Hogan Institute Names Inaugural Executive Director and Faculty Director

U.S. Army veteran Colin Pascal and political science department chair Christine Wade will lead new nonpartisan initiative launching programming this fall, with former Lt. Gov. Boyd Rutherford and a distinguished Advisory Board guiding its work

The Hogan Institute today announced the appointment of Colin Pascal as its inaugural executive director and political science department chair Christine Wade as the first faculty director. Mr. Pascal and Dr. Wade will join a distinguished Advisory Board drawn from government, business, nonprofit, and academic life to steer the Institute, which was announced by former Maryland Governor Larry Hogan during his speech at the 243rd commencement at Washington College.

The appointment marks a significant step as the Institute prepares to launch programming later this fall, where students will engage directly with leaders and practitioners from across all levels of government to gain a clearer understanding of how governing works and how it can work better through workshops, seminars, and public forums.

Pascal will work with a distinguished Advisory Board that includes former Maryland Lt. Gov. Boyd Rutherford, Governor Hogan’s two-term governing partner.

“We are at an inflection point in American public life—a moment that demands leaders who put principle before politics and country before self,” said Governor Hogan. “The Hogan Institute exists to develop exactly those leaders. Colin Pascal’s commitment to service and leadership, together with the collective wisdom of our Advisory Board, gives the Institute a strong foundation. Together, they will help build its mission and carry it forward for Washington College students and the broader community.”

Pascal brings to the role a decorated 20-year career as a U.S. Army Military Intelligence officer and a record of national-security leadership.  A retired lieutenant colonel, he spent 52 months assigned in Iraq and Afghanistan, serving as an assistant Army attaché at the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad and as director of human intelligence and counterintelligence for Operation Inherent Resolve. He previously served as director of operations for the U.S. Army Foreign Counterintelligence Activity, overseeing sensitive counterintelligence operations worldwide. Pascal is a graduate of multiple specialized intelligence and counterintelligence qualification programs. He holds a bachelor’s degree in history from St. Bonaventure University and a master’s degree in military art and science from the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, and a Master of Public Administration from American University.

Working hand in hand with Pascal will be faculty director Dr. Christine Wade, the Louis L. Goldstein Chair in Public Affairs and chair of Washington College's political science department.  Wade is a prominent U.S scholar of Central American politics and has spent her career studying political violence, peacebuilding, democracy, authoritarianism, and human rights. She is the author of several major works on regional politics and has returned to the region regularly for more than three decades to conduct field research.  For 15 years Wade has directed programming for the Goldstein Program in Public Affairs, managing a speaker’s series and sponsoring student opportunities for experiential learning.  Wade will help to ensure the Institute’s programming is fully integrated into the academic experience of Washington College.

The Hogan Institute at Washington College is a nonpartisan initiative dedicated to leadership rooted in character, respect for institutions, and the discipline to work across differences in pursuit of the common good. Its work complements Washington College’s historic liberal arts mission of preparing citizen leaders through critical thinking, effective communication, and moral courage.
Drawing on Governor Hogan’s record of bipartisan governance, the Institute will explore how pragmatic, results-oriented leadership can still deliver meaningful outcomes for citizens. That example—and the values behind it—will shape the Institute’s approach to leadership development, public service, and civic engagement.

Appointed by Governor Hogan and Washington College President Bryan Matthews, members of the Advisory Board will advise Pascal on the Institute’s strategic direction and programming. The Board includes:

Thomas Kelso, Chairman. A former co-founder and operator of Ocean Petroleum Co., Kelso served as president of Matrix Capital Markets Group and led its Downstream Energy and Convenience Retail Investment Banking Group. A longtime civic leader and Hogan ally, he has chaired An America United, Change Maryland, the Maryland Stadium Authority, and Governor Hogan’s campaigns for governor and U.S. Senate. He currently chairs the Kelso Bishop Family Foundation and serves on the board of Cross America Partners LP.

Lt. Governor Boyd Rutherford. Maryland’s ninth lieutenant governor, now a partner at Davis, Agnor, Rapaport & Skalny in Columbia, Maryland. An accomplished attorney with extensive public- and private-sector experience, he previously served as associate administrator of the U.S. General Services Administration, assistant secretary for administration at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and secretary of the Maryland Department of General Services.

