Student-Athlete and Entrepreneur: Connor O’Brien builds his future on and off the field
PLU junior Connor O’Brien ’27 has a lot on his plate. He’s a student-athlete, business owner, and business major (finance concentration) with a data science minor. But for him, each role fuels the others. When he’s not in class or on the field as a…
PLU Awarded $2.4 Million to Expand Behavioral Health Workforce
Pacific Lutheran University has been awarded a four-year, $2.4 million federal grant to expand the region’s behavioral health workforce and better serve children and youth in Pierce County and South Puget Sound. Anissa Rogers, Chair of PLU’s Master of Social Work program, at the MSW…
From Air Force to PLU: Greg Perkinson’s lifetime of service
The PLU community is shaped by people whose paths here have been anything but ordinary. I had the privilege of meeting with an important voice and perspective in our community, Greg Perkinson . Greg is a veteran, PLU’s associate vice president of facilities, and an…
The Kon-Tiki Museum at 75: Curator Reidar Solsvik to present lecture at PLU
Set your coordinates for a journey through history and across the Pacific this October. Pacific Lutheran University’s Scandinavian Cultural Center (SCC) is hosting the annual Thor Heyerdahl Lecture on October 8, 2025, from 7 to 9 p.m. , featuring Norwegian archaeologist and Kon-Tiki Museum curator,…
10 Years, 1000+ Students: a legacy of life-changing access
This year, Pacific Lutheran University marks 10 years of the 253 PLU Bound Scholarship. This full-tuition scholarship program has transformed the lives of more than 1,000 Washingtonian students (and counting!) since its launch in 2015. As a regional-serving university where most first-year students come from…
Co-founded by PLU alumni couple, Pretty Gritty Tours is a love letter to Tacoma
A coffee tour with controversy, intrigue, and historic drama? That’s exactly what Pretty Gritty Tours delivers on their bespoke caffeine-fueled walk through downtown Tacoma. Led by charismatic co-founder and PLU alum Chris Staudinger ’08, the tour explores the city’s bold brews and even bolder backstories.…
“We carry the strength of our ancestors” — Lute Areli Arauja Ruiz Interns at Latine Civil Rights Org in D.C.
Areli Arauja Ruiz was just starting her first year at PLU when her friend encouraged her to check out the Study Away Fair. That’s when she met Professor Michael Artime , who was promoting the Lutheran College Washington Semester , a study away experience in…
PLU launches Music Therapy program as field gains tempo in Washington
Pacific Lutheran University is launching a new bachelor’s degree in music therapy, which will make PLU the only university in the state to offer an accredited academic pathway to licensure. As of January 2025, music therapists in Washington are required to obtain a professional license…
Student-created Instagram Show “Boyish Charm” Wins 2025 NASPA Region V Innovative Program Award
What started as a playful idea between two student interns from Wellbeing Services & Resources (WSR) has grown into an award-winning program making a real impact on campus and beyond. “ Boyish Charm ,” PLU’s student-created Instagram cooking show, was honored with the 2025 NASPA…
Scandinavian Cultural Center at PLU: Preserving Heritage and Building Connections Across Communities
“Bottom Line: We are all similar. We are all connected,” says longtime volunteer Linda Caspersen. This sentiment captures the spirit of the Scandinavian Cultural Center (SCC) at Pacific Lutheran University. Part museum, part gathering place, part living classroom, the SCC preserves and shares stories of…
A Symphony of Gratitude: Jane Lin’s PLU journey and her commitment to future Lutes
For those who have thoughtfully included Pacific Lutheran University in their estate plans, you understand the profound impact an institution can have on a life’s trajectory. Jane Lin ’92 embodies this spirit of gratitude. Her journey demonstrates the power of a PLU education and the…