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Veteran venture capitalist Franklin "Pitch" Johnson urged graduates of Palo Alto University to develop high standards of personal integrity and then live up to them.

In graduation ceremonies Saturday, June 23, the 37-year-old institution, known until 2009 as the Pacific Graduate School of Psychology, awarded 136 undergraduate and graduate degrees in psychology.

Johnson, founder and CEO of Palo Alto-based Asset Management Co., is a member of Palo Alto University's advisory council. He spoke to a crowd of about 800, including graduates and their families, in Foothill College's Smithwick Theater.

Johnson's firm has made more than 250 venture investments in its 47 years of operation, including stakes in Amgen, Octel, Qume, Remedy, Sierra Semiconductor, Tandem Computer, Teradyne and Verity. Johnson also has taught a class on entrepreneurship and venture capital at Stanford Graduate School of Business and chaired the board of the San Francisco Opera from 1999 to 2008.

"Your standards, and living up to them, are the best definition of who you are because it is how you see yourself and how others see you," Johnson told the graduates.

"It comes ahead of job titles, professional recognition or personal wealth, although it can be an enabling factor in achieving those other measures of success."

In Saturday's ceremony, Palo Alto University awarded 39 PhDs, 29 doctorates in psychology, five masters degrees, 31 undergraduate degrees in business psychology and 32 undergraduate degrees in psychology and social action.

— Palo Alto Weekly staff

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