I am pleased to announce our speakers for RPI’s 220th Commencement on May 16: Darío Gil, Ph.D., Under Secretary for Science at the U.S. Department of Energy, and Christine Ann Miller ’97, who most recently served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Melinta Therapeutics.

Darío brings a distinguished record of leadership at the intersection of science, technology, and public service, along with deep ties to RPI. As Under Secretary for Science, his office is the nation’s largest federal sponsor of basic research in the physical sciences, guiding programs across 17 National Laboratories in areas including advanced computing, fusion, nuclear and high energy particle physics, basic energy sciences, and biological and environmental research. Prior to this role, he served as IBM Senior Vice President and Director of Research, he was elected to the National Academy of Engineering for his contributions to artificial intelligence and quantum computing, and he was a member of the RPI Board of Trustees.  

Christine is a life sciences executive who most recently served as President and CEO of Melinta Therapeutics, where she led the company’s transformation into a leading hospital acute care business. During her tenure, Melinta nearly doubled revenue, secured multiple FDA approvals, expanded its portfolio through licensing and acquisitions, and achieved sustainable profitability, culminating in a successful strategic acquisition in 2025. Previously, Christine held senior global leadership roles at Sandoz, Actavis, and Merck, where she led portfolio transformation, product launches, and growth initiatives across branded and generic businesses. She is known for her people-first leadership style and has served on multiple corporate and nonprofit boards across the life sciences sector.  

Darío Gil and Christine Ann Miller embody our mission of applying science to the common purposes of life, and RPI is delighted to honor them in May. Please mark your calendars and join us at EMPAC on May 15 to hear and learn from our speakers during Colloquy.