HONORARY DEGREE and SPECIAL AWARDS

Honorary Degree Recipient

Daniel J. Lanahan
Founder, Lanahan & Reilley

Honorary Doctor of Laws
California State University

Daniel J. Lanahn’s legal career encompasses two law firms, one for 26 years and the firm he founded, Lanahan & Reilley, in 1997, which is headquartered in Santa Rosa, California. Mr. Lanahan has represented hundreds of corporations including start-ups in various business transactions and litigations and was the National Coordinating Counsel in nationwide litigation. The great majority of his work during the past 25 years has involved the trial of civil cases representing both plaintiffs and defendants, most often in complex litigations, class actions and what is known as “mass tort” litigation.  He is a member of the International Association of Defense Counsel (IADC), as well as numerous other professional associations. 

His contributions to the community and Sonoma State University include his being a chair of the North Bay Council, the public broadcasting system station KRCB radio and television, and the Board of Trustees of Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital.  Presently, he serves on the Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital Foundation Board. He is a member of the Sonoma State University Academic Foundation, the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute and the university’s School of Business and Economics’ Advisory Board.  A member of the Green Music Center Advisory Board, he is currently co- chair of the Green Music Center Finale Campaign.  Mr. Lanahan instructs a class, Notable Trials, at Sonoma State University, Empire Law School and San Francisco Law School.  He is the author of Justice for All: Legendary Trials of the 20th Century and also serves as vice president of the Board of Trustees of San Francisco Law School. 

Excellence in Teaching Award Recipients

Patricia Kim-Rajal, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Chicano and Latino Studies

Patricia Kim-Rajal joined the Sonoma State University faculty in 2003 after earning her Ph.D. in American Studies at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. She has taught courses in Latino sociolinguistics, qualitative research methods and Chicana feminist theory. Dr. Kim-Rajal also routinely teaches general education courses addressing Latino contributions to the areas of cinema, music and philosophy.

Also a graduate of the University of California, Berkeley and long-time resident of Northern California, Dr. Kim-Rajal is strongly committed to public undergraduate education and to creating a campus environment that encourages intellectual diversity and independent thinking. Her courses emphasize the links between concepts covered in the classroom and real-world examples. Dr. Kim-Rajal’s research interests center on Latinos and the media. She has written about Spanish-language television and marketing, telenovelas and Latino audiences. She is currently working on a project addressing representations of Latinos in mainstream television.

Sunil Tiwari, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Mathematics

Dr. Sunil Tiwari earned his Ph.D. in applied mathematics at Montana State University and joined the Sonoma State University Mathematics Department in 1996. Dr. Tiwari enjoys teaching courses of all levels, as well as graduate-level independent study courses in engineering science and biology. He was a member of the team that designed and developed the Master of Science in Computer and Engineering Science program, and serves as an associate faculty member in the Department of Engineering Science.

His passion for teaching is rooted in his love for empowering others with knowledge and guiding them to reach their full potential. Dr. Tiwari believes that education is best served by interdisciplinary collaborative research combined with investigative teaching strategies. His research interests include numerical analysis, differential equations and applications of mathematics in different branches of science such as biology, geology and environmental science. Tiwari authored two papers recently with SSU colleague Stephen Norwick that use differential equations to study the shape of eroding hills and the rate of erosion of ancient stone monuments.

Staff Excellence Award Recipients

Thora Collard
Administrative Analyst/Specialist, School of Education

Thora Collard is chosen for the excellence award for her outstanding support and service to the faculty, staff of the School of Education and in particular, the visiting committees during the recent national accreditation process for the School of Education. She uses her technical skills and "outside the box" thinking to streamline processes and find innovative solutions to meet the goals and needs of the School, which included the construction of the accreditation electronic exhibit room on the School’s web site. Thora has been praised for her initiative and in serving on the University Web Committee and, the School of Education Technology Committee, and for learning new software programs to assist with the School’s efforts. She has been repeatedly praised for her positive attitude and bringing the focus to the main work at hand. "Thora's work is marked by excellence and diligence. The School of Education and the University would not have achieved state and national accreditation without her," said Dean Mary Gendernalik-Cooper. Thora’s daily activities include maintaining the School's website, assisting with the budget operations as well as technical assistance to all members of the School.

Scott Cutler, MD
Student Health Center

Scott Cutler is a physician at the Student Health Center, and continues to go above and beyond his call of duty, serving in all areas of the center. The Medical Director, Nurse Practitioners, Lab Managers, and Radiologic Technologists are constantly praising Cutler for his hard work. Cutler consistently goes above and beyond the call of duty, infusing innovation and creativity into the workplace on a daily basis, and ensuring the high level of service provided by the student pharmacy in the unanticipated lengthy absence of the campus pharmacist. According to staff, Cutler “readily and willingly pitches in wherever and whenever - without being asked and without losing focus on his primary responsibilities.”

Cutler is praised for his devotion to the SHC patients, staying after hours and through lunches to make sure his patients get as much time as is required for them to understand how to manage their health situation. He readily steps into roles as needed, including transporting x-rays to Santa Rosa outside of work hours when courier service is lacking. He has repaired and improved functionality of equipment to better serve the clients. He requests and utilizes input from others to come up with a solution that will fit everyone. According to a nominator, “Cutler is an accomplished clinician who truly has the interest of the students as his main focus.”