The School of Information announced today that Arati Prabhakar, former Science and Technology Advisor to President Biden, will deliver the keynote speech at the School’s commencement ceremony at UC Berkeley’s Hearst Greek Theatre on Monday, May 19, 2025.
Prabhakar has worked on public-interest technology over the course of four decades. Most recently, from October 2022 to January 2025, she served as Science and Technology Advisor to President Biden, where she advised the president on health outcomes, overcoming the climate crisis, and artificial intelligence, including laying the groundwork for the Executive Order on AI. She simultaneously served as the Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP), co-chair of the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology, and a member of the President’s Cabinet.
“Her leadership in shaping AI policy, advancing scientific innovation, and driving public-interest technology makes her a perfect choice to speak to our graduates as they embark on their own journeys to create meaningful impact in the world.”
In 1993, at age 34, she was unanimously confirmed by the U.S. Senate to lead the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), the first woman to lead the agency. From 2012-2017, she was Director of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), where, under her leadership, they kick-started the development of a rapid-response mRNA vaccine platform that later made possible the fastest safe and effective vaccine development in world history in response to COVID-19.
“Arati is a visionary leader who has dedicated her career to harnessing technology for the public good,” said Professor Deirdre Mulligan. “Having worked alongside her at the White House OSTP, I saw her drive ethical research and innovation to achieve our country’s grand ambitions and tackle the world’s challenges.”
In addition to her contributions to public interest technology, Prabhakar is a renowned engineer. After graduating from the California Institute of Technology as the first woman to earn a doctorate in applied physics, she held leadership positions at companies Raychem and Interval Research and worked on projects involving broadband technologies and specialty materials manufacturing. She also became a partner at U.S. Venture Partners, investing in semiconductor and cleantech startups. In 2018, she co-founded Actuate, a nonprofit organization that designed innovative research and development programs.
Her contributions to the private and public sectors have earned her recognition from many notable organizations. In 2024, Prabhakar was named one of the most influential people in AI by TIME Magazine. She is a fellow of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) and a member of the National Academy of Engineering, and she was a fellow at the Center for Advanced Study in the Behavioral Sciences at Stanford University.
This year she will join a distinguished group as a UC Berkeley Executive Fellow in Applied Technology Policy through the School of Information and Goldman School of Public Policy.
“I think our community will be inspired by Arati Prabhakar’s insights based on her stellar career at the intersection of technology, policy, and public service,” said Dean Eric Meyer. “She sets an example that aligns with the values we strive to instill in our students at the School of Information. Her leadership in shaping AI policy, advancing scientific innovation, and driving public-interest technology makes her a perfect choice to speak to our graduates as they embark on their own journeys to create meaningful impact in the world.”
“As the capabilities and evolution of our technologies accelerate, the choices we make about them now will define the world for generations to come,” said Prabhakar. “UC Berkeley’s School of Information is equipping students with the knowledge and ethical foundation to lead in this critical moment. I’m thrilled to celebrate this year’s graduates as they embark on their journeys to shape a better future for all of us.”
