ERIC SCHMIDT
Electrical Engineering and Computer Science M.S. '79, Ph.D. '82 | Executive Chairman, Google
 

Eric Schmidt remembers himself as "a very nerdy student." But his years in the computer science program at Berkeley set the stage for his eventual eminence in the digital present and future. Berkeley, he says today, offered "an unusual combination of some of the best theoreticians in the world, as well as very strong programs around making things happen, literally writing code to change the world."

And that's just what he would go on to do: over the past decade—as CEO, and now executive chairman—Dr. Schmidt has helped Google grow from a Silicon Valley startup to a global leader in technology and information—and a household word. He is now responsible for the external matters of Google: building partnerships and broader business relationships, government outreach and technology thought leadership, and advising the CEO and senior leadership. A member of the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology, Dr. Schmidt, with wife Wendy, also administers The Eric Schmidt Family Foundation, which addresses issues of sustainability and the responsible use of natural resources.

"It never would have occurred to me that I would be recognized by Berkeley for anything," Dr. Schmidt says about being honored as Alumnus of the Year. "You never know when you go to school how well you'll do, or what will happen after. One of the great things about Berkeley is that it puts together some of the smartest people in the world in interesting and odd ways—and magic happens."

Photo courtesy of Google