The School of Information announced today that Gigi Sohn, co-founder of non-profit Public Knowledge and former counselor to the Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) will deliver the keynote address at the School’s commencement ceremony on May 18, 2024, at Zellerbach Auditorium at UC Berkeley.
For over three decades, Sohn has been a passionate advocate for open, affordable and democratic communications networks. Most recently, she was nominated for the FCC commissioner position by President Joe Biden and previously served as counselor to former commissioner Tom Wheeler. In her role, she advised Wheeler on a wide range of Internet, telecommunications, and media issues and represented him in a variety of public forums around the country.
After receiving her J.D. from the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School, Sohn began her advocacy work in Washington D.C., joining Media Access Project — the first public interest law firm in the communications space. In 2001, she founded Public Knowledge, a communications and intellectual property policy advocacy organization, and served as CEO for twelve years. Currently, she serves as the Senior Fellow and Public Advocate at the Benton Institute for Broadband & Society and the Executive Director of the American Association for Public Broadband. Sohn sits on the Board of Directors of the Electronic Frontier Foundation and the Capital Jewish Museum.
For her dedication to an open internet, Sohn has been honored by various organizations, including the Electronic Frontier Foundation, the Nonprofit Times, the Daily Dot, the Coalition for Local Internet Choice, the Office of Communication of the United Church of Christ, and more.
“I am honored that Gigi Sohn has agreed to address the School of Information as our invited commencement speaker,” said Interim Dean and Professor Marti Hearst. “Her leadership in promoting a fair, open, and democratic internet, and exhibiting grace under pressure, is a model to emulate.”
