Sonoma State honors Nichols Legacy Society members at annual breakfast

May 2, 2019

President Judy K. Sakaki speaks to members of the Ambrose and Barbara Nichols Legacy Society at the annual Legacy Society breakfast.

Professor Mathew Clark discusses his research of using bioacoustics to measure overall bird biodiversity.

Sonoma State honored members of the esteemed Ambrose and Barbara Nichols Legacy Society at an annual breakfast on Thursday at the Student Center.

“On campus we discuss our Seawolf values — respect, integrity, excellence and responsibility — and we try to encourage our students to live by that,” said President Judy K. Sakaki to a room of society members. “You, by virtue of your connection to us and your many gifts, live that as well.”

The Ambrose and Barbara Nichols Legacy Society was established in the 1980s as a way to recognize individuals and families who have chosen to commit legacy gifts to Sonoma State University — gifts made through wills, trusts and other life-income arrangements. The society currently boasts more than 130 members.

President Sakaki applauded those in attendance for their support for the university and the community as a whole. “We want our students to emulate who you are and what you do,” she said.

After the president provided an update about recent campus successes and activities, attendees at the annual breakfast were given an overview of the research work being done through a Sonoma State project known as “Soundscapes to Landscapes to Soundscapes.”

Dr. Matthew Clark, professor in the Department of Geography, Environment and Planning, described his collaborative NASA-funded project “Soundscapes to Landscapes,” which uses sounds recorded from low-cost recorders placed in the field and bioacoustics analysis to identify bird species by their calls and measure overall avian diversity. Department of Music professor Dr. Thomas Limbert followed by showing how his “soundscapes” provide a musical narrative directly related to the areas highlighted by Clark’s research.

“The funding our university receives from donors can have a real regional impact,” Clark said concerning the support provided by Nichols Society members. “Sonoma State is connected with the issues in our community, which specifically gives our undergraduate students a great opportunity to get involved when compared to larger universities.”

For more information on ways to donate to Sonoma State, visit the “Give” page on University Advancement. To become a part of the Ambrose and Barbara Nichols Legacy Society, see the attached form.

Media Contact

Nate Galvan