By Office of the Maryland Comptroller
Comptroller Brooke E. Lierman today announced that Chief of Staff Rianna Matthews-Brown will depart the Office of the Comptroller of Maryland on April 30, concluding her tenure as a senior leader in the agency during a period of significant transformation and growth. Matthews-Brown was the first African-American person to serve as Chief of Staff for the Comptroller of Maryland. She will serve Johns Hopkins Medicine (JHM) as the new vice president and chief of staff, starting April 30.
“Rianna has been a trusted partner and friend for many years,” said Maryland Comptroller Brooke E. Lierman. “I’ve known her to be someone who leads with integrity, thoughtfulness and a deep commitment to public service. I’m grateful that she jumped in when I was sworn in more than three years ago and have loved working in partnership with her every day. She has helped shape not only this agency, but the way we show up for Marylanders. I look forward to cheering her on in her new role.”
As chief of staff, Matthews-Brown has played a central role in helping to execute Comptroller Lierman’s vision and priorities for the agency – from shaping the agency’s strategic direction, strengthening operations and advancing initiatives to improve service delivery and expand access to resources for Marylanders.
During her tenure, she helped secure over $1.5 million in funding over four years through legislation to support outreach on key tax credits, including the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and led the launch of the agency’s first-ever statewide EITC awareness campaign. She also advanced taxpayer protections by leading the legislative effort to establish the Office of the Taxpayer Advocate (OTA) in 2025 and oversaw its implementation,
including hiring the division’s director.
“When I reflect on my time here at the Comptroller of Maryland, I am at once proud and thankful for the work we have done and the team we have built. I am inspired by you – the staff at this agency who make our impact possible,” said Matthews-Brown, in a letter sent to the staff of the Comptroller’s Office.
“I came into this role through my connection with Comptroller Lierman; she and I have known each other for over two decades and have worked together over these years as colleagues and friends – at times on opposite sides of the issues,” she said. “And today, nearly four years after making the wonderful, life-changing decision to join this team, my relationship with Brooke is stronger, my belief in her leadership is firmer and my faith in the future of this state is as solid as ever.”
Matthews-Brown said that working for the Comptroller has felt “like coming home.”
“It has felt like family, like a group of talented, dedicated public servants who care not only about the work we do for our state, but about the people we are working alongside,” said Matthews-Brown.
Prior to joining the Comptroller’s office, she held senior leadership roles across federal, state and local government as well as in the private sector, including serving as Chief of Staff in multiple healthcare organizations across Maryland. Her experience spans policy, strategic communications, operations and stakeholder engagement, with a focus on advancing equitable policy solutions and strengthening connections between government agencies and the communities they serve.
Comptroller Lierman and her executive team have been preparing for this transition for several months and will share additional details regarding leadership continuity in the coming weeks.
Ahead of Matthews-Brown’s start at JHM, Dr. Theodore L. DeWeese, who serves as dean of the Medical Faculty and CEO of Johns Hopkins Medicine issued a statement.
“A skilled communicator and strategist, Rianna brings extensive experience in health policy, organizational development and executive leadership in both government and academic environments,” said DeWeese. “As vice president and chief of staff, Rianna will play a critical role in strengthening alignment across the school of medicine’s departments and divisions, while ensuring integration of school and JHHS priorities within the broader JHM enterprise.”
“We look forward to her leadership in advancing our shared institutional priorities, strengthening partnerships, and supporting the continued excellence of our organization,” DeWeese continued. “We know Rianna will be a valued addition to our team.”