Maz Jobrani, the Iranian-American comedian and actor, delivered the commencement address at UC Berkeley in 2017 — his own alma mater. In a speech that blended comedy with passionate advocacy for immigrants and free speech, Jobrani traced his journey from fleeing the Iranian Revolution at age six to standing at the podium of one of the world's top universities. He noted the irony that Berkeley had originally invited Barack Obama, who declined, and they settled on him — 'a man who pretends to do stuff on TV.' But beneath the humor was a powerful statement about what America means to immigrants who risk everything for a better life.