Amelia Chassé Alcivar. Executive vice president of corporate affairs at HRP Group, a real estate investment firm specializing in complex redevelopment projects. She previously served as Governor Hogan’s chief of staff—the first woman to hold the position—and held senior communications roles at the Republican Governors Association and in the office of Texas Governor Greg Abbott.

Edward Burchell III. Chief of staff at The Hogan Group, with previous experience as director of operations for Governor Hogan’s U.S. Senate campaign and as special assistant to the governor. He is also a founding member of the Cyber Sciences Program at Loyola Blakefield High School.
Richard Creighton. Retired owner and CEO of TMG Custom Media, an independent custom publishing and multimedia marketing firm he co-founded in 1981. An emeritus member of the Washington College Board of Visitors and Governors, Creighton is a 1973 graduate of the College.

Hilary Harp Falk. President and CEO of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, where she began her career as an intern in 1997. She previously held senior roles at the National Wildlife Federation and has served on the Washington College Board of Visitors and Governors since 2023.

Raquel Gomez Fernandez. An environmental and social research analyst in the Office of the Compliance Advisor Ombudsman at the World Bank Group. A 2016 Washington College graduate, she holds a master’s degree in public policy and international development from The George Washington University.

Stephen Golding. Former chair of the Washington College Board of Visitors and Governors and managing partner of the 1782 Group, a higher-education consulting firm. He brings more than 35 years of investment-management and financial-leadership experience and previously served as budget director and secretary of finance for the State of Delaware.

Andrew King. Founder and president of Neale Creek LLC, a government-affairs and political-consulting firm. He spent nearly two decades as a senior staff member to Sen. Lindsey Graham, overseeing appropriations with a focus on defense, energy, and international affairs.

Edward Nordberg Jr. Senior managing director at ABR Capital Partners and a former chair of the Washington College Board of Visitors and Governors. An experienced real-estate and finance executive, he holds an MBA from Loyola University and a J.D. from Georgetown University.

Michael Ricci. A partner at Seven Letter, a bipartisan strategic communications and public-affairs firm in Washington. Ricci spent nearly 15 years on Capitol Hill in senior communications roles under House Speakers John Boehner and Paul Ryan, and served as communications director for Governor Hogan during his second term.

Christopher Shank. A public-policy consultant with more than 30 years of experience in Maryland state government. He served 16 years in the Maryland General Assembly, including as minority whip, and held senior roles in the Hogan-Rutherford Administration, including deputy chief of staff and chief legislative officer.

Tiffany Waddell. A government-relations executive with extensive experience advancing bipartisan policy at the state and federal levels. She most recently served as director of government relations at the National Governors Association and previously spent nearly six years as senior advisor and director of federal relations for Governor Hogan.

Minty Abraham Wade. Formally served as deputy director of strategic planning, program, and resource management for USAID and now holds a leadership position with Amazon’s Fleet Planning and Capacity. A Washington College Alumni Board member, she is a 2004 graduate of the College and holds a master’s degree in international relations and affairs from the University of Pittsburgh.

In addition to Pascal and Wade, the Advisory Board also includes as ex-officio members: Washington College President Bryan Matthews '75 M'86 P'12; Susie Chase ’90 P'21, the College’s chief advancement and revenue officer; and Victor Sensenig, chief of staff and vice president for planning and policy.

About the Hogan Institute at Washington College

The Hogan Institute at Washington College is a nonpartisan initiative dedicated to advancing principled leadership, civic engagement, and the founding ideals of public service. Announced by former Maryland Governor Larry Hogan at Washington College’s 243rd Commencement in May 2026, the Institute will launch formal programming in fall 2026. Its work is grounded in Washington College’s tradition of preparing citizen leaders through critical thinking, effective communication, and moral courage.

About Washington College

Washington College, Maryland’s premier liberal arts college, enrolls approximately 1,000 undergraduates from more than 39 states and territories and 23 nations. Washington is known for outstanding academics in more than 50 academic programs. With an emphasis on experiential learning opportunities across the disciplines—from internships and research to international study and civic engagement—Washington prepares students for successful careers and lives after graduation. The College is home to nationally recognized academic centers in the environment, history, and writing, as well as the 5,000-acre River and Field Campus, which provides unique research opportunities for students and faculty. Additionally, the recently launched Warehime School of Business is redefining business education by blending strategy and economics with a global liberal arts perspective. Launching this fall, Warehime empowers bold thinkers to lead across industries through a curriculum rooted in purpose, world languages, and hands-on experience.