History
Sonoma State Founding
In 1960, the California Legislature established Sonoma State College. It opened to 274 students in 1961 in leased buildings in Rohnert Park. The college was granted university status in 1978.
Sonoma State's Location:
1801 East Cotati Avenue
Rohnert Park, California, 94928
Sonoma State College relocated to the 215-acre site in 1966, upon completion of Darwin and Stevenson halls for classrooms. The campus has since grown to 269 acres.
Sonoma State is located in the heart of Northern California’s wine country, just one hour north of San Francisco and 45 minutes from the Pacific Ocean. Nestled in the welcoming community of Rohnert Park, the campus is surrounded by rolling green hills, towering redwoods, and some of the best food, wine, and outdoor adventures California has to offer.
Campus Features
Sonoma State’s architectural planning has embraced the intersection of education with the environment. As enrollment increased over the years, new facilities were built: Ives Hall for performing arts, a dining commons, a library, a physical education facility, and site development features, including three lakes (reservoirs) that have since become important aesthetic features of the campus.
Stucco and redwood structures – including the first student residential village, the Student Health Center, Nichols Hall, the Art building, and a child care center – first began appearing in 1972. An aquatic facility opened in 1982, and construction of the 500-seat Evert B. Person Theatre was completed in 1989.
A Modern Campus
In June 2000, the Jean and Charles Schulz Information Center was completed to accommodate the expanded needs of the library and computing services.
The original 1972 residential complex has since expanded to six viticulture-themed villages – Beaujolais, Cabernet, Sauvignon, Tuscany, Verdot, and Zinfandel.
2012 marked the opening of the Donald and Maureen Green Music Center, a world-class concert, recital, and educational facility that includes two performance venues (Weill Hall and Schroeder Hall), classrooms, ensemble and practice rooms, an executive conference center, and a restaurant.
A student-financed Recreation Center was completed in fall 2004, with an adjacent Student Center opening in fall 2013 with a bookstore, dining facilities, student activities spaces, a conference center, and meeting areas.
SSU Through the Years
Presidents
2024 - Present
2022 - 2024
2016 - 2022
1992 - 2016
1983 - 1984
1984 - 1992
1977 - 1983
1974 - 1976
1971 - 1974
1970 - 1971
1961 - 1970
Founding Faculty
According to a 1994 article by Gaye LeBaron, longtime newspaper columnist for The Press Democrat specializing in local history, there were 10 founding members of Santa Rosa Center, San Francisco State College, which would become Sonoma State College in 1960. They were:
• Barbara Biebush, Librarian
• Mario DiGesu, Education
• Dee Hinman, Sociology
• George McCabe, Director (d. 1996)
• Dorothy Overly, English (d. 1983)
• Cheryl Peterson, Political Science
• Wright Putney, Art
• Charles "Chuck" Rhinehart, Mathematics (d. 2008)
• Hobart "Red" Thomas, Psychology (d. 2009)
• El Doris Wood, Education
University Milestones
-
1961
◆ From business and engineering to education, nursing, and the sciences, SSU prepares students to think critically and lead confidently.
-
1962
◆ First bachelor of arts degree (elementary education) 1962 First four-year program offered May.
-
1966
◆ First graduating class 1966 First master's degree offered (biology, psychology).
-
1978
◆ University status attained 1999 SSU invited to join the Council of Public Liberal Arts Colleges as sole member from California.
-
2000
◆ The Jean & Charles Schulz Information Center built 2001 The Lifelong Learning Institute for students over the age of 50 is founded.
-
2004
◆ The University is gifted its first Endowed Chair.
-
2005
◆ Renovation of Darwin Hall begins.
◆ The University is gifted a 3,500 acre nature preserve.
◆ The newly-constructed Recreation Center receives an award.
-
2006
◆ Darwin Hall re-opens as a 21st-century science building.
◆ Construction of the Donald & Maureen Green Music Center begins.
-
2007
◆ Green Music Center construction is moving along quickly.
-
2008
◆ Work on Tuscany Village begins.
◆ Music Education Hall in the Green Music Center complex opens.