experience that led Dolan toward a life of service was her time as a Resident Assistant (RA). “Being in leadership taught me how important it is to listen,” Dolan says. “As a white, cisgender woman serving students of color and first-generation students, I felt a self-imposed obligation to educate myself on social, racial, and environmental justice and to be a compassionate, informed advocate.”

In Tacoma, Dolan continues to live out her commitment to accompaniment and care. She works with the Washington Hospitality Association (WHA), where she helps business owners build relationships with lawmakers. She is also involved with Auburn First United Methodist Church, Pierce County Young Democrats, and Indivisible Tacoma. “I finally feel like I’m not just living in Tacoma, but I’m living intentionally and in accompaniment with this community.”

Dolan is living out the promise she made to herself as a child — to be an agent of positive change. “Make your voice heard! If you want to see a change you have to be that change, because if you don’t, who will?” Dolan encourages. “What I admire most about change is that it just takes one person doing the right thing for others to follow suit.”