An expert in artificial intelligence, Pradeep Khosla (right) has been chancellor of my alma mater, UC San Diego, for 11 years, supercharging its reputation as a national R&D powerhouse, especially in computer and biological sciences. I made it through with a political science degree in June 1980, a year ahead of famed venture capitalist Jamie Montgomery of The Parish of St. Matthew – The Episcopal Church in Pacific Palisades. Jamie having put a bug in the chancellor’s ear, I was their guest Thursday evening at a downtown reception for LA alums featuring a fascinating Jamie-Pradeep colloquy about innovation. Go here for an earlier reflection on UCSD by an alumnus who, with my 1973 stats, wouldn’t have gotten past Dr. Khosla’s admissions department today.