Karen McConnell embraces innovation as PLU’s first chief institutional effectiveness officer
Associate Vice President Karen McConnell , Ph.D., recently stepped into a new role. It’s not only new for her, but also for PLU. She is the school’s first chief institutional effectiveness officer. McConnell explains that in this role she will help ensure that evidence-based decision-making…
Renzhi Cao innovates in the classroom
If you search for the CV of Assistant Professor of Computer Science Renzhi Cao, Ph.D., you’ll find a list of published research papers longer than Foss Field. He says it’s a great feeling when a new piece of research is published. But what he finds…
Degree Designers: Students match passion with purpose through individualized majors
The 253 PLU Bound scholarship recipient from the Key Peninsula near Tacoma began his first year intending to major in music education. But best-laid plans often go awry. Lindhartsen soon realized that wasn’t the path for him. He knew he wanted to study music, but…
A Universal Language: Cassio Vianna shares a passion he discovered in Brazil with students at PLU
Cassio Vianna has been a teacher since he was 8 years old. At that time, his mother was learning to play the organ and Vianna decided to go with her to her lessons rather than stay at home with his siblings. “To this day, my…
The Key to Innovation
Michael Halvorson ’85 was a technologist before he was a historian. His PLU undergraduate degree is in computer science and he worked at Microsoft for the first 10 years of his career. He spent the next 15 years writing books about software and emerging technology.…
Cameron Bennett helps establish a culture of innovation at PLU
Cameron Bennett, DMA, is well-known as the Dean of PLU’s School of Arts and Communication , but from 2019-2021 he also had another title — Chief Innovation Officer and chair of the Presidential Commission on Innovation and Change . Established in fall 2019, the commission’s…
PLU announces new mathematics major, engineering minor
Pacific Lutheran University leaders recently announced two new natural sciences programs. Officially launching in fall 2022, students will be able to pursue a major in applied mathematics and/or a minor in engineering and industry. The applied mathematics major builds upon the existing mathematics courses, incorporates…
After a pandemic hiatus, study away trips returned during J-Term
After a hiatus last year due to the Covid-19 pandemic, 65 undergraduate and 22 graduate students from Pacific Lutheran University were able to participate in January term study away trips this year. The program took PLU students all over the world, with courses designed and…
PLU School of Business renews a mark of distinction with AACSB accreditation
Pacific Lutheran University’s School of Business continues a half-century of excellence by extending its accreditation from AACSB International for its undergraduate and graduate programs. “This is a major accomplishment and signifies academic excellence at PLU,” said Mark Mulder, Ph.D., dean of the School of Business.…
PLU receives a $2 million gift for music studies from organ builder Paul Fritts
Pacific Lutheran University is proud to announce the establishment of the Paul Fritts Endowed Chair in Organ Studies and Performance, thanks to the generosity of longtime university supporter Paul Fritts, owner and founder of Paul Fritts & Co. Organ Builders. Fritts has pledged $2 million…
Simulating for Success
A pair of nursing students in grey scrubs knock on the door, wash their hands, and greet little Jillian, who rests in a bed connected to beeping monitors. The child opens her eyes and whimpers, then coughs. As the students listen to Jillian’s lung sounds,…
Timely Research
Translating the Enlightenment The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) recently awarded Professor of French Rebecca Wilkin a $133,333 grant under the Scholarly Editions and Translations interest area. Wilkin and her collaborator Angela Hunter, an English professor from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock,…