Cornell alumnus, venture capitalist to lecture on biotechnology

MOUNT VERNON — A Cornell College chemistry alumnus, former president of Colorado State University and current partner in a venture capital firm focused on biotechnology will lecture on “Biotechnology as the Next U.S. Economic Driver” at 11:15 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 9, at Cornell.

The lecture is in Ringer Recital Studio of Armstrong Hall. Admission is free.

Ralph “Chris” Christoffersen is general partner at Morgenthaler Ventures in Boulder, Colo. After receiving a Cornell degree in chemistry and mathematics in 1959, he completed a doctorate in physical chemistry at Indiana University and served on the chemistry faculty and in academic affairs administration at the University of Kansas. He was president of Colorado State for two years before joining the pharmaceutical industry in 1983, first as a senior researcher at The Upjohn Co. and SmithKline Beecham, and then as CEO of Ribozyme Pharmaceuticals. He joined Morgenthaler Ventures in 2001.

Christoffersen returns to Cornell as part of the Beta Omicron Distinguished Alumni Visitors Program. During his stay he will visit a class on capital markets and meet with economics and business students and faculty, plus members of the Cornell Financial Group, a student organization.