Contributions to Excellence
Contributions to Excellence By Steve Hansen Alumnae are a proud group of people. Instilled with a passion to give of themselves. Jean (Hesla ’50) Kopta is no exception. Kopta graduated from PLU in 1950 with the bachelor’s degree in education. Jean (Hesla ’50) Kopta. Later…
Perspective: The Power of Hope
The Power of Hope By David Ward, assistant professor of Marriage and Family Therapy As a marriage and family therapist, the couples I work with tend to wait until problems in their relationship have significantly escalated before they seek therapy. Fortunately, amidst the distress, by…
Hebrew Idol
Hebrew Idol showcases a different view of the Bible, theology By Chris Albert According to Assistant Professor of Religion Antonios Finitsis, there’s one real advantage to teaching a religion course: Nobody really knows all it entails. “They think religion is confined,” he said. “People do…
Student learns disaster’s impact first-hand
Student learns disaster’s impact firsthand By Kari Plog ’11 Boats remain docked in Venice, La. as oil continues to gush from a ruptured BP oil well offshore in the Gulf Coast. “I would love to talk to y’all, but my job is my number one…
Alumna finds good fit at PLU
Even after graduation, a way to stay involved – 65 years later By Chris Albert When Annabelle Birkestol ’45 was deciding which college to go to, her mother gave her an offer she couldn’t refuse. Check out Pacific Lutheran University and, if you go there,…
PLU Fulbright recipients ready to engage the world
PLU Fulbright recipients ready to engage the world By Chris Albert This year, three PLU students – Eric Buley, Nicolette Paso and Kelly Ryan – received prestigious U.S. Fulbright Student Fellowships. Since 1975, 83 students from PLU have received the award. Eric Buley will be…
Around the world to find a calling
Around the world to find a calling By Chris Albert While waiting for a flight, a fellow passenger starts to make small talk with Najib Abbas. The conversation starts with pleasantries, maybe they discuss the weather, but before long the fellow traveler will be telling…
A Streetcar Named Desire
A backstage peek behind “A Streetcar Named Desire” By Loren Liden ’11 The PLU theater department added a dramatic splash to campus with month with the opening of the last play of the season, Tennessee William’s A Streetcar Named Desire. Well known in any performance…
Dean of arts and communication named
Dean of School of Arts and Communication named By Greg Brewis A chamber musician and soloist who has had an active and varied career as an administrator, artist and educator has been named dean of the School of Arts and Communication at Pacific Lutheran University.…
Really? PLU profs debate questions of the day
REALLY?! Six PLU professors tackle common assumptions, age-old wisdom, folklore and controversies of the day. With a nod to the “Really?” column that frequently appears in the New York Times, we asked six faculty members from disparate disciplines to prove – or debunk – some…
Intensive caring
Intensive Caring – PLU nurses take their skills to cardiac patients at their homes By Barbara Clements Leo Rivas, a Pacific Lutheran University nursing student, had stopped by for a chat with his client, Trevor Modeste, 54, who lives in a tidy rambler tucked between…
When China Rules the World
What will the world look like when China is calling the shots? By Barbara Clements Even by the most conservative estimates, China will overtake the United States as the world’s largest economy by 2027 and will climb to the position of world economic leader by…