Dr. Ryan Jasen Henne | Associate Vice President and Dean of Students
Pronouns: he/him/his
Contact: Currently, email is the best way to contact Dr. Henne.
Email: dos@sonoma.edu
Phone: 707.664.3078
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00am-5:00pm
Dr. Ryan Jasen Henne is the Dean of Students. In his role, he provides support and supervision to the Student Engagement departments of Campus Recreation, Residential Education and Campus Housing (REACH), Student Conduct, and Student Involvement within the division of Student Affairs. He also provides supervision to the Care Coordinator.
He earned his B.S. from East Carolina University in Communication and Business and his M.Ed. from Grand Valley State University.
Since graduate school, he has worked in higher education at Occidental College, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Washington University in St. Louis, Tulane University, and most recently, the University of Alaska at Anchorage. Dr. Henne earned his Ph.D. in Educational Leadership & Counseling Foundations from the University of New Orleans.
He enjoys California living, being a part of Noma Nation, and helping students maximize their undergraduate and graduate experiences. His hobbies include movies, league sports, line-dancing, and spending time with his husband, Justin; their children, Giovanni, Faith, Lincoln, Shiloh, Dashiell, and Tatum; and their smaller family members, Dax, Pancho, and Rainbow Sprinkles.
Service and Involvement
American College Personnel Association (ACPA), International
National Association of Student Affairs Administrators (NASPA)
Northwest Association of College/University Housing Officers (NWACUHO)
Association of College/University Housing Officers, International (ACUHO-I)
National Intramural-Recreational Sports Association (NIRSA)
Association of Fraternity Advisors (AFA)
Delta Sigma Phi Fraternity (ΔΣΦ)
Benjamin Ellis | Director of Student Conduct
Contact: Currently, email is the best way to contact The Director of Student Conduct.
Email: ben.ellis@sonoma.edu
Phone: 707.664.3396
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00am-5:00pm
Ben Ellis is the Director of Student Conduct. In his role, he is the primary source of information for student conduct and academic integrity. Using Title V: Standards of Student Conduct, the Office of Student Conduct strives to ensure the fair administration of the student conduct process while supporting a safe and inclusive educational environment for all students. Ben also provides oversight of the Residential Education and Campus Housing (REACH) conduct process, Club & Organization conduct, facilitates the alcohol & other drug education and abuse prevention program, and serves on the Care Team.
He earned a B.S. in Physical Education and a M.A. in Counseling: Student Affairs from Western Kentucky University.
Since graduate school, he has worked in higher education at Western Kentucky University, The University of The Pacific, and joined the Sonoma State team in 2015. Ben has specialized training in Life Space Crisis Intervention (LSCI) and Restorative Justice from the International Institute for Restorative Practices (IIRP).
He enjoys Sonoma County living, being a part of Noma Nation, and helping students develop and learn through taking responsibility for actions. Ben enjoys watching documentary films, collecting and reading antique books, hiking, visiting museums, fixing things, volunteering, watching wading birds, going on trail walks with his gigantic ragdoll cat Buster G, parenting, and spending quality time with his partner Marcy.
Edie Brown | Basic Needs & Care Team Lead Coordinator
Email: browned@sonoma.edu
Phone: 707.664.4157
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00am-5:00pm
Edie Brown is the Basic Needs and Care Team Lead Coordinator. In her role, Edie oversees and coordinates Emergency and Transitional Housing and Emergency Grants for students as part of the SSU Basic Needs Initiative. She also reviews and delegates/manages student of concern reports that are submitted and works with students to provide university and community support and resources as a member of the CARE team.
Edie began working at SSU in 2001 as a professional academic advisor in EOP, Advising, and Career. She transitioned to the office of the Vice President for Student Affairs in 2020 as a Student Affairs Programs Coordinator working on research and assessment and special programs for staff and students in the DSA. She took a three-year hiatus to work for one of the CSU Staff unions and returned to SSU and the Division in June 2023.
She enjoys living in Santa Rosa. Originally from San Francisco, she spent many summers on the Russian River with her family. She loves working with students and helping them achieve their goals and dreams. Edie enjoys spending time with her family - Dan, James, Matthew, and their Husky Blue. She loves playing pool, reading, road trips, concerts, and hanging with friends.
