CHESTERTOWN — Following what has been described as “a highly successful 10-month tenure as interim president,” Washington College’s Board of Visitors and Governors unanimously approved a three-year contract that extends Bryan Matthews’ leadership through June 2029, effective immediately.
Matthews’ official appointment as president of his alma mater was announced in a news release Thursday, May 14 — as Washington College prepares to celebrate its 243rd commencement on Sunday with former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan giving the keynote address.
He had been serving as interim president since mid-August, an appointment that coincided with the arrival of students on campus for the fall 2025 semester.
The board had set a term of up to two years for the interim appointment as it launched a national search for the next permanent president.
Matthews, Class of 1975, is a longtime Kent County resident with significant ties to the college and community.
He succeeds Mike Sosulski, who stepped down last July after four years at the helm here to accept the presidency at Lake Forest College in Illinois.
“Matthews’ interim tenure has been defined by significant institutional momentum and a focus on future-ready initiatives,” a news release states.
Most notably, on April 20, Matthews oversaw groundbreaking of the Warehime School of Business, which will integrate ethical leadership with the liberal arts.
Also under Matthews’ watch, the college has advanced a new innovation plant at 800 High St., a progressive makerspace and entrepreneurship hub designed to foster workforce development and community partnerships.
“President Matthews has demonstrated thoughtful leadership, transparency and an unwavering commitment to the mission of Washington College,” Richard T. “Rick” Wheeler ’86, chairman of the Board of Visitors and Governors, said in a statement. “We have seen meaningful progress across key institutional priorities and a renewed sense of energy and confidence among our stakeholders. Dr. Matthews is uniquely positioned to lead the college into our next chapter of long-term strength and sustainability.”
With his permanent appointment, Matthews has outlined a strategic vision focused on elevating the college’s national profile while deepening its roots in the Chestertown and Kent County communities.
His primary goals for the 2024-2029 term, outlined in the news release, include:
• Institutional sustainability: Implementing long-term financial and administrative strategies to ensure Washington College remains a premier liberal arts destination for the next generation.
• Student success and outcomes: Prioritizing curricular innovation and experiential learning to improve student retention and ensure graduates are prepared for high-impact careers and civic leadership.
• Community integration: Strengthening the vital partnership between the college and the Eastern Shore, leveraging his deep ties to the region to amplify the positive economic and cultural impact of the campus.
• Enrollment and marketing momentum: Building upon recent advancements in recruitment to grow the student body and share the unique story of Washington College’s 244-year legacy with a broader audience.
“Washington College is and has been central to my life for over 50 years,” Matthews said in a statement. “I am grateful to the Board for their continued support and appreciate the work and dedication our faculty, staff and students have demonstrated over the past 10 months. We have significant work ahead, in a tough marketplace. But each day, our Washington College community becomes better and better at meeting challenges and taking advantage of many new opportunities. I know we will make significant progress over the next several years.”
Matthews is the second alumnus to serve as president of Washington College. The first was Joe McLain, Ph.D., Class of 1937, a former chemistry professor at his alma mater who was the college president from 1973 until his death in 1981.
Matthews’ ties to Washington College — as a student-athlete, coach and administrator — span decades.
He retired in 2016 after 22 years as athletic director on the hill, and a total of 38 years working in higher education.
Matthews was an All-America lacrosse goalie for the Shoremen and the outstanding male athlete in the Class of 1975.
He returned to Washington College in 1977 as a member of the admissions staff and as assistant lacrosse coach.
The following year he ascended to the head coaching job.
His last team at Washington — the 1982 team that went 13-4 — lost in overtime to Hobart in the NCAA Division III championship game. For his outstanding coaching performance that year, Matthews was named the Division III Coach of the Year.
The U.S. Naval Academy lured Matthews away from Chestertown, and he became the Midshipmen’s head lacrosse coach in 1983. He was the Division I Coach of the Year in 1986.
Matthews spent 12 years on the Annapolis campus as head lacrosse coach and a tenured professor of physical education.
He left Navy to return to Chestertown and his alma mater in 1994 as the athletic director.
Matthews also served Washington College in various roles outside of athletics — as assistant to the president for special projects from 2014 to 2016; associate vice president of administrative services [overseeing both public safety and dining services at different points during that tenure] from 2005 to 2014; and as interim vice president and dean of students from 2004 to 2006.
He holds a B.A. in political science and an M.A. in psychology from Washington College, and a doctorate in educational leadership and innovation from Wilmington University.
Since leaving Washington College, Matthews has continued to be a leader in the Chestertown community, first serving as vice president of KRM Development Corporation and most recently as director of community and government relations for The Dixon Group.
He also has served Kent County through volunteer work, as a former president of the Kent County Chamber of Commerce, and current board member of Mid-Shore Community Foundation and Character Counts Kent County.
Matthews’ wife Sue [Dunning] and their youngest son Garrett also are graduates of Washington College.
All three of the Matthewses’ sons attended public schools in Kent County.
Additional reporting by Trish McGee.
