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Marian T. Ryan, a graduate of the Emmanuel College Class of 1976 and the current District Attorney of Middlesex County, Massachusetts, has become Chair of the College’s Board of Trustees, following a unanimous vote of the Board at its Fall 2026 meeting. She succeeds Margaret L. McKenna ’83, who after a decade-long tenure as Chair will remain on the Board as Vice Chair.
Widely recognized as one of the Commonwealth’s leading public officials, Ryan serves a highly diverse county that is home to over one-quarter of the state’s population. Among constituents and fellow public servants alike, she has earned praise for ensuring the fairness and integrity of the more than 30,000 prosecutions her office conducts each year.
“Marian Ryan is an unwavering advocate for Emmanuel and its mission,” said President Beth Ross. “As a devoted alumna, she brings a personal understanding of the educational experience and its transformative power. As a distinguished public servant, she is keenly aware of the role that the College and its graduates play in sustaining the strength of our communities, institutions, and civil society. I look forward to working with her and all the Trustees as we continue to make the most of the unique possibilities before the College in the years to come.”
A cum laude graduate of Boston College Law School, Ryan has maintained close ties to Emmanuel throughout her career. Over the years she has served as an adjunct professor of law at the College and spoken frequently with groups of students and alumni. She has also mentored Emmanuel students and graduates pursuing careers in law, public service, and law enforcement.
In 2017, Ryan joined the Board of Trustees and more recently was elected Vice Chair. In 2025, Emmanuel conferred on her an honorary Doctor of Laws degree, recognizing her longstanding commitments to justice, transparency, and the protection of vulnerable communities.
Delivering the College’s Commencement address that year, Ryan reflected on the enduring influence of her Emmanuel education. She credited the College with teaching her how to be a lifelong learner, how to find her voice as a leader, and how to balance accountability with compassion throughout her career as a prosecutor.
“Since my first visit to campus at age 6, I have loved Emmanuel,” said Ryan on her election. “The experiences I had in and beyond the classroom, and the connections I made with faculty and friends, have shaped me in profound ways. To serve now as Board Chair—especially at this exciting moment in the College’s history—is a true privilege. I am eager to build on the momentum of recent years and advance the conditions for our mission to thrive in extraordinary new ways.”
As Chair, Ryan follows fellow alumna Margaret McKenna, who has led the Board since 2016. During her tenure as Chair, McKenna played an indispensable role in guiding Emmanuel through one of the most consequential periods in its history. Her leadership helped shape initiatives ranging from the construction of St. Julie Hall and the Centennial celebration to navigating the challenges of the pandemic and advancing programs and resources in response to the evolving needs of students.
“Marian Ryan is an exceptional leader whose commitment to service is evident in everything she does,” said McKenna, a senior advisor at Fidelity Investments. “It is an honor to continue to collaborate with her, President Ross, and all the Trustees to develop the ethical and effective leaders our society needs more than ever.”
Ryan steps into her new role as Emmanuel continues to implement Together We Thrive: Emmanuel College Strategic Plan 2024-2034. The plan serves as a roadmap for capitalizing on the unique opportunities created by the convergence of the College’s people, values, and location in the heart of Boston and within the Longwood Medical and Academic Area, one of the world’s leading ecosystems of biomedical discovery, patient care, education, and the arts.