BJUG DAY: Q&A with Dr. Suzanne Crawford O’Brien
At PLU, we’re building up the next generation of Lutes — ones who will be called to lead us into an uncertain future. On Bjug Day you joined together in ensuring students are fully equipped to answer that call. Despite navigating a global pandemic, we…
BJUG DAY: Q&A with Student-Athlete Advisory Committee
PLU’s student-athletes understand what it means to be part of a team. They learn how to build on their teammates’ strengths, overcome failure and achieve collective goals. Lutes are showcasing these skills both in and out of the classroom, and both on and off the…
BJUG DAY: Q&A with Scholarship Recipient Lauren Mendez ’15
Your investment in scholarships is an investment in the personal and economic well-being of individuals and our communities. With your support, students will join generations of Lutes who are thought leaders, engaged community members, and local leaders. With increasingly diverse lived experiences, their presence on…
When the pandemic cut her Peace Corps service short, Margaret Chell ’18 enrolled in medical school
During her senior year at Pacific Lutheran University, Margaret Chell ’18 decided to join the Peace Corps after a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer visited her global development class. She soon met with PLU Peace Corps advisor, Dr. Katherine Wiley to learn more. She was excited…
Yesenia Arellano ’13 discusses her work as a bilingual mental health counselor
PLU alumna Yesenia Arellano ’13 was recently honored by the City of Tacoma during National Hispanic Heritage Month for her work as a mental health counselor providing bilingual therapy to diverse community members and an immigrant clientele. Yesenia spoke with PLU Assistant Director of Communications…
Kenzie Knapp ’23 discusses summer environmental work, role with ASPLU, and public transit advocacy
In the spring of 2021, Kenzie Knapp ’23 was awarded a Udall Foundation scholarship. The Udall Foundation awards scholarships, fellowships, and internships to students pursuing fields of study related to the environment or Native American nations. Knapp has served as a G.R.E.A.N. club officer, is…
Community First: PLU alum supports local sellers and town with 3 Sisters Market
For Whidbey Island business owner Roshel Donwen ’17, her close-knit island community is everything. She finds fulfillment in running her store, 3 Sisters Market, providing local food and goods to the people she considers family. “The best part about running and owning 3 Sisters Market…
PLU launches Internship Fund to create equitable opportunities for students
During her senior year at PLU, Chloe Willburn ‘21 wanted to intern with the Washington State Department of Children, Youth, and Families. As a social work major, Willburn believed that the experience gained from working alongside DCYF would benefit not only her but her future…
How Keegan Dolan’s PLU mentor helped him land a dream internship in Boston
Hard work pays off. Networking is key. Relationships are everything. While this advice might sound cliché, people give it often, and for good reason. Just ask Pacific Lutheran University’s Keegan Dolan ’22. Dolan, a double major in philosophy and economics , is in the midst…
Teaching in the Pandemic: How Three Teachers Made the Best of an Unprecedented Time
High school choir and guitar teacher Alonso Brizuela ’14 was in Spokane at a national choral directors conference in mid-March of 2020. Just a day and half days into events, the conference shut down early—due to a mysterious new illness that had arrived in the…
A Rocky Start Leads to a Steady Foundation
Samantha Saucedo’s path was shaped from a young age as she witnessed how varying health conditions affected those closest to her. One set of grandparents was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and suffered from deteriorating health. Another set thrived, living long healthy lives. Those divergent health paths…
Andrew Whitney ’12 directs program to pair Tacoma students with local internships
Ten years ago Andrew Whitney ‘12 was preparing for graduation, completing internships, and looking forward to starting a career in the world of business and finance. Now, it’s his job to help place local high school and college students in internships with businesses, nonprofits, and…