She started out taking calls from customers unhappy about their coffee at Dunkin’ Donuts’ corporate office. Today, Margaret Miller helps shape global conversations about public health and development at one of the world’s most influential organizations.
Miller, a senior program officer at the Gates Foundation, shared her unconventional path from Boston University to global health leadership during Stevenson University’s 17th annual Shapiro/Rouse Lecture on Monday, October 7. More than 80 students and faculty filled the library’s auditorium for the event, reflecting the high interest in this year’s speaker.
Sponsored by the Shapiro family and hosted by Stevenson’s Department of Communication, the annual lecture brings distinguished professionals to campus to discuss how communication drives impact across industries.
“Every year we bring someone with a different lens on communication,” said Chip Rouse, co-founder of the lecture series. “This year reminded students that communication is essential not just in business, but in global health and social change.”
A journey from photojournalism to public health
Miller began by recounting her early ambitions as a photojournalist at Boston University. A freshman-year trip to Tanzania, working in an HIV clinic and orphanage—changed her trajectory entirely.
“It opened my eyes to how communication could give a voice to people who aren’t always heard,” she said.
After switching her focus to public relations, Miller’s first job after graduation came in an unexpected setting: Dunkin’ Donuts’ corporate office.
“I would take phone calls from unhappy customers complaining about too much cream in their coffee,” she said, laughing. “It wasn’t glamorous, but it taught me empathy and how to think about communication from the customer’s point of view.”
That experience, she told students, became a foundation for her later work in public health. “I think about that job a lot,” she added. “It gave me the range of how to talk to people.”
Communicating for global impact
After her time in corporate communications, Miller moved into the nonprofit sector, joining Management Sciences for Health and later the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security. There, she worked on communication strategies for complex global health issues.
Today, at the Gates Foundation, Miller helps lead the Goalkeepers initiative—a global campaign that uses data and storytelling to highlight progress on issues such as child health, education, and poverty.
“Our goal is to make data meaningful,” she explained. “Numbers can show progress, but stories make that progress real.”
Miller also discussed the importance of communication during crises, reflecting on her leadership during the foundation’s COVID-19 response. The pandemic, she said, revealed just how quickly misinformation can spread.
“During COVID, we learned that facts alone aren’t enough,” she said. “You have to connect data to people’s lived experiences and proactively fill the space with accurate, transparent information.”
Balancing truth and noise
Miller described the challenge of managing an “information-saturated world,” urging students to stay grounded and intentional in how they engage with media.
“There’s so much noise,” she said. “You have to focus your time and energy on the things that matter most.”
She added that she takes “media-free weekends” to reset and reflect, advice that resonated with students and faculty alike.
Dr. Amanda Hostalka, Dean of School of Design, Art, and Communication, said Miller’s message was a timely one for communication students.
“The idea of spending 75% of your time on what matters most really resonated with me,” she said. “It’s a powerful reminder for students who are learning to focus in a world full of distractions.”
Student perspectives
Students in attendance said Miller’s career story and authenticity made a strong impression.
Michael Rosa, a communication major, said he appreciated hearing from a professional who uses communication to create change on a global scale.
“It was a great opportunity to hear from someone whose work has such impact,” Rosa said. “As a Hispanic student, I was especially inspired to hear about how communication can elevate diverse voices and communities.”
The series’ ongoing impact
Reflecting on the event, Rouse said the lecture continues to fulfill the vision of co-founder Ron Shapiro, who created the series to highlight communication’s central role across professions.
“Ron’s goal was to show how communication functions at the heart of every organization,” Rouse said. “Margaret Miller captured that perfectly.”
As the evening concluded, Miller left students with one final piece of advice: embrace uncertainty.
“Your path won’t be linear,” she said. “Take the opportunities that come your way, even the ones that seem random. Each one will teach you something and eventually lead you exactly where you’re meant to be.”
The Shapiro/Rouse Lecture Series, founded by Ron Shapiro and Chip Rouse, brings professionals from across the communication field to Stevenson University each year. Past speakers have represented areas from public relations to community engagement, reflecting the program’s mission to showcase the versatility of communication in every field.
