Sonoma State University

The names Anne and Dante Benedetti are synonymous with Sonoma County. The married couple, and parents of three children, met decades ago while students at Santa Rosa Junior College. They are perhaps best known for their family business, Clover Sonoma, which has more than a century long legacy of providing fresh dairy products to residents of the Sonoma County and beyond.

But long before the clever “Clover the Cow" marketing campaign and beloved billboards hit Sonoma County and the North Bay, Mr. and Mrs. Benedetti established their roots at Sonoma State University.

Mr. Benedetti played baseball while attending Sonoma State before leaving early to join his father in the family business. With a life-long passion for music, Mrs. Benedetti graduated from Sonoma State in 1993 with a bachelor of arts degree in Music. As a reentry student and working mother, she often did her college coursework while helping run Clover Sonoma.

Her passion for music continues—not only by playing guitar and singing songs to her many grandchildren—but also through philanthropy and serving as board and committee member for organizations such as the Santa Rosa Symphony, the Green Music Center and more.

After serving as CEO and chair of Clover Sonoma for nearly 40 years, Mr. Benedetti passed the family's business torch to his son, Marcus, for a third generation of family leadership.

Philanthropy is a big part of how the Benedettis spend their time, energy and resources. Their support is focused on education and the arts, particularly the Santa Rosa Symphony, the Green Music Center and local school districts. Clover's commitment to local philanthropy includes giving back to local causes that share in their three pillars of Clover Cares—Elevating Dairy, Empowering Future Generations and Supporting their Community.

The Benedettis hosted one of the first receptions to introduce the then-new Green Music Center project to the Sonoma community. As president of the Symphony Board, Mrs. Benedetti built a collaboration with Sonoma State to raise funds and support for the new project, focusing on Petaluma residents. Mr. Benedetti has continued to be an advocate and supporter of Seawolves Athletics and baseball.

In recognition of the Benedettis' exemplary commitment to Sonoma County, as demonstrated through their unparalleled generosity of time and philanthropy, the Board of Trustees of the California State University and Sonoma State University are proud to confer upon Anne and Dante Benedetti the honorary degree of Doctor of Letters.