Breana Downs ’24: A summer soaring with native birds at the Rocky Mountain Wildlife Alliance
Just south of Denver, Colorado, tucked beneath the vast mountain range, lies Rocky Mountain Wildlife Alliance . Their vision soars high above the Rocky Mountains as they unite communities and ignite a passion for wildlife like never before, relentlessly working to deepen public understanding, resolve…
PLU’s Parkland Literacy Center supports local k-12 students, receives new grant
For the past four years Pacific Lutheran University student workers and volunteers have made the Parkland Literacy Center a beacon of community and learning support. Operated by PLU and located in the Anderson University Center, the center provides free one-on-one and small group tutoring for…
Beyond pedagogy: from Tacoma to Namibia, a partnership reframing teacher development practices
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…
Lydia Flaspohler ’25 and Ryan Fisher ’24 dive into the secrets of marine microorganisms
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.…
PLU Department of Anthropology completes repatriation of materials to the Nisqually Tribe
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…
PLU launches new Master of Social Work (MSW) degree
PLU has added a Master of Social Work (MSW) degree to its offerings and is now accepting applicants for the fall of 2024. Rooted in PLU’s tradition of academic excellence and community engagement, the new MSW program will equip aspiring social work professionals with the…
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…
The People’s Librarian: Brian Bannon’s passion for democratizing information led him to the New York Public Library
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…
Opening more doors: PLU and PNWU strengthen their partnership to support future occupational and physical therapists
PLU expanded its alliance with Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences (PNWU) by signing two new agreements that will support PLU graduates interested in attending PNWU’s recently established Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) and Master of Science in Occupational Therapy (MSOT) programs. These new agreements…
How Erik Bainter ’23 and Jai Alapai ’24 answered a call that could save two lives.
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…
Aaron Bell ’04: A Philosopher in Finance
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…
Emily Peterson ’14 : Global policy, politics and partnerships
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…