Christopher Petrillo '18

Christopher Petrillo has dedicated his career to advancing the responsible use of data, technology, and artificial intelligence to expand access to open knowledge.

Today, he serves as head of product for Wikimedia Enterprise, where he leads strategy and development to optimize Wikimedia resources for commercial purposes, integrating them into technologies such as knowledge graphs, natural language processing applications, and large language models. He previously served as a product manager at Tempus Labs, helping to launch precision medicine products in oncology. He co-founded several start-ups in the AI and data space, and began his career as a data engineer at Amazon, where he worked on Alexa's artificial intelligence team.

In recognition of his impact in the field, he was named to the Forbes "30 Under 30" list in 2024. At UVM, Chris earned a Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering, with honors. As an undergraduate, he conducted research in signal processing for the new biomedical engineering program and served as a first responder with the Williston Fire Department. During his senior year, he was elected president of the Student Government Association.

His leadership and service earned him the prestigious Class of 1967 Senior Award in 2018. After graduation, he continued to build his expertise in natural language, genomic, and signal processing, transitioning into product management to expand the reach of open knowledge. He has presented his work at multiple conferences, advises startups in the AI field, and remains connected to his Vermont roots - his father, sister, and mother are also part of the UVM community.

Chris now lives in Seattle, where he balances his professional pursuits with an eclectic mix of pastimes that range from wildland firefighting and search and rescue to guitar, horticulture, and even a brief stint as a fisherman.

Since 1979, the Outstanding Young Alumni Award has been awarded to alumni who graduated within the past ten years and who are dynamic volunteers who have given dedicated personal service to the University of Vermont and are committed to furthering the mission of the University or are recognized for their outstanding contributions to their profession or life's work.