October 14, 2025

ASU Law launches Distinguished Public Service Fellows Program to expand pathways for students in Washington, D.C. and beyond

The Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law at Arizona State University has launched the Distinguished Public Service Fellows Program, a new initiative designed to expand ASU Law’s national footprint and deepen its commitment to public service and civil discourse.

During the course of their appointment, the Distinguished Public Service Fellows will serve as thought leaders, mentors and connectors to strengthen opportunities for ASU Law in  Washington, D.C., and beyond. They will draw on their professional experience and networks to create meaningful pathways for students pursuing careers in government, policy and nonprofit sectors and strengthen dialogue between academic and government experts.

 

The inaugural fellows are ASU Law alums Ann Marie Bledsoe Downes (JD ’94), chief administrative officer at Ho-Chunk Inc., the tribal economic development corporation of the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska, and Arjun Mody (JD ’03), president of Ivy Hill Advisors, a Washington, D.C.-based advisory firm.

 

Bledsoe Downes is an enrolled member of the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska and has dedicated her career to advancing tribal, state and federal public service. She previously served as principal deputy solicitor, deputy assistant secretary for Indian Affairs in the U.S. Department of the Interior, executive director of ASU Law’s Indian Legal Program, president of Little Priest Tribal College and tribal affairs advisor to the governor of Arizona.

 

“It is an honor to be able to serve the ASU community and specifically the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law and its students in this capacity,” said Bledsoe Downes. “I have worked in public service my entire career, including at the state, tribal and federal levels. I am excited to be part of an institution that makes public service a priority. As we continue to grow our D.C. campus, it truly is a unique opportunity to further implement the principles of the ASU Charter in our nation’s capital. ASU is well-positioned to build the next set of civil servants who will lead government at any level.”

 

Mody brings a wealth of experience from his leadership roles in both the public and private sectors. He has served as staff director for Senate Republicans, counsel to U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Dole and a senior strategist at the global nonprofit ONE. He also helped lead the Sherpa program for the Trump-Vance Transition.

 

“Public service is a high calling, and ASU Law is leading,” said Mody. “This fellowship recognizes the law school’s rich history, deepens student ties with the public sector today and expands the path forward in the nation’s capital for the future. ASU Law has the talent, infrastructure and now increased capacity to be a premier institution for public service.”

 

By leveraging the expertise of these accomplished public servants, the program will help build on partnerships like ASU Law’s collaboration with the U.S. Department of Agriculture and expand access to mentorship, internships, externships and fellowships for students interested in serving the public good.

 

The Distinguished Public Service Fellows will play an important role in advancing ASU Law’s mission to serve as a national hub for civil discourse and civic leadership. Their work will help students connect what they learn in the classroom to the real-world challenges and opportunities of public service.

Written by Kourtney Kelley