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started looking at ways to incorporate technology into professional development opportunities. A Benson Family Foundation grant initially provided funds to launch the institute for interested faculty. The first workshop-style class was offered to professors in summer 2014. That led to about eight blended classes the following summer. A second institute launched in J-Term last year — eventually leading to roughly a dozen more courses, both online and blended. Now, a blended learning program is underway

growing up in a small Alaska town. Once enrolled at PLU, her knowledge concerning sexual identity broadened. “It was kind of exciting to be around that many people,” she said. “I really had the chance to meet other people and learn a lot more about other sexual orientations. It was extremely educational.”QASULearn more about Queer Ally Student UnionBrewer said she hails from a religious family, and often felt “stress” when it came to sexuality. She said she struggled reconciling Christianity and queer

, WASH. (Aug. 7, 2018) — Before Kelly Hall ’16 and the rest of her Samish canoe family paddled their final strokes through the Hylebos Waterway, Hall did something no one in her tribe had done for many years.“I’m the first tribal member in decades to speak the language while coming to shore,” she said during a break from annual canoe journey festivities. Hall, a language specialist for the Samish tribe, says she’s witnessed an increasing number of people speaking their native language — both during

groups. A number of minor changes were also made to meal and snack plans, like serving waffles instead of salads at the annual move-in day picnic and recruiting staff to serve them so students and their family members wouldn’t have to worry about sharing serving tongs.  “Each person is on their own individual journey with their comfort being back on campus or being back in certain-sized crowds,” says Takla. “Some people were beyond excited to be back and see a big bustling campus and see lots of

a Ph.D. in history from the University of Washington and he now serves as the Benson Family Chair in Business and Economic History at PLU.Halvorson co-founded the innovation studies program and minor in 2016 and currently serves as the program director. Innovation is his passion, but Halvorson’s extensive knowledge of history fortifies his perspective. “In our program we look at the long history of innovation, how people have created new things, and what the positive and negative consequences of

come to us at 27, working and with a family, but decide it’s the right time to return. After experiencing life and the workforce, they say, ‘Now I know what I want to do.’ Career exploration is a lifelong process. But schooling hasn’t changed in 100 years,” she says. “So how can we adapt and shift what education looks like? There are many ways to learn other than through a four-year degree.” Even obtaining financial aid can be a byzantine, contradictory process that goes a little smoother with an

office after dropping out of the University of Oregon in 2010. The decision to enlist, she says, was “a bit of a last resort” to get her family and friends to stop asking what she was doing with her life. “There I was signing my life away feeling relieved that this will get me at least four years to become someone others weren’t worried about all of the time,” she says. Three years later, Raven Lopez ’22 realized that after one year at the University of Arizona, she wouldn’t be able to afford college

during my interview process. It felt very family and community oriented. Everybody I spoke to in the interview process was genuine and kind, and they seemed to really care about me as a person, not just another applicant.  It felt similar to PLU in that way, and I had a really good educational experience at PLU. I enjoyed learning at a small school and I learned that I really thrive in an environment where I have more access to my professors and mentors, because I like to ask lots of questions. PNWU

longer abduction but starvation due to a decline in Chinook salmon, their primary food source. Urgent action is needed, she says. Southern Resident orcas photographed near Vaughn bay by Emma Stafki ’24.  A Family AffairSince age 12, Stafki has been making films with her sister Annie, 5 years her junior. The duo entered many of these into the Gig Harbor Film Festival, which they won three times. Her sister—now a high school freshman—acted as co-producer and creator of “Echos of the Sound.” Getting a