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knows the business from his years preparing rose beds. He left his job in 2000, he said, after new owners took over the farm and “began to drive it into the ground.” Now he’s director of the Fundación para el Desarrollo Social Sustentable, or FUNDESS (Foundation for Sustainable Social Development), where he’s heard the complaints of hundreds of sick workers. “Everyone has headaches,” said soft-spoken Norma Mena. Now with FUNDESS, Mena formerly studied flower workers’ exposure to chemicals

surface. “There are stacks taller than me,” she says. “I’ve had kids as young as 3 years old up to 92-year-old blind woman tying blankets,” she says. Her Lutheran church creates piles of blankets during a post-Christmas service. Even a local Acura and Honda dealership’s employees tied blankets, which were then delivered to a women and children’s shelter. Career-Volunteer Balance At first, Garabedian thought she might work for an American business in China — she graduated from PLU with a triple major

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

Amy Young‘s advertising and PR class offered Stafki new concepts, such as how to market and advertise her documentary. Stafki is currently an intern at the video production company Meraki Agency, where she’s engaged in various hands-on projects to improve her videography, photography, and business skills. Assignments have included brainstorming and shooting videos for Travel Tacoma. She also picked up on-campus work experience as a PLU Marketing & Communications student photographer. Sy Bean

, who now coordinates Sista Circle. Students involved with Sista Circle have received help with finding jobs, developing business plans, and networking. “We bring in many community leaders and speakers who hear students’ dreams and skill sets and invest in them. You eat lunch with leaders, and they get to know you,” Gilchrist says. “The next time they’re sitting in a meeting, and someone says, ‘Well, who could be great for this?’ The leaders are like, ‘Well, I met someone last weekend who I think

partnership with PLU’s MediaLab has been very successful. Over the years, it has given more than 100 students real-world experience in areas ranging from journalism to public relations, marketing to photography, radio and television broadcasting to business administration and advertising to documentary filmmaking,” writes David Zeeck, president and publisher of the News Tribune. “Even during these challenging economic times, more than 80 percent of MediaLab graduates have garnered offers of full-time

spend a week this November learning about the entertainment industry from some of the top professionals in the business. “I’m thrilled and honored to have been chosen for such a prestigious fellowship,” said Wells, who began teaching at PLU in 2003. “I intend to bring all of the knowledge and contacts I acquire in L.A. back to PLU to share with our students and my faculty colleagues.” Among the wide variety of activities in which he will be engaged, Dr. Wells and other seminar participants will: Get

joining the Foreign Service in 1979, Barr has served in posts around the world, in Europe, Africa, Asia and the United States. In addition to speaking at commencement, she will receive an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters. Barr graduated magna cum laude from PLU with a Bachelor of Business Administration. She earned two master’s degrees from Harvard University and the National Defense University, and speaks Swedish and Russian. This year marks the third time commencement has been held off campus at

and local stature – from scholars and authors to business people and hands-on practitioners. Sobania said the sports and recreation theme fits along these same lines as past symposia – global themes that extend beyond a single country. Read Previous Raising awareness through song Read Next Making a difference COMMENTS*Note: All comments are moderated If the comments don't appear for you, you might have ad blocker enabled or are currently browsing in a "private" window. LATEST POSTS Caitlyn Babcock

served in Alaska’s House of Representatives in 1992 at the age of 29. He was re-elected in 1994 and served one term in the Alaska State Senate form 1996 to 2000.During his tenure in the governor’s office, he has worked on Alaska’s economy, schools and championed domestic violence legislation. Parnell graduated from PLU with a Bachelor of Arts in business administration. Married to his wife, Sandy (Scebold ’84) Parnell, since 1987, they have two daughters. Student commencement speaker   Andrew Reyna