The many worlds of Ashley Lopez Mora ’26
Some of Ashley’s transformation happened in classrooms. Much of it happened in residence halls, with fellow student leaders and musicians, or while lobbying as a student advocate in Olympia. And an incredible amount happened far beyond campus, in five separate study away programs that stretched…
Caden Ankrom ’25 designs his path to success
Caden Ankrom ’25 has designed everything from clothes and posters to billboards and train wraps. As a student worker on the Marketing & Communications team at PLU for the last two and a half years, he has created industry-grade designs. Finding a creative home at…
PLU named a Top Producing Institution for Fulbright U.S. Scholars
Pacific Lutheran University has been named a Top Producing Institution of Fulbright U.S. Scholars for the 2025–2026 academic year — an honor recognizing colleges and universities that consistently cultivate outstanding applicants for the Fulbright Program, the U.S. government’s flagship international academic exchange initiative. “This is…
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…
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…
Planting Seeds for Tomorrow
When Donald “Gene” Strandness ’50 arrived at Pacific Lutheran University in 1946, he was not impressed. As he recalled in his 1980 Distinguished Alumni Award speech, “When I arrived on the campus in 1946, it was largely an institution without facilities. In fact, at first…
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…
From Storyteller to Caregiver: One Alumna’s Journey to Her True Calling
Mallory Presho-Dunne is living proof that changing one’s career field just requires a little soul searching and a lot of hard work. Graduating from PLU’s Entry Level Master of Science in Nursing (ELMSN) program in 2020, she works as a nurse at Seattle Children’s Hospital,…
In Parkland, a Clinic With PLU Ties Quietly Rewrites the Rules
It looks and feels like a typical neighborhood clinic, but this place is exceptional. One key difference? No one is turned away due to inability to pay. Those without insurance are charged on a sliding-fee scale based on income and family size. For some patients,…