The Aspen Institute

Ann Marie Bledsoe Downes is the Executive Vice President of Community Impact and Engagement at Ho-Chunk, Inc and she also serves as a Professor of Practice and Director of the Indian Gaming and Tribal Self-Governance Programs at the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law at Arizona State University (ASU).  She previously served as the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy and Economic Development for Indian Affairs at the U.S. Department of the Interior. She also served as Interim Director of the Bureau of Indian Education. Ms. Bledsoe Downes was the Executive Director of the Indian Legal Program (ILP) at ASU and prior to that role, served as the Director of Graduate Programs for the ILP.  She was the Policy Advisor for Tribal Affairs for Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano and also President of Little Priest Tribal College. Ms. Bledsoe Downes received a B.A. from Wayne State College and a J.D. from Arizona State University Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law.  Ann Marie is a member of the State Bar of California.  She is an enrolled member of the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska