Natalie Norman

Sonoma State Grad Year:

1994

What is your current position and/or the industry you work in?

I am an attorney and a certified mediator and arbitrator. I also serve as the Chief Executive Officer of the Healdsburg Prune Packers Baseball Club and am the founding President of the Pacific Empire League.

What were your campus involvements at SSU?

 SSU Literary Journal: Senior Editor, SSU Tutorial Program: Senior Tutor

Why did you choose to attend SSU?

I knew SSU checked the boxes for an idyllic, peaceful environment with top academics and small classes that offered individualized attention from caring professors. Beyond that, I had no guidance in choosing a college and was the first in my family to earn a degree, so I navigated the process entirely on my own. Back then there was no internet, I had no car, and I lived too far away to visit any campuses. SSU ultimately won my final decision after classmates told me the guys there didn’t all have beards like the ones at Humboldt — and that’s the truth. I want any prospective student to know that regardless of why you choose SSU, you really can’t go wrong. It’s that great of a school.

How has Sonoma State made an impact on your life today?

SSU changed the course of my life forever and for the better. I fell in love with Sonoma County and have made it my home ever since. This community is where my soul lives, and in everything I do, I strive to make it better, to apply my time and talents to helping others, and to give more than I take.

SSU also provided a powerful launching pad for my career. It prepared me for law school with exceptional training in critical thinking, organization, writing, and self-discipline. On the first day of law school, as each student stood to announce their name and undergraduate university, many proudly named Stanford or Harvard. When it was my turn, I stood, raised my fist in the air, and said, “I’m Natalie Norman, and I went to SONOMA STATE UNIVERSITY!” I knew a few students snickered, but they stopped laughing when I earned the American Jurisprudence Award multiple times and achieved the top scores in the entire school.

Sonoma State gave me the opportunity to become the person I was destined to be, and that is priceless. I would never trade my SSU education or my experience there for any other school. Sonoma State is forever in my heart, and I will always strive to give back by creating opportunities for the incredible students who attend it, each with their own hopes, dreams, strengths, and challenges.

What advice would you give to a current student or recent graduate?

Be unapologetically you. Never let anyone douse your dreams with their doubts. Be of service. The world needs compassionate problem solvers, listeners, and communicators. The world needs you, your beautifully unique gifts, your voice, and your perspective. Take great care of yourself. No amount of career or financial success can buy back your health. Your body and mind are deeply connected, so honor them through nutrition, rest, and movement. When you take care of yourself, you amplify your capacity to make a difference in the world.