Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) today announced that Darío Gil, Ph.D., Under Secretary for Science at the U.S. Department of Energy, and Christine Ann Miller, ‘97, most recently the President and Chief Executive Officer of Melinta Therapeutics, will serve as commencement speakers at RPI's 2026 Commencement Ceremony.  

Gil brings to the podium a distinguished record of leadership at the intersection of science, technology, and public service, as well as deep ties to RPI. As Under Secretary for Science, his office serves as the nation's largest federal sponsor of basic research in the physical sciences, overseeing all 17 National Laboratories and guiding programs in advanced computing, fusion energy, nuclear and high energy particle physics, and biological and environmental research.  

Prior to his current role, Gil served as IBM Senior Vice President and Director of Research, where he led one of the world's largest and most influential corporate research organizations. He was also a member of the RPI Board of Trustees. Gil was elected to the National Academy of Engineering for his contributions to artificial intelligence and quantum computing and holds a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science from MIT, along with two honorary doctorates. 

Christine Miller 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.

“I am delighted that Darío Gil and Christine Ann Miller have agreed to join us in celebrating the class of 2026,” said Martin A. Schmidt ’81, Ph.D., president of RPI. “We look forward to celebrating our 220th Commencement with them.”  

RPI will host its 220th Commencement ceremony on Saturday, May 16, at 8:30 a.m. at the East Campus Athletic Village (ECAV) stadium. A live stream of the ceremony will be available for guests who cannot attend. Additional details, including ticketing and logistics, are available at commencement.rpi.edu.