Brian Lander ’89: Career Humanitarian is PLU’s Connection to 2020 Nobel Peace Prize
PLU alumnus Brian Lander ‘89 grew up in Washington State’s Tri-Cities. But in early 2020, Lander was far from his childhood home, as he helped meet urgent needs in Northwest Syria. Turkish troops, Syrian and Russian armies, and opposition forces negotiated and battled over resources…
By the Numbers: PLU Professor Collaborates on a New Artwork Illuminating the Beauty of Math
PLU mathematics professor Jessica Sklar is one of 23 collaborators creating a notable work of art, soon touring the nation. Called Mathemalchemy, the installation celebrates the beauty and creativity of mathematics. The finished piece will be about 16 x 8 feet in area and 9…
PLU Awarded $14,000 for Washington Youth Development Nonprofit Relief Fund
School’s Out Washington and the Washington State Department of Commerce has awarded Pacific Lutheran University a grant for $14,000 from its Washington Youth Development Nonprofit Relief Fund. The grant will go toward the Tacoma/South Puget Sound MESA program, which prioritizes early exposure to STEM topics…
Zooming for an Important Endorsement: How PLU is empowering teachers in Eastern Washington
Toppenish school district had long wanted district teachers to obtain an English Language Learners (ELL) endorsement to boost the district’s inclusion model for English-language learners. The endorsement is added to a teacher’s basic certification and allows them to be certified in English language learners and/or…
PLU Shines Light on Student Mental Health with GivingTuesday Campaign
This GivingTuesday, Pacific Lutheran University will challenge the community to raise an additional $8,470 for student mental health services. GivingTuesday kicks off December 1, to inspire individuals and organizations to transform their communities and their world. “Mental health resources support an essential aspect of student…
Pandemic Performance: PLU theatre professor Jeff Clapp directs a live-stream virtual play
One thing about artists is their ability to find creative solutions during the unpredictability of the coronavirus pandemic. Adapting to COVID-19, the PLU Theatre and Dance Department has done just that to bring The Christians, a play about faith in America and the trouble with…
Professor Samuel Torvend on Martin Luther’s teachings during the plague
The trials, tribulations, and big questions that confounded 16th century Europeans as they faced the bubonic plague are eerily similar to what we are facing right now with COVID-19 and other social issues. German professor and priest, Martin Luther, had a lot of ideas of…
Virtual convening of The People’s Gathering to facilitate timely conversations about race
On November 18, Pacific Lutheran University’s Campus Ministry and Center for Graduate and Continuing Education will be co-hosting a virtual edition of The People’s Gathering, a dialogue-based event series focusing in-depth on the topic of race. The People’s Gathering is a professional and personal development…
Nicole Hargreaves ‘09 documents her move overseas on HGTV’s House Hunters International
Nicole (Hughes) Hargreaves graduated from PLU in 2009 with a degree in communication and a minor in women’s and gender studies. Originally from Kirkland, Wash., she went on to begin her career here in the Pacific Northwest. However, after her husband Paul was struck with…
PLU receives funding from Pierce County Connected to support mental health services
Pacific Lutheran University has been selected for a second time to receive funding from Pierce County Connected, a collaborative philanthropic fund led by the Greater Tacoma Community Foundation and United Way of Pierce County in response to COVID-19. PLU will receive $8,470 to support mental…
PLU Students thrive in internships through pandemic
Across the world, we’ve seen a change in our daily routines as we seek to socially distance and help flatten the curve of the current pandemic. Nearly every part of daily life has been affected from how we learn, to how we work. What does…
From foster care to doctoral degree: Lizbett Benge’s educational journey
Lizbett Benge ’11 describes her educational journey as “a long and winding road.” It began with her immersion into foster care and deeply influenced her time at PLU, where she grappled with a set of life experiences few of her peers could understand. Benge felt…