Summer Internship: Environmental Studies major works as a bio tech at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge
Fiona Ashton-Knochel ’24 is spending her summer on a bird refuge in Brigham City, Utah. The Environmental Studies major sat down with us to discuss her exciting internship and to offer suggestions for anyone looking to land their own internship working in conservation. Why did…
Nursing major sees value in studying and investing in health services
Parker Simpson ’24 is spending his summer working at an assisted living facility in his hometown of Spokane, Washington. He comes from a family of healthcare professionals and has always wanted to help people. We sat down with him to discuss his experience taking classes…
Lute Powered: City of Tacoma
The City of Tacoma provides high-quality, innovative and cost-effective municipal services that enhance the lives of its 215,000 residents and the quality of its neighborhoods and business districts. PLU alumni Tom Chontofalsky ’03, Clarissa Gines ’12 and Lisa Woods ’92 are three of the many…
PLU awarded $15,000 from NSF for COVID-19 DEI Challenge
Pacific Lutheran University was named a winner in the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) Taking Action: COVID-19 Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Challenge. PLU received a $15,000 prize for its work in mitigating the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on diversity, equity, and inclusion in STEM.…
Lisa Woods ’92 helps move Tacoma forward as the city’s Chief Equity Officer
As far back as middle school, others noticed Lisa Woods’ quiet strength and power of observation. “My demeanor is to listen, hear people and see people,“ she says. “I’ve developed that over time, but I’ve always been the listener in the room and not necessarily…
Makaela Whalen ’23 adds a pre-law minor to full schedule as she prepares for law school
Makaela Whalen ’23 has a passion for the environment and animals. Her desire to find a meaningful vocation that feeds those passions resulted in her pursuing a degree in either environmental or animal law. “As long as I can remember, I knew I wanted to…
PLU becomes the second Washington university to join prestigious international studies organization
The Global Studies program at Pacific Lutheran University recently established a chapter of the Sigma Iota Rho Honor Society for International Studies. PLU is just the second university in Washington to become a member of the prestigious organization. Sigma Iota Rho works to advance the…
Rising Amazon recruiter April Rose Nguyen ’19, ’21 has a plan
April Rose Nguyen ’19, ’21 has a plan. A political science and communication double major who recently earned an MBA at PLU, Nguyen followed the advice of a career adviser into a series of contract jobs in human resources. Not because she has career aspirations…
Jon Grande ’92 embraces innovation, talent and fun at Amazon Games
Jon Grande ’92 was an intern at Microsoft the summer before he enrolled at PLU. His supervisor was a young marketing manager named Melinda French. He remembers advice Melinda — now Melinda French Gates — gave him a few weeks before the fall semester began.…
PLU launches pre-law minor for fall 2022
Pacific Lutheran University has announced it will offer a pre-law minor in Fall 2022. The university has long offered a pre-law advising program, but continued interest in the program prompted the College of Humanities, Interdisciplinary Studies, and Social Sciences to create a formal minor to…
Despite pandemic challenges, transfer student finds community at PLU
Monya-Dawn Wilson ’22 is a DJS Fellow and Rieke Scholar who came to PLU as a transfer student. Wilson is a Biology major, and dreams of becoming a pediatrician. “I’ve always liked science and learning,” said Wilson. “I like learning about the body, learning about…
Karen Marquez ‘22 aspires to help her community through her studies
Karen Marquez ‘22 is a senior social work major with minors in Hispanic studies and criminal justice. Marquez is a heritage speaker of Spanish, and has a deep love for languages, culture, and diversity. She hopes to use her degree and the skills she is…