Head of BlackRock, alumnus Laurence Fink to speak at 2016 commencement
Laurence D. Fink (center), chairman for BlackRock, will be the commencement speaker for the College of Letters and Science on June 10. (Creative Commons by Financial Times via Flickr)
By Roberto Luna Jr.
April 14, 2016 6:10 p.m.
Laurence D. Fink, UCLA alumnus and businessman, will be the keynote speaker at the UCLA College of Letters and Science commencement ceremonies on June 10 in Pauley Pavilion, UCLA officials announced Thursday.
In 1988, Fink helped create finance management company BlackRock, which has managed more than $4.6 trillion on behalf of clients. BlackRock manages pension funds, university endowments and retirements funds, among other accounts.
Joseph Rudnick, senior dean of the College of Letters and Science and dean of physical sciences, said he thinks Fink’s experience in business and finance can inspire graduates to be successful.
Fink received his bachelor’s degree from UCLA in 1974 and his MBA in 1976. He received the UCLA Medal, the university’s highest honor, in March. The UCLA Medal is awarded to people with distinguished academic and professional achievement, and whose work and contributions to society represent UCLA’s ideals.
Fink will speak at both commencement ceremonies June 10 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.
