“I was constantly in awe”: Inside the transformative Oslo study away program at PLU
When Delaney McFarland ’28 thinks back on her semester in Norway, one feeling stands out above the rest. “Norway is an amazing country in many ways…but more beautiful are the people and institutions that protect the strong values embedded in the culture.” For Delaney, a…
Senior Carmen Kiewert ‘26 goes all-in on business, competition, and connection at PLU
When Carmen Kiewert arrived at PLU as a transfer student, she was searching for a place where she could grow academically, professionally, and personally. She found all three. “I chose PLU for a variety of reasons, and I’m really happy with my decision to transfer,”…
Investing in Innovation: PLU launches the Opportunity Fund
The newly launched Opportunity Fund has a clear purpose: to turn PLU’s big ideas into reality through flexible, timely support. The Opportunity Fund is a new fund that allows PLU to quickly invest in innovative programs, expand student support, and respond to emerging needs in…
How one Lute family turned a birthday into community support
For Ellen (Brotherston) Aronson ’07, the Lute culture of care continues long after graduation. A second-generation graduate of Pacific Lutheran University, Ellen’s PLU connections run deep: her parents met on campus, extended family members are alumni, and she still shows up — at events, through…
PLU student research recognized with multiple awards at 2025 Murdock Conference
PLU students earned awards for their undergraduate research at the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust Conference on Science and Engineering , an annual regional conference that brings together student researchers and faculty mentors from across the Pacific Northwest. Several of the projects were supported through PLU’s…
Rebekah Mergenthal named Benson Family Chair in History
Associate Professor of History Rebekah Mergenthal has been appointed as the next Benson Family Chair in History, effective Fall 2026. Since its creation in 2004, the Benson Chair position has supported faculty leadership in business and economic history through endowed funding that advances student research,…
Meet Yuta Shimazu, PLU’s first data science graduate
This winter marks the culmination of a journey for Pacific Lutheran University’s first data science graduate — a path that stretched from classroom to coffee shop to the soccer field. Before he heads back to Japan to begin his career, Yuta Shimazu ‘25 sat down…
$3 million in grant funding will help protect 10 acres of prairie habitat at PLU
Pacific Lutheran University was awarded $3 million in grant funding to protect ten acres of prairie land on the southern end of PLU’s campus in Parkland. P LU is on the traditional lands of the Nisqually, Puyallup, and Squaxin Island peoples; as such, we acknowledge…
PLU Marriage and Family Therapy grads open inclusive practice in Tacoma
On a Friday morning, at a coffee shop where they meet for their weekly “admin day,” Megan Irving ’24 and Kiara Holden ’24 talk all things Bloom Again Therapy , their new private therapy practice rooted in accessibility, identity, care, and community. “It sounds big,…
“Teaching Was Always My Path”: Alum Yisel Morales ’23, MAE ’24 reflects on growth and mentorship
When alum Yisel Morales ’23, MAE ’24 took the stage at Pacific Lutheran University’s 2025 Convocation, she spoke to hundreds of new students about beginnings, growth, and finding purpose. “The English Department saw me grow up,” she says. “Going from 18 years old all the…
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…