Former military linguist Kara Atkinson ’23 discusses her service on campus, academic research, and graduate school plans
Kara Atkinson ’23 earned an associate degree while serving as an Arabic linguist in the United States Army prior to her arrival at PLU. A history major with minors in religion and Holocaust and genocide studies , Atkinson’s passion for research, academia, and higher education…
PLU and TCC announce Automatic Admission Partnership
Officials from Pacific Lutheran University and Tacoma Community College have announced an Automatic Admission Partnership that will streamline the admission process for TCC students interested in enrolling at PLU. “ Tacoma Community College has a long history of providing an exceptional education to local students,”…
Lute Powered: PLU alumni help lead Chief Leschi programs dedicated to student support and success
Operated by the Puyallup Tribe of Indians, Chief Leschi Schools enrolls 670 students in preschool through high school. Visual representations of Northwest Native culture and art are present throughout the school, and the curriculum is infused with the tribe’s cultural heritage. Chief Leschi is one…
Social work major and working mom Teranejah Lucas ’23 explores the politics and power of Black hair in her capstone
Teranejah Lucas, 28, is now in her senior year at Pacific Lutheran University, and majoring in social work. She’s preparing to do great things—after already accomplishing significant wins—and wrapping up a fascinating capstone. “As a single parent, first-generation college student, I’m out here defying the…
Stephanie Aparicio Zambrano ’23 discusses her PLU experience, psychology major & internship with the Dean of Students Office
Once a major in communication, Stephanie Aparicio Zambrano ’23 found burgeoning success turning her advice-giving prowess into a future career path. Zambrano found her calling in working with college students as an intern in PLU’s Dean of Students Office. There, she learned the importance of…
A Trip to the Archives? Book It, PLU Librarian Says
Sometimes you’re drawn to a career path, and other times you discover it by serendipity, as Lauren Loftis, Archivist & Special Collections Librarian at Pacific Lutheran University, did. “I carelessly stumbled into it. In fact, the first time I entered an archive was when I…
PLU to host environmental symposium and Earth Week events exploring the violence of natural resource extraction
Pacific Lutheran University will host the Steen Family Symposium for Environmental Issues and Earth and Diversity Week April 17-23 . Series events will explore the theme of “Sowing Resilience in Fractured Land.” Guest speakers, dialogues, and hands-on activities will invite attendees to examine the wide-ranging…
PLU MBA alum Nancy Nelson discusses her work directing career and technical education at Chief Leschi Schools
Nancy Nelson’s path to a career in education was a nontraditional one. So it’s no surprise that her journey led her to a special kind of school. Since fall 2020, Nelson has served as director of career and technical education (CTE) at Chief Leschi Schools,…
Author David Treuer Will Discuss Being “Adrift Between Two Americas”
For Pacific Lutheran University’s 2023 Natalie Mayer and Raphael Lemkin Lecture, the university will welcome award-winning author David Treuer to give a presentation titled “Adrift Between Two Americas” on April 13 at 7 p.m. in the Regency Room (Anderson University Center.) Treuer is an Ojibwe…
PLU alumna Jenifer Leavens ’18 leads elementary education at Chief Leschi Schools
Jenifer Leavens was an experienced educator when she decided it was time to pursue a master’s degree in education. A transplant from California, she wasn’t sure which Puget Sound area university had the best program. So she asked some of her colleagues. “Hands down, people…