General Information: Distinguished Alumni
B.A. Anthropology, 1981
Professor of Anthropology
Director of Anthropological Studies Center
Adrian Praetzellis has been honored with the Distinguished Alumni Faculty Award for his commitment to community outreach and education. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree with distinction in Anthropology from Sonoma State University in 1981, and his M.A. and Ph.D. in Anthropology at the University of California, Berkeley.
Dr. Praetzellis has a number of areas of specialization within Archaeology including; Historical, California, and Urban Archaeology, Cultural Resources Management, Archaeological Field Methods, Local History, and Research Methods. He has written two archaeology textbooks: Death by Theory (2000) and Dug to Death (2003) that have been used by dozens of universities throughout the world, including UC Berkeley, Stanford and Harvard. Dr. Praetzellis has published many articles, most recently “Cultural Resources Management” in the International Encyclopedia of Social Sciences. He joined Sonoma State University as a staff archaeologist at the Anthropological Studies Center (ASC) in 1976 and in 1992, was hired as Assistant Professor of Anthropology. That same year, Dr. Praetzellis became director of the ASC, an on-campus research facility with a mission is to give students practical experience in archaeology and history. Over the years, ASC has been awarded over $30 million in archaeology-related grants and contracts. To teach archaeological methods, Dr. Praetzellis created an innovative ‘artificial archaeological site’ on campus, providing students with hands-on archaeological experiences. Annamarie M. Jennings, one of his students at the site, says: “Adrian introduced the subject to me in a way that no other professor could; his patience, humor and professional experience make his classes a challenge and a joy for students” Dr. Praetzellis also serves on the Advisory Board of the Galbreath Wildlands Preserve, is a member of University Sponsored Programs Committee, and acts as faculty advisor to Hillel, SSU’s Jewish student organization. In his community, Dr. Praetzellis is a member of the Lifelong Learning Committee at Congregation Shomrei Torah and serves as the Secretary of Hillel of Sonoma County.
“Through my undergraduate career at Sonoma State University and as a PhD student I supported myself by working as an archaeologist at SSU. It’s not an exaggeration to say that I wouldn’t have a career without Sonoma State University.”
M.A. Counseling, 1994
Sonoma County Supervisor
Former CEO, Council on Aging
Shirlee Zane, County Supervisor, chief executive officer, family therapist, minister, hospital chaplain, educator and inner city social worker, has been selected as a Distinguished Alumni for her efforts over more than 25 years working in health and human services. Ms. Zane earned a Master of Arts in Theology from Chicago Trinity Divinity School in 1986, and earned a Master of Arts in Counseling from Sonoma State University in 1994. From 1999 to 2008 she served as CEO for the Council on Aging, a non-profit organization whose mission is to support the well-being and quality of life for Sonoma County seniors. During her tenure, Ms. Zane reinvigorated the Council and was a strong advocate for Sonoma County’s elderly. She led a successful campaign that raised $3.5 million for a new community kitchen in Sonoma County, providing meals to seniors and serving as an emergency/disaster kitchen. Ms. Zane has served on the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) Elderly and Disabled Advisory Committee and has received numerous awards for her work in health and human services, including the Reverend Coffee Human Rights Award and the United Way Community Impact Award in Advocacy. In fall 2008, Ms. Zane was elected Sonoma County Supervisor for District 3. As a member of the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors, she is charged with the responsibility of establishing policies and procedures to guide functions of the county.
Ms. Zane has remained active and engaged with Sonoma State University. She speaks Spanish fluently and has sponsored the Miriam Lemus Scholarship for bilingual and bicultural counseling. She is committed to the success of the Donald and Maureen Green Music Center, and has underwritten a concert hall chair in addition to travelling to Washington, DC with fellow supervisors to lobby for funding from the National Endowment for the Arts. Ms. Zane often turns to Sonoma State University faculty as a key source for potential appointments to the County’s many boards and commissions. She has also been a guest lecturer and has participated in lecture series as well as courses in MBA Leadership, Counseling, Gerontology, Psychology, and Women’s Studies.
“Earning a Masters in Counseling at Sonoma State University deepened both my capacity and commitment to serving those who needed a stronger voice in our society.”
