Edward M. Kennedy Institute Names Dr. Diane M. Ryan Chief Executive Officer Effective October 2026

Interim CEO Joe Hale will transition to Chief Development Officer Role

October 20, 2026 (Boston, MA) — The Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the United States Senate today announced that Dr. Diane M. Ryan will become the organization’s Chief Executive Officer, effective October 27. A retired U.S. Army officer and educator with more than three decades of experience developing leaders, Ryan brings a deep commitment to public service and civic engagement. She succeeds Joe Hale, who has served as interim CEO since December 2025.

Founded by the late Senator Edward M. Kennedy, who earned the nickname “Lion of the Senate” through his nearly five-decade career in the U.S. Senate, the Kennedy Institute’s mission is to educate the public about the unique role of the Senate in our government and the power of finding common ground, while actively inspiring all Americans to keep our democracy and civic life vibrant.

“Dr. Ryan is a leader and educator with deep experience in civic engagement,” said Kennedy Institute board chair, The Honorable Joseph P. Kennedy III. “Her commitment to this vital work aligns with our mission to shape the next generation of citizens and leaders in our communities.”

“Kennedy Institute board chair Patrick Dorton added, “We are pleased to have Dr. Ryan join us as CEO and move the Institute forward, as we open a new and exciting chapter that encourages the public to learn more about the role of the Senate in our government and to experience democracy in action.”

“My career has been rooted in service and helping people develop their capacity to lead. I am honored and excited to bring that commitment to the Kennedy Institute and carry forward Senator Kennedy’s enduring legacy of public service, his determination to find common ground, and his belief in the promise of the next generation,” said Ryan. “At this consequential moment in our nation’s history, I look forward to working with the Institute’s team to help people realize their unique role in strengthening our democracy.”

Ryan served for eight years as Associate Dean for Programs, Administration & Research at the Jonathan M. Tisch College of Civic Life at Tufts University, overseeing programs and curricula serving undergraduate and graduate students and supporting faculty research and professional development. She will continue to lecture on global leadership and negotiation at Tufts’ Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy in addition to serving on the faculty of Thayer Leadership. Her teaching and research focus on leadership development, team performance, and organizational culture in civic contexts.

Before joining Tufts, Ryan was an Academy Professor, Director of the Eisenhower Leader Development Program in partnership with Columbia University, and Deputy Department Head in the Department of Behavioral Sciences and Leadership at the United States Military Academy at West Point. During her 29-year Army career, she served in command and staff assignments in the United States and abroad. While serving with the 1st Cavalry Division in Baghdad, she founded a U.S.–Iraqi partnership for military women and worked with nongovernmental organizations on peace and security initiatives. She retired at the rank of colonel and was inducted into the U.S. Army Women’s Hall of Fame for her efforts to advance women in leadership.

A graduate of the College of the Holy Cross, Ryan holds an M.S. in International Relations from Troy University, a Master of Strategic Studies from the U.S. Army War College, and a Ph.D. in Psychology from North Carolina State University. She serves on the boards of City Year Greater Boston and the Leader to Leader Institute.

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About the Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the United States Senate

Founded in 2015, the Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the United States Senate is dedicated to educating the public about the important role of the Senate in our government, encouraging participatory democracy, invigorating civil discourse, and inspiring the next generation of citizens and leaders to engage in the civic life of their communities. Home to the only full-scale replica of the United States Senate in the world, the Kennedy Institute also facilitates experiential civic education programs that has to date served nearly 200,000 students nationally. Learn more at emkinstitute.org.