Dorothy L. Bizzini

Honorary Degrees
 
 

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California State University, Stanislaus​

​​Dorothy L. Bizzini has devoted more than five decades to supporting and serving public higher education in California’s Central Valley. From California State University, Sacramento to California State University, Stanislaus, from Merced College to the University of California, Merced, students, faculty and staff all have benefitted, and will continue to benefit from Ms. Bizzini for years to come, because of her advocacy and philanthropy.

A Central Valley native and graduate of Gustine High School, Ms. Bizzini is an advocate, humanitarian, philanthropist, former registered nurse and business owner, overseeing Atwater/Merced Veterinary Clinic, Bizzini Investments, Bizzini Properties and Dorothy Lee Apartments. She is married to Dr. E.W. (Bill) Bizzini, a retired veterinarian. Both were the first in their families to earn a college degree. Ms. Bizzini holds a Registered Nursing Diploma from Sacramento Junior College and a Bachelor of Arts in Nursing Education from California State University, Sacramento. The Bizzini’s have made generous gifts and invested significant time in support of higher education. To date, they have offered million-dollar gifts to Stanislaus State, UC Merced and Merced College. Ms. Bizzini has advocated for and supported Stanislaus State for more than 50 years, dating back to her attendance at Stanislaus State’s first campus commencement ceremony in 1965. Since then, she has been the university’s guest at nearly all commencement ceremonies. She has served on the California State University, Stanislaus Foundation Board since 1991, and was the board president from 1999 to 2000. She currently chairs the board’s Finance and Investment Committee and this year enthusiastically assumed the leadership role for an initiative to raise scholarship funds for Stanislaus State student-athletes. Ms. Bizzini has been active with Rotary International for more than 25 years, serving as district governor and making several humanitarian and medical mission trips to Central America, Ghana, Thailand and other countries.

Ms. Bizzini represents the humane values consistent with the California State University and the region served by California State University, Stanislaus has significantly benefitted from her endeavors and generosity. In recognition of her professional accomplishments as a business and community leader and of her role as a hands-on higher education philanthropist, the Board of Trustees of the California State University and California State University, Stanislaus are proud to confer upon Ms. Dorothy L. Bizzini the honorary degree of Doctor of Humane Letters. ​​