CSU Honorary Doctorates

Dr. Greg Sarris

Greg Sarris received his Ph.D. in Modern Thought and Literature from Stanford University, where he was awarded the Walter Gore Award for excellence in teaching.  He has published several books, including Grand Avenue, an award-winning collection of short stories, which he adapted for an HBO miniseries and co-executive produced with Robert Redford.  He is serving his sixteenth consecutive elected term as Chairman of the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria. In addition to serving as Chairman of his Tribe, he serves as President of the Tribe’s Economic Development Board, overseeing all of the Tribe’s business interests, including the Graton Resort and Casino.  Formerly a full professor of English at UCLA, and then the Fletcher Jones Professor of Creative Writing and Literature at Loyola Marymount University, Greg now holds the title of Distinguished Emeritus Graton Endowed Chair in Native American Studies at Sonoma State University, where he taught a number of courses in Creative Writing, American Literature, and American Indian Literature.  His book How a Mountain Was Made, a collection of stories was published in October 2017 and was awarded a Bronze Medal from Independent Publisher Book Awards.  His book Becoming Story: A Journey among Seasons, Places, Trees, and Ancestors was released in April 2022.  He is executive producer of I Am A Noise, a Joan Baez documentary film, appointed as Chair to the Board of Trustees for the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian, Co-Chair of Smithsonian Campaign, and elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.  He was appointed by Governor Newsom in June 2023 to the University of California Board of Regents.  His forthcoming book The Forgetters will be released in April 2024.

Larry Brackett

Brackett is well-known throughout the North Bay as the owner of Frank Howard Allen Realtors, one of the largest real estate firms in the region, which he and his wife, Brennie, purchased in 1989 and sold in 2013. But real estate was not always his vocation.

A fourth-generation San Franciscan and a 1958 graduate of UC Berkeley, Brackett was an investment counselor for more than a decade before returning to school to get his teaching credential, which he received at Sonoma State University in 1972. After a decade of teaching, he and his wife tried their hands at real estate.

He has been a visionary through his support of the Santa Rosa Symphony, the Green Music Center at Sonoma State University, 10,000 Degrees, local health clinics, and many other organizations. He has invested in economic data and research efforts in the North Bay and beyond, and is sought out by business, education, and nonprofit leaders for trusted advice and input about their organizations and operations.

Anne and Dan Benedetti

Education

• Anne — Santa Rosa Junior College and Sonoma State University B.A. Music, '93
• Dan — Attended Sonoma State University (played baseball)

Professions

• Piano Teacher; philanthropist
• Family Business: Clover Stornetta Farms, owned and operated by Anne's husband, Dan, and her son, Marcus (now President and CEO)

Recent Affiliations

Board Member and Nominating Committee Chair, Green Music Center; Emeritus Board Member, Santa Rosa Symphony; SSU strategic planning committee community representative; Member, Santa Rosa Symphony League; Blood Bank of the Redwoods (board member); Former Business Council Member, Buck Institute

Awards

Ann was a Sonoma State University Distinguished Alumni award recipient in 2010; Recently Honored by Santa Rosa Symphony;

Biographical Summary

Anne is married to Dan Benedetti, who was CEO and chair of Clover Sonoma for nearly 40 years before passing the leadership positions onto their son, Marcus. They met at Santa Rosa JC and have three children. Anne completed her degree at SSU as a reentry student who was raising a family and helping to run Clover Sonoma while doing her college coursework.

Clover Sonoma earns revenues in excess of $200 million annually and produces and distributes organic dairy products in seven states across the western US and Hawaii. The firm is credited with helping to sustain a viable dairy business in the North Bay region. They firm is also notable for the philanthropic support it provides to the local community.

Philanthropic Background

The Benedetti's focus their personal philanthropy on support for education and the arts, particularly the Santa Rosa Symphony, the Green Music Center, and assorted gifts to local school districts.

Clover's commitment to local philanthropy includes giving up at least 5% of profits to local causes that share in their three pillars of Clover Cares. Elevating Dairy, Empowering Future Generations and Supporting their Community.

Involvement with SSU

Anne and Dan hosted one of the first receptions to introduce the new Green Music Center project to the Sonoma community. Dan has been a continued advocate and supporter of Seawolves Athletics and baseball. She sang with the SSU Chamber Singers in support of the event. As President of the Symphony Board, she built a collaboration with Sonoma State to raise funds and support for the new project, focusing on Petaluma residents.

Herman J. Hernandez

Education

A.A., Santa Rosa Junior College

Profession

Business Owner, Real Estate Broker, Social Justice Advocate, Latinx Advocate

Recent Affiliations

Founder of Los Cien, United Way, Elsie Allen Foundation, Land Paths

Awards

Wetzel Community Leadership Award, Recognized by Sonoma County for his outstanding contributions to the community, Citizen of the Year Award by Santa Rosa Metro Chamber, North Bay Spirit Award from the Press Democrat

Biographical Summary

Herman is a longtime Guerneville resident and owner and broker of Hernandez Realty Company. He was born in San Francisco and grew up in the Mission District. He is the only son and third child of immigrant parents.

Herman J. Hernandez is one of the most visible and influential community leaders in Sonoma County. Herman founded Los Cien, which is the largest Latino advocacy group in the North Bay. Herman has been a tireless promoter of education opportunities in our community and has worked closely with SSU, SRJC, and K-12 institutions to increase student success, both academically and professionally. Herman has been instrumental in raising the representation and involvement of Latinx residents in the political and policy decisions that impact their lives. As someone who is a trailblazer in his own right, Herman models the kind of civic engagement, inclusiveness, and pride Los Cien supports and promotes throughout Sonoma County. Herman's work in the North Bay dovetails with SSU's mission as a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI), and our recognition of Herman's contributions would reflect well on SSU as well as Herman and his family.

Philanthropic Background

Herman dedicates his time and resources to numerous not-for-profits and advocacy groups in Sonoma County.

Honorary Doctorate Degree Recipients for 2022 include:

• Ron Rubin

• Charles "Chuck" Williamson

• Cathy Williamson

Honorary Doctorate Degree Recipients for 2021 include:

• Irv Rothenberg

Honorary Doctorate Degree Recipients for 2020 include:

• Ruth Waltenspeil

Honorary Doctorate Degree Recipients for 2019 include:

• Henry Curtis Hansel

Honorary Doctorate Degree Recipients for 2018 include:

• H. Andrea Neves
• George Ortiz

Honorary Doctorate Degree Recipients for 2017 include:

• Constance Codding
• William "Willie" Tamayo