Liza Pluto
Liza Pluto was born in Miami, Florida, but spent her formative years in Bloomfield Hills.
While attending Andover High School, she was drawn to English courses, with one of her favorite classes being AP English. “My English teacher, Mr. Art Heymoss, taught me the best way of working and writing. He was very empowering and inspired me to pursue communications in college.”
Pluto attended the University of Arizona in Tucson, where her love for the communications field grew. To “set herself apart” after earning her bachelor’s degree in communication she decided to pursue a master’s degree and applied to George Washington University in Washington, D.C.
“At the time, I didn’t have the money for the application, so I traded in my designer jeans at a resale shop to pay the fee. I didn’t want to tell my friends or my mom because I wanted to do this on my own,” she revealed.
Pluto’s acceptance into George Washington University’s Graduate School of Political Management was full of surprises since no one else knew she was applying for graduate school – and when she moved to Washington, D.C. to attend GWU, it was her first time in the nation’s capital.
She earned a master’s degree in professional studies in Strategic Public Relations in 2015, which turned out to be “a game changer” for her career.
“Classes were held at night to help students hold day jobs,” she explained. “It opened doors and gave me more credibility. The professors also worked day jobs and were very connected and helpful with internships.”
She was able to work as an unpaid intern on Capitol Hill for a member of Congress, which led to a full-time job that helped shape her professional communication skills.
While Pluto has worked in corporate communications post-graduation, most of her professional experience has been in communications-related positions for leading news organizations including CNN, PBS, MSNBC and, most recently, The Washington Post, where she began a new position in September as director of communications.
“After working in corporate communications, I realized that my true passion is news. I love journalism – trying to make sense of the world and the relentless pursuit of the truth,” she said. “I feel like I have a front row seat to history. No two days are the same.”
She added, “My new job is my dream job and very empowering. I’m so grateful. I love working along world class journalists and understanding the national conversation.”
While Pluto was building her career in Washington D.C., she met her husband, Evan Lukaske, who is from New York and attended the University of Michigan.
“All roads lead to Michigan,” she laughingly said.
During the pandemic, the pair spent nearly two years living and working in New York and married in the Walnut Lake backyard of her mom, Robin Welford, and stepfather, Jay.
After New York, the couple returned to Washington D.C. and bought a home in the Petworth neighborhood. They now share a two-year-old daughter named Mila.
“Mila is the light of my life. I’m so honored to be her mom and watch her grow. My most important job is being her mom and protecting her innocence and curiosity as long as possible.”
The young family visits their extended blended family in Michigan as often as possible. Pluto credits her Michigan roots with her keen sense of community.
“While I am still trying to write my story, I've learned to take risks, be adaptable, embrace change and lean into uncertainty,” she said.
Story: Tracy Donohue
