Mayor Garcetti

Mayor Garcetti

Columbia College has announced that L.A. Mayor, Columbia Urban Experience founder, and All My Children actor Eric Garcetti (CC ’92) will be the keynote speaker at this year’s Class Day. After graduating from the College, Garcetti went on to SIPA, where he earned his master’s degree in International Affairs. He followed this up with a stint in East Africa and professorships at USC and Occidental College before finally finding his way into Los Angeles politics.

From the announcement:

“We are honored that Eric Garcetti CC’92 has accepted our invitation to return to campus to speak to the graduating class of 2015. Eric was on the Columbia College Student Council, performed in the Varsity Show, and rowed freshmen crew. He left a special legacy at the College, as the founder of CUE, which has introduced generations of Columbians to the city and the community,” said James J. Valentini, dean of Columbia College and vice president for Undergraduate Education. “Eric, now the mayor of Los Angeles, the nation’s second largest city, is one of our most distinguished former students. We are looking forward to welcoming him back to campus for Class Day.”

Ben Horowitz

Ben Horowitz

SEAS, meanwhile, went with Ben Horowitz (CC ’88), a tech executive and venture capitalist who has had a hand in such great successes as AOL and Netscape. Horowitz is now a parter at his own VC firm, Andreessen Horowitz, and serves on the Columbia University board of trustees.

From the announcement:

“We are very pleased to have Ben Horowitz as our Class Day speaker this year,” said Mary C. Boyce, dean of Engineering and Morris A. and Alma Schapiro Professor. “As a Columbia College graduate with both a BS and MS in computer science, as a Columbia College parent, and as a Columbia University trustee, Ben epitomizes the intersection of academic scholarship with the vibrant entrepreneurial spirit that permeates not just Columbia Engineering but also the University. I know he will inspire our students to take what they’ve learned both inside and outside our classrooms and work hard to transform our world.”

For a preview of Horowitz’s wisdom, look no further than “Ben’s Blog,” where he posts his darkest fantasies business musings.

SEAS’s class day will take place on May 18th and CC’s the day after